‘Whatever Brad wants to do, we do’: Why Arthur split Eels’ captaincy

When it came time to decide whether Clint Gutherson would lead the Eels again this season, the star fullback knew it was going to be Brad Arthur’s way, or the highway.

The result was a captaincy split between Gutherson and Junior Paulo, who steps into the role after two stellar seasons for the Eels and the NSW State of Origin side.

“Obviously, we had me as captain last year and a leadership group underneath. Brad wanted to go a different way and look, whatever Brad wants to do, we do,” Gutherson told the Herald.

“To have one of my good mates ‘Juey’ there to help run this team, it’s exciting times.”

Gutherson is as vocal and on-field leader as there is in the NRL, but he expects Paulo to take a more measured approach.

“He’s just all actions. When he talks, everyone stops and listens,” Gutherson said.

“It might not be a lot, but what he does say is powerful. When he’s out there on the field doing what he needs to do, everyone jumps on board and gets us going.”

Two of the Eels players that consistently had the Eels “going” last year were Reed Mahoney and Isaiah Papali’i.

This season will be the last time the pair line up in blue and gold, and they made a point of addressing the elephant in the room before getting on with pre-season.

“It’s done. All of that’s done. All the players that were going to leave, are leaving,” Gutherson said.

“They spoke to the team, we know what their goals are, and we know how they want to lead this team. It’s just lucky it didn’t drag into the season.

“We agreed we won’t talk about it again until it’s the back end of the year, we’re having a few beers, and we’ll say thanks for everything.”

On the field, Gutherson doesn’t believe there is any point dwelling on just how close they were to beating eventual premiers Penrith in the playoffs.

Only a Nathan Cleary penalty goal separated them in the absorbing 8-6 semi-final, but it was the third consecutive season in which the Eels fell out of the race for the premiership in the second week of the finals.

“You have to look at it. Individually, and as a team. But you have to move on,” Gutherson said.

“It’s a whole new year. It doesn’t matter how you got there or what that game was, it’s done.

“You can’t go back and change it. You just have to grow from it. Hopefully, if it gets into that situation again, we can be on the other side of it.”

Personally, Gutherson didn’t hesitate in declaring his desire to add to his three NSW Origin appearances.

“Obviously, you want to make all the rep teams. (In) Origin, we’ve got such a good group of outside backs there that look, you’re just happy to be in the squad,” he said.

“You’d love to be in that 18 and be able to play, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

“I was lucky to just be in that squad. I was just trying to learn as much as possible. But every rep team that comes around, you want to be a part of it.

“It’s another personal goal, but if team success comes first. If the team goes well, more and more players will be part of those rep teams.”

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