AAA<\/p>\n
Clint Gutherson has been playing with banged-up knees the past couple of weeks.<\/p>\n
But in typical fashion, the St George Illawarra fullback does not complain, refuses to ask for time off and does what he can to try and get the two points for the Dragons.<\/p>\n
![\"Clint](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/9f538261112756e1c772655c5c0fd5813a2a95487f092294c2da89613bc3d29c.jpeg\")
Clint Gutherson is working overtime to secure St George Illawarra\u2019s first win.NRL<\/p>\n
The Red V are yet to win a game this year. And with Payne Haas returning from a knee injury for the Broncos<\/a> on Sunday afternoon, few expect them to be celebrating this weekend. You have to wonder how many of the players even remember the words to the team song.<\/p>\n What the Dragons need right now is a few more players showing the same ticker as Gutherson. This was the bloke who, when playing for Parramatta, regularly needed a painkilling injection, multiple body parts strapped, or fluid drained from knees<\/a> just so he could take to the field.<\/p>\n He has been paid well for his labour, but what drives Gutherson the most is competing hard on every play.<\/p>\n Which is why one passage of play in the final minutes of last Saturday\u2019s loss against the New Zealand Warriors<\/a> was so difficult to take.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Warriors already had victory in the bag, but the Dragons had one last chance to post a late try and give the hardy souls who braved the wind and rain at Kogarah reason to cheer before heading for the exits.<\/p>\n Gutherson popped up on the left side of the field and realised Warriors defender Dallin Watene-Zelezniak needed to come infield and commit to the tackle, which meant all Gutherson had to do was pop up a pass to his winger, who would have a free run to the line.<\/p>\n But when Gutherson looked outside him, Christian Tuipulotu was nowhere to be seen. If you had watched the TV replays, you would have spotted Tuipulotu with his back turned, walking away from the play towards the other end of the field.<\/p>\n It was deadset under-6s stuff. Tuipulotu got a pull-through from former coach Shane Flanagan last season for his \u201cshow me the money\u201d try celebrations<\/a>, which came in defeats to the Bulldogs and South Sydney. Never mind the money \u2013 someone should have shown him which tryline he was meant to be attacking.<\/p>\n Ever the diplomat, Gutherson on Friday maintained Tuipulotu had felt tightness in his hamstring and was seeking out the trainer.<\/p>\n To be fair to Tuipulotu, he is now sidelined for the next couple of weeks. But it is hard to imagine a player like Gutherson ever turning his back on a play. Last Friday night, Canterbury\u2019s Jacob Preston broke his arm but stayed on the field for a couple of sets, and even made a few tackles.<\/p>\n Then there is legendary Dragons winger Brett Morris, who famously dislocated his shoulder in the 2014 Origin opener at Suncorp but played through the pain for over an hour and helped NSW to a gritty victory that set them up for an epic series win.<\/p>\n The Dragons need more players prepared to give their all for the cause. Until they do, they will continue to lose games. It already appears inevitable they will collect their first ever wooden spoon.<\/p>\n It is shocking that such a proud club is about to run stone motherless last. It is equally shocking to think players in today\u2019s game can zone out and walk off in the middle of an attacking set.<\/p>\n Gutherson, now 31 years young, will be the first to admit he has had some ordinary moments himself in recent weeks. He was at fault for a try in the first half against the Warriors when he raced out of the line while defending at right centre.<\/p>\n With Scott Drinkwater<\/a> heading to the club next year to wear the No.1 jersey, Gutherson is likely to end up in the outside backs. Centre is one of the hardest positions to defend, but with a full pre-season, he will do just fine.<\/p>\n Related Article Drinkwater is a winner. So is fellow new recruit Keaon Koloamatangi<\/a>, who is defying the pain of a knee injury just to take the park with South Sydney this week. Another potential recruit, Connor Watson, who is a big chance of signing a stopover deal for 2027 before linking with the PNG Chiefs in 2028<\/a>, has never been a quitter.<\/p>\n If the Dragons are not careful, the losing culture could start to mess with the heads of their promising crop of juniors, including future leaders Hamish Stewart<\/a> and Dylan Egan, and the Couchman brothers, Toby and Ryan. The Couchman boys still give coach Dean Young a gobful when they are brought from the field.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just need a win,\u201d Gutherson said. \u201cYou forget how to win sometimes, and those teams that keep winning \u2013 like your Penriths, they forget how to lose.<\/p>\n \u201cI was in similar situations at Parra. Once you win, you remember how to win, and the fun comes back. The real fans understand we\u2019re trying hard.\u201d<\/p>\n The real fans appreciate Gutherson.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/e3915b2c895ddb79867dff872ec22e7811671386.jpeg\")
Christian Tuipulotu\u2019s try celebrations earned him a reprimand from Shane Flanagan last season.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ce51ffb9d697bee9333530697cded484bad3cb64.jpeg\")
The Warriors celebrate another try against the Dragons on Saturday.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Prime](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780038734_159_5d9ce9fa6824358f45b48b05b0b6097d68b29f90.jpeg\")
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