Gutherson picked up as Hunt’s replacement after being surprisingly let go by the Eels.
Clint Gutherson’s influence on a new-look Dragons side is already evident after just one NRL pre-season game, with fans praising his leadership skills and communication in Sunday night’s 26-8 win over the Roosters. And the contrast between Gutherson and former skipper Ben Hunt is being called out by many supporters, with coach Shane Flanagan taking a fresh swipe at his former halfback as well.
Parramatta’s decision to release Gutherson after an injury-plagued 2024 season took the league world by shock, as the 30-year-old was viewed as the heart and soul of the club and their long-time captain. But after a strong and injury-free off-season under Flanagan, the new Dragons co-captain is demonstrating what he brings to the table, not only as an experienced fullback, but as one of the best communicators and organisational No.1s in the game.
Flanagan started with close to his best 13 against the Roosters on Sunday night, before resting most of them for the second half. But it was long enough to see that Gutherson has already put his own stamp on the side. The veteran fullback was barking orders from the back and chiming in superbly in attack, to help the Red V jump out to an 18-0 lead, before the Roosters finally responded.
Many Dragons fans noticed that Gutherson was talking to his players pretty much the whole time he was out there and giving input to teammates even after they’d scored. There was one particular moment when Gutherson was seen in an animated discussion with Luciano Leilua after the Dragons scored their second try. And for many, it was a stark contrast to the leadership role Hunt played during his time at the club, with the Broncos recruit often criticised for not being vocal enough.
Clint Gutherson’s leadership praised in Dragons’ win
In Gutherson, Dragons coach Flanagan appears to have found the sort of leader who can bring a new level of professionalism and organisation to the club, and one who is not afraid to call out teammates and hold them to account if standards drop. Flanagan was reportedly less than impressed with Hunt’s leadership in his final season before being released to join Brisbane.
Shane Flanagan takes fresh swipe at Ben Hunt
And Flanagan hit back in a fresh swipe at his former captain amid suggestions the Dragons attack would be significantly weakened after losing the NRL’s leader for try assists last season. “This is not a criticism of Ben but I think our offensive systems created those opportunities for Ben to ice,” Flanagan said.
“We will have those offensive systems this year where it is going to be Lachy (Ilias), Kyle (Flanagan) and Gutho to ice. And Ben was a good player but he was getting older and he had a few bad habits as well.” While it might be unclear exactly what habits he’s referring to, Flanagan called out Hunt’s shortcomings in a brutal end of season review in 2024, that probably sped up his eventual exit from the club.
There was also a sense that Hunt never fully committed to the Dragons by moving down to Wollongong where the club’s training base is located. The veteran No.7 lived with his family in Sutherland, in Sydney’s south. In contrast, Gutherson was praised for how quickly he committed to a move down south and uprooting his family from their Sydney base in Manly, after signing with the Dragons.
“When we signed him, he agreed to terms on the Friday and by Sunday he was looking at Airbnb’s down in Wollongong so he could get down straight away,” Flanagan said about Gutherson. “Since then he has moved his family down and he loves it. And from a football perspective he just gives everything to his teammates.
Encouragement, support, quality talk. He is the ultimate teammate, and the ultimate competitor.” Flanagan says there was no better example of Gutherson’s commitment than when put himself into a group ordered to do extra work at the end of a training session, despite being one of the fittest at the club. “And that rubs off, where we had five or six others go, ‘Well, if he’s doing it, this is good enough for me’. That’s the influence he has on others, sometimes without even saying anything,” Flanagan added.
