With reports circulating that Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson could be gettable on the open market, rugby league great Cameron Smith believes the Wests Tigers should make a play for the fullback.
While reports from Gutherson’s camp have rubbished claims they’ve demanded $1 million per year from the Eels, Smith feels he could potentially attract that type of money from a club like the Tigers who are looking for a leader.
“The fans have got to understand, your value is whatever someone’s willing to pay you,” Smith said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“If there’s a club out there that’s desperate for a consistent player like Clint Gutherson, who does a lot of great work off the ball, he’s not the flashy type like a (Ryan) Papenhuyzen or a (James) Tedesco, he’s a completely different player, but what he brings is consistency.
“He’s very fit, he works hard, he seems like a very good leader, he’s the captain of Parramatta, he could bring a lot to a club that’s looking for a leader.
“If someone like the Tigers wanted a player like Gutherson, and I think he’d be great for the Tigers, he’s worth whatever they’re willing to pay him.”
Smith believes Gutherson would add value to the Tigers both on and off the field.
“Big name players aren’t just paid for their ability on the field,” Smith said.
“That money goes in to attracting other players to come in alongside those guys.
“It comes with the ability they have to help the players away from the field and their ability to mix in corporate sponsors and handle media and all of those types of things.”
While Smith feels Gutherson could attract a big deal from a rival, he urged him to try and sort out a deal with his current club behind closed doors.
“If I was ‘Gutho,’ I would ring the Parramatta CEO and say, ‘Mate, cut it out … I’m the captain of the place, let’s work this out and keep it out of the media’,” he added.
Gutherson told reporters that he’s yet to talk to his manager about any new deal despite coming out of contract at the end of next season.