Crunch time as Gutherson Koroisau Pearce and Johns decide futures
The length of Clint Gutherson’s tenure is the sticking point in the latest round of contractual negotiations with Parramatta as the club loses halves coach Andrew Johns to Newcastle.
The November 1 transfer deadline is fast approaching and some of the biggest names in rugby league will become free agents if they don’t agree terms with their current clubs before then.
Apisai Koroisau is a case in point: the Penrith hooker’s management has told the premiers he will throw himself on the open market on Monday to test his value if an extension beyond 2022 isn’t agreed before then.
Wests Tigers are one of several clubs interested in the services of the two-time premiership-winning rake, after their interest in Canberra’s Josh Hodgson cooled. While a deal could still be done with Hodgson if the parties can agree to a price, Koroisau is also on the joint-venture outfit’s radar.
Should Koroisau sign to the Tigers for 2023, that may prompt the Panthers to offer him an early release given the salary cap squeeze the club is facing to retain the likes of Viliame Kikau and Dylan Edwards.
Some relief could come if the Panthers opt to sack Tyrone May, with the board set to discuss his future at a meeting on Wednesday. However, the controversial utility’s friendship with superstar halfback Nathan Cleary may result in him being given one last chance.
Clint Gutherson is one of the marquee men off contract.Credit:Getty
The Eels are another club with big decisions to make. Gutherson headlines a raft of star players either off contract or with get-out clauses which could result in them being lost to rivals.
Reed Mahoney, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo, Dylan Brown, Ryan Matterson, Isaiah Papali’i, Jake Arthur, Marata Niukore, Oregon Kaufusi and Maika Sivo are just some of the topliners free to explore their options. However, the most sensitivity surrounds the negotiations with Gutherson.
The blue and golds are keen to retain their captain and have opened discussions with his management. While the club’s preference is to offer an extension of two years - which would take Gutherson through until the end of 2024 - his management is seeking a new deal of at least three years, potentially up to four.
The club refused to comment on the latest imbroglio, having promised to keep negotiations confidential. However, it is a delicate situation given how much Gutherson means to the club and its desire to avoid a repeat of the previous messy and protracted dealings.
Regardless, Johns’ time with the Eels has come to an end. Johns has been a halves coach for the past two seasons, helping halfback Mitchell Moses elevate his game despite the challenges COVID-19 lockdowns have posed. However, the Immortal yesterday finalised a deal to return to Newcastle, the club with which he made his name as arguably the game’s greatest halfback.
Johns informed Parramatta of the Knights’ interest recently and will reunite with his good friend Danny Buderus, who is the club’s general manager of football.
One of Johns’ first tasks will be to mentor a replacement for Mitchell Pearce, who is poised to seek a release to join Catalans. Pearce is expected to sit down with Newcastle powerbrokers to work out the terms of his exit, which may require the Super League outfit to pay a transfer fee.
The Knights will likely seek some sort of compensation, or find a suitable replacement, before allowing the premiership-winning halfback to leave. The Wests Tigers have shut down any designs the Knights had on Luke Brooks, declaring he will remain in Concord.
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