‘You don’t want it to be true’: Mitch Moses gutted to see Clint Gutherson leave the Eels as halfback reflects on wild 2024 season

Eels halfback Mitchell Moses says it’s “sad” to see how Clint Gutherson’s time at the club ended, with the former skipper off to the Dragons where he’s tipped to be “great” for the Red V in 2025 after a tough end to his storied career in Parramatta.

Gutherson was officially released from the final year of his contract last week and was quickly snapped up by the Dragons for the next three seasons. He’s expected to replace Tyrell Sloan at fullback.

That role was off the table for him at Parramatta despite Gutherson giving it his all at the back during the good times and the bad at a club that is seemingly going in a very different direction under new coach Jason Ryles.

“It’s really tough. He’s one of my best mates and it’s sad to see how it happened and how it ended. It’s rugby league, and I think he understands that. Everyone understands it,” Moses said after helping Australia beat Tonga in the Pacific Cup final.

“It’s hard and you don’t want it to be true, but I’m going to miss playing with him. I’ve come through at Parramatta and we’ve been playing for the past eight years. To not have him at training will be a bit different…but I’m so happy for him.

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“He’s got a great deal up there and he’ll be great for the Dragons. He’s one of my best mates and I’ll miss him, but I wish him all the best.

“I’ve been speaking to him. I speak to him almost every day. It is what it is, and I think he understands that.

“Footy is a business, and if it’s not working, if something needs to change, that’s just how it is and sometimes players that you don’t think are going to leave, it happens.

“He understands, the club understands, I think everyone understands. It’s sad to see, I don’t want it to be true, but it’s happened, so we’ve got to move on.”

Moses is excited about what the future holds under Ryles, with the star halfback glad to move on from a rollercoaster 2024 during which he enjoyed the dizzying heights of making his Kangaroos debut, while he’s also had to deal with serious injuries and Parramatta’s struggles on and off the field.

He saw long-time coach Brad Arthur sacked by the club, but he also produced one of the great Origin performances to help the Blues keep the series alive at the MCG before they won the decider in enemy territory.

That night in Brisbane summed up his rocky year, with Moses scoring the sealer with a brilliant solo try, only for the halfback to suffer a ruptured biceps that ended his NRL season.

Moses had also fractured his left foot earlier in the year that meant he only played eight NRL games and five representative matches, which culminated in him winning another trophy with Australia at his home ground CommBank Stadium.

“It was a tough year for myself,” said Moses who is the leading candidate to replace Gutherson as Parramatta captain.

“I had the highs of Origin and the highs of this – the highs of rep footy for myself – but club footy didn’t go too well.

“I’ve got a whole change of scenery going back there, so I’m really excited to go back and go to work. I’ll have a few weeks off and go straight back to it.

“It’s a whole new squad. It’s legit from players 18 to 30, it’s a whole new squad. Even our starting team will look completely different. We’ve added some great additions and hopefully we can add some more.

“I’m excited for the future, and I think under ‘Rylesy’ we’ll be all right. If everyone comes in with the right attitude at training, hopefully we’re in for a good year.”