Mitchell Moses in Eels captaincy development as Jason Ryles urged to make call on Clint Gutherson

Calls are growing louder for Mitchell Moses to replace Clint Gutherson as Parramatta captain, with incoming coach Jason Ryles expected to make sweeping changes to the NRL club when he takes over. Ryles was an assistant coach to Craig Bellamy at Melbourne but the Storm granted him permission to leave his role and focus on the Eels for next season. Ryles signed a four-year deal to coach the Eels from 2025 and signed an agreement with Melbourne that he won't be able to poach players from the Storm in his first year.

Ryles is set to officially start his Eels role in November and is expected to part ways with interim Parramatta coach Trent Barrett as part of his clean-out. Another huge decision the rookie coach will need to make is around the club's captaincy, with long-term skipper Gutherson's position seemingly under threat from Blues Origin star Moses.

The halfback helped inspire NSW to an Origin series victory over the Maroons but suffered a season-ending bicep injury in Game 3. Moses was man of the match in Game 2 and outstanding again in the Suncorp Stadium decider and veteran league reporter Phil Rothfield says a "major overhaul" is on the cards at Parramatta under Ryles and suggested the superstar No.7 could replace Gutherson as the club's new captain.

“He (Ryles) wouldn’t talk to me about Clint Gutherson but the manner in which Mitchell Moses has grown this year in the State of Origin arena - when you think about it, the NSW captain Jake (Trbojevic) went off after 20 minutes in each games - Mitch ran the football side,” Rothfield said on NRL 360. “There was a feeling at Parramatta, while a decision has not been made (yet), (of) ‘not just a new coach, let’s give Moses the reins.’ Gutho has tried his heart out every single time but I think they do have leadership issues and I think you’ll see Mitchell Moses with the ‘c’ next to his name (in 2025).”

Mitch Moses stamps Eels captaincy claim after Origin displays

NRL 360 host Braith Anasta said he was convinced it was Moses' time to be handed the captaincy reins at Parramatta after watching the halfback's growth as a big-game player and a leader in the Blues' Origin series triumph. “There just becomes a time where I suppose a boy becomes a man and Moses in this Origin series has turned into a man,” Anasta said.

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“He’s turning into the man so with more responsibility, Mitch then owns the team and you could see in Origin that brought the best out of him. There’s just a time where unfortunately you’ve got to make decisions and with a new coaching coming in, heading in a new direction, I think this is a good call. No disrespect to ‘Gutho’, he’s done a great job, but I don’t see it as a big deal.”

Fox League's James Hooper pointed out that making the decision to drop Gutherson as captain would pose a significant risk for the Eels though. The 29-year-old has been one of Parramatta's most consistent performers for years, he's a fan favourite and popular with the playing group and regarded by many to be the heart and soul of the club.

“It doesn’t come without a little bit of risk factor though because he’s been the captain for a long time, he’s highly popular among the playing group,” Hooper said. "Yes he’s only got 12 months to go (on his contract) but we’ve seen many players over the years where coaches have decided to in a different direction with captains and sometimes it can put noses out of joint.”

However, Gutherson has already shown his selflessness and love of the club by coming out publicly to say he would happily move from fullback if it helps the Eels keep hold of exciting youngster Blaize Talagi long-term. There's a sense Gutherson could be shifted to the centres next season to accomodate Talagi, who's excelled at fullback when Gutherson has been out injured this season. And league great Gorden Tallis says Gutherson's attitude proves he is "mature enough" to handle being demoted as captain if Ryles decides that's the direction the club should go in.