LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a devastating blow for the Eels, inspirational skipper Clint Gutherson is set to be sidelined for around five weeks after undergoing knee surgery, adding to Parramatta's woes in this turbulent NRL season.
Coach Brad Arthur finds himself under the pump as the Eels languish in 14th place with just three wins from eight games.
Despite showing resilience and resolve in the midst of a difficult week, the Eels suffered a 32-18 defeat to Manly last weekend.
With the disappointment of missing out on finals footy in 2023 still fresh, Arthur is facing mounting pressure to turn things around.
Gutherson, who displayed great courage by playing through pain against Manly, has now been forced to go under the knife, leaving the Eels without their dynamic fullback and leader on the field for the foreseeable future.
The Parramatta club confirmed in a statement that Gutherson will be out of action for 4-5 weeks as he recovers from the operation.
This injury couldn't have come at a worse time for the Eels, as they gear up to face tough opponents in the coming weeks, including Brisbane, Melbourne, and Cronulla.
These teams, all currently in the top eight, pose a formidable challenge for Parramatta, who will need to dig deep and find a way to weather the storm in Gutherson's absence.