Parramatta skipper Clint Gutherson has declared his side can play finals football in 2024 despite a disastrous start to the season that led to coach Brad Arthur’s exit.
The Eels currently sit 15th and took another negative turn a week ago with Arthur’s exit before a loss to last-placed South Sydney.
Gutherson, however, is looking to return from a knee injury in Thursday night’s clash with an undermanned Cronulla and hopes to have halfback Mitchell Moses on board for his first game since Round 3.
The Eels currently sit six points outside the eight and with a number of winnable games coming up, Gutherson said it’s too soon to write off his side’s finals chances.
“We just need our strongest team out there,” he said. “We lost Mitch early and me for the last four weeks. When you have your spine out there playing consistent footy, it puts the team in a good spot.
“We’ve got full belief. It was a disappointing week last week but we’re here to win games of footy and play. That’s what we’ve got to get back to this week.”
Gutherson and Moses are likely to be named when teams are announced on Tuesday, with the duo set to line up on Thursday if they complete Wednesday’s captain’s run.
While the players are focused on improved results throughout the second half of this season, officials have commenced behind the scenes planning for 2025 as they look to hire a new head coach.
A host of names have been thrown into the mix, with Josh Hannay and Paul McGregor publicly declaring their interest in the job. The process is unlikely to drag on, with a new leader expected to be confirmed in the coming months.
Eels bosses have made no secret of their desire to land a coach capable of producing immediate results given the talent currently in the squad.
There is, however, plenty of uncertainty around the makeup of the playing group beyond 2025.
Moses, Junior Paulo and the incoming Zac Lomax are the only three players to have contracts for 2026 and beyond, with a handful of others having club or player options in that period.
Gutherson conceded the new coach will likely mould the squad to meet his needs but said the players can make the decision easier for him with an impressive finish to this season.
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