Slater 'can't believe' Eels' bold recruitment play

By Chris De Silva and Zachary Gates

NRL fable Billy Slater is baffled by a study claiming the Parramatta Eels are looking for a caller fullback, the aforesaid presumption played by skipper Clint Gutherson.

The Eels person been moving the phones astir the league successful caller days successful an effort to motion a "gamebreaker" oregon "X-factor" astatine the fullback position, according to Nine's Michael Chammas.

Slater, 1 of the game's astir prolific fullbacks ever, was astounded by the imaginable of Gutherson being punted from fullback.

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"I can't judge it, to beryllium honest. I deliberation Clint Gutherson is 1 of the champion fullbacks successful the game," Slater said connected Nine's NRL coverage.

"Sometimes we look astatine the shiny, agleam worldly that the fullbacks tin do, and Gutherson adds truthful overmuch much to that squad than the bright, shiny stuff.

The Eels reportedly person the blessing of Clint Gutherson to spell buying for different fullback. (Mark Kolbe via Getty Images)

"I look astatine that presumption and think, 'Can that squad triumph a contention with that subordinate astatine fullback?', and I tin spot that with Clint Gutherson.

"So I can't judge that they would beryllium looking elsewhere."

Gutherson, 28, has been a mainstay successful the Eels' line-up since joining the nine from Manly successful 2016.

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The Eels person been transparent with Gutherson successful their pursuit of a caller fullback and the prima No.1 has "given the nine his blessing", according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

The Eels person denied that an incoming fullback could unit Gutherson retired of the No.1 jersey, with the nine insisting the subordinate could alternatively beryllium a spark disconnected the bench.

Gutherson penned an hold with the Eels astatine the extremity of the 2021 season. His existent woody sees him gain successful excess of $850,000 per twelvemonth until the extremity of 2025.

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