Clint Gutherson, Eels, Daniel Saifiti, Kalyn Ponga, Knights, Josh Schuster, Rabbitohs, James Hooper column #adessonews

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Despite Parramatta rolling out the PR charm offensive about new coach Ryles on Tuesday it feels like there’s still a few pieces of this puzzle missing.

Where it could turn into a live hand grenade for the Eels is Gutherson’s popularity amongst the Parramatta playing group and membership base.

At the Eels Ken Thornett Medal Awards night last week the Parramatta fullback cleaned up winning the Players’ Player award, Coaches Award and the Members Player of the Year Award.

The other amusing twist was Reagan Campbell Gillard winning the Ken Thornett Medal as the Eels player of the year and Blaize Talagi winning the rookie of the year award.

Both players have now finished up with the Eels after RCG was tapped on the shoulder with a year to go on his contract and Talagi opted to sign with arch-rivals Penrith.

There’s no doubt there’s been a divide between the Eels dressing room and club management over the back half of this season.

Despite the denials out of Parramatta it exists. That’s now a job for new coach Ryles to try and fix.

When Brad Arthur was sacked the spin coming out of the club was the senior players had been given too much control and it was time for a reset.

There’ll be a major reset if Gutherson ends up being forced out because he’s one of the biggest figures amongst the Eels playing group.

MOUTH-WATERING FINALS MATCH-UPS AWAIT

What about some of the outstanding match-ups in week two of the NRL finals.

North Queensland five-eighth Tom Dearden is one of the most direct, competitive, hard-running halves in the game who is also an outstanding defender.

Dearden will be stationed on the Cowboys left edge opposite Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes who has said this week he needs to own some big moments in September.

Nicho gets no better chance than against an in-form, robust, running five-eighth like Dearden.

The other cracking match-up is Sydney Roosters weapon Angus Crichton up against Manly man mountain Haumole Olakau’atu.

Big Haumole was overshadowed by Bulldogs backrower Viliame Kikau in the opening 20 minutes of last Sunday’s elimination final before flicking the switch to destruction mode and completely over-powering his Canterbury-Bankstown opposite.

As good as Daly Cherry-Evans and Tolu Koula were for the Sea Eagles, big Haumole was on a mission on Manly’s right edge.

On Saturday night he confronts NSW Blues State of Origin teammate Crichton in another sensational match-up.

Crichton was overshadowed by Penrith’s Liam Martin last Friday but given the form he’s produced this season you get the feeling given what’s at stake he’ll be right up for this contest.

ENFORCER’S DOLPHINS DEFECTION ALLOWS KNIGHTS TO HELP PONGA

Ex-NSW Origin enforcer Daniel Saifiti is set to join the Dolphins next season on a three-year deal.

The move will mean the Knights free up around $600,000 in terms of salary cap space but the question is can they land some better signings to help Kalyn Ponga?

Ponga remains the highest-paid player in the NRL on $1.5 million per season and played accordingly in the Knights week one finals loss to the Cowboys.

But there’s no doubt the Knights roster needs a freshen-up if it’s going to be any chance of challenging for a premiership in the next couple of seasons.

The problem for Newcastle is they needed to move Saifiti in order to be salary cap compliant for next season and they’re aiming to try and upgrade Kiwi Test front-rower Leo Thompson.

We’ve heard they’re also monitoring the situation with injured Melbourne half Jonah Pezet should he still be a free agent as of November 1.

What was evident on Saturday night against the Cowboys was as brilliant as Ponga played he can’t do it all on his own.

SOUTHS’ EARLY FAVOURITE FOR BUY OF 2025

The South Sydney Rabbitohs signing of Josh Schuster on a minimum wage deal worth $140,000-a-season could prove to be one of the most astute pieces of recruitment over the off season.

Wayne Bennett has shown previously he can get the best out of players who’ve had a flat spot in their careers and Schuster certainly has enough natural talent to kick on as an NRL player.

Where will he play? The Bunnies remain undecided. First things first they want to get Schuster fit and enjoying his football again.

At his best Schuster could provide enormous x-factor for the Bunnies.

Compared to the $800,000 deal Schuster was on at the Manly Sea Eagles the South Sydney deal shows he’s serious about proving he’s got unfinished business in the NRL.

The 12-month deal is also a smart way of backing his ability to deliver.