Clint Gutherson Supports Club’s Move for Scott Drinkwater
St George Illawarra captain Clint Gutherson has voiced his support for the club’s pursuit of Scott Drinkwater, despite the potential implications for his own role within the team. The Dragons are currently facing a challenging season, having suffered a 28-18 defeat to Manly in Wollongong, which extended their losing streak to 10 games. This loss has placed additional pressure on coach Shane Flanagan as the team continues to struggle.
The situation is further complicated by the news that Maroons forward Jaydn Su’A has decided not to extend his contract and is expected to move to Parramatta at the end of the season. This development comes after the Eels missed out on Keaon Koloamatangi, leading them to turn their attention to Su’A. The loss of Su’A adds to the challenges faced by the winless club, which is set to face the Rabbitohs and Roosters before the bye.
While there is a freeze on retaining players, recruitment remains an active area of focus for the Dragons. Recent reports indicate that Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater has been granted early permission to negotiate with other clubs, with Wollongong emerging as a likely destination. The Dragons have made it clear they are seeking a new fullback, following a previous unsuccessful attempt to sign Trai Fuller.
This move is seen as a response to concerns about the current performance of Gutherson, who is contracted until the end of next season. Despite being the team’s captain, Gutherson has shown a willingness to step aside for Drinkwater, demonstrating a selfless approach to the team’s needs.
A Selfless Stance from Gutherson
Gutherson expressed his full support for the club’s decision to pursue Drinkwater, highlighting the importance of having high-quality players. “100 per cent. He’s a high-quality player, and you need those types of players,” he said. “I’m not against any of that, and I’m sure the club is doing everything they can to bring someone like that to the club.”
He added, “I’m all for it, things like this don’t bother me. That’s the club, that’s what they’re doing, they’re making our squad and our team better. If that’s for a fullback, then I’m all for it. I’ve always said in my whole career, I’ll play wherever and it doesn’t bother me.”
Gutherson emphasized his commitment to winning and improving the team. “I want to win. We all want to win, we want to be better. We want to have a better squad, and if they think that’s the role, that’s the role.”
Flexibility on the Field
Gutherson also discussed his willingness to shift positions if needed. “How I play, it doesn’t really matter where I am on the field, I sort of just go about my game. Hopefully I don’t get another tap on the shoulder like I did with Iongi. You just want to have the strongest squad, the strongest players, and then you just fit in.”
Despite a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined for a month, Gutherson publicly supported coach Flanagan. “Definitely. That’s the weird thing at the moment; we’re not getting the results, but we’re all behind closed doors on the same page,” he said. “We’re all trying to play for him, all the coaching staff, all the players.”
Gutherson acknowledged the challenges the team faces but remained optimistic. “Bar one game we’ve been in every fight. We’ve been in the fight, we led in every game bar last week, and again it’s come down to a moment in the game that we haven’t iced or someone hasn’t iced, and they’ve gone down the other way and scored.”
Impact on Off-Contract Players
The recruitment freeze has left several off-contract players in limbo, including Damien Cook, Tyrell Sloan, Christian Tuipulotu, Emre Guler, Hame, Sele, Luciano Leilua, Mat Feagai, and Nathan Lawson. Cook, whose negotiations for a one-year contract extension were halted, expressed understanding of the club’s stance.
“When it comes down to it, we’re the ones on the weekend out there playing, and we’re just not getting it done at the moment,” Cook said. “It’s always been a motivator for everyone to try and play for as long as they can in this great game, definitely for me personally. You probably have to ask the other players as well how they can respond to that.”
