He may have departed the club in dramatic fashion, but Kieran Foran's influence is still ringing around Parramatta.
Clint Gutherson is pencilled in to start the NRL season at five-eighth for the Eels, and the 22-year-old had no hesitation seeking out his former teammate's wisdom during the Auckland Nines.
The pair arrived together from Manly last year, however Gutherson spent eight games at pivot after Foran was granted a release just six months into a four-year deal due to personal issues.
"I was with Foz at Manly from a young age, and I always idolised him at Manly because of what he was doing on the field. I tried to learn as much as possible," Gutherson said on Thursday.
"I caught up with him over there on the weekend and he just told me to keep doing what I was doing and play my game.
"To hear him say something like that is fairly surreal to me, especially going into the halves this year. It gives me a boost.
"Hopefully I can play anywhere near his level at some stage this year, I'll be happy."
Gutherson was one of the Eels' strongest performers at the back end of last year, and again showed glimpses of his potential as a playmaker at the Nines.
But he was adamant halves partner Corey Norman, who missed the final eight games of the year because of an eight-game ban for off-field indiscretions, would be the main man in 2017.
"I've just been trying to work on the little things to help him. It's his team, he'll be doing most of the work, but I just gotta try and make it a bit easier for himself," he said.
"He's got a point to prove. The first half of the season he was up there with two of the best, three of the best halves in the game.
"He's gonna come out round one raring to go. He's in some of the best shape of his life. With him in the leadership group, I'm sure he's gonna try and take it to the next level this year."
Gutherson has been rested from Saturday's trial against Gold Coast at Alice Springs after picking up a cork in the Nines, but expects to play their final warm-up against Penrith.
First-grade regulars Isaac De Gois, David Gower, Daniel Alvaro, Kaysa Pritchard and Tim Mannah have all been named to take on the Titans.
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