After introducing set-restarts for ruck infringements in round three of 2020, the NRL then added eight more rules which included a set-restart for off-side infringements and a play-the-ball restart when a player or ball finds touch rather than a scrum. The changes were made in a bid encourage an even faster, more free flowing style of football and to keep the ball in play as long as possible to introduce fatigue into a match. But even endurance type players, like Gutherson, found themselves struggling to get through the full 80 minutes of football.Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >“To be honest, I was absolutely rooted by the end of the game,” Gutherson told The Daily Telegraph. “I couldn’t move with about 10 minutes to go, I was just trying to do my job until the end. “We only had the one trial match so still getting the body right, hopefully it will be better come Thursday.” The numbers show the ball was in play for around three minutes less in round one compared to round three in 2020, when the set restart was first introduced. Despite the less ball in play over round one, matches have been played with such intensity that Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown wanted a water break at each quarter during the Eels night match against the Broncos, like in the New Zealand Warriors and Gold Coast Titans games that was played on Saturday afternoon in 30 degree heat. “Out there, I’ve never felt so tired,” Brown said. “I don’t know if you noticed but in that last 20 minutes both teams were off their feet. “That’s the biggest challenge this year is just being able to stick in for the whole 80 minutes for 25 rounds. I was jealous of the Warriors who had the drinks breaks.” Gutherson, who is Parramatta’s new ‘Mr Perpetual Motion’, the tag given to club legend Ray Price for his tenacity, covered just over nine kilometres on the Suncorp Stadium turf last Thursday. The skipper believes side’s with the most endurance capacity under fatigue will be the most successful in season 2021. “I think so, endurance will play a big part,” Gutherson said. “Everyone will just adapt to the new rules, the best teams adapt the best, hopefully we are one of them. “With the new rules it will take some time to work out exactly how to play, how to use your bench, when to attack. You need to consider all those things under the new rules.” The Eels managed a 24-16 come from behind win last in the season opener but were out-enthused by an unfancied Broncos outfit that burst to a 16-nill lead at halftime. Gutherson is well aware a similar start against reigning premiers, the Storm, on Thursday, will only leave his side further behind on the scoreboard. “Look, I think we did well to be only 16 points down. If it was anymore it would have been a tough ask. But the way we come out in the second half was pleasing,” Gutherson said.“We have to be a lot better against Melbourne otherwise it could be 30 at half time.”The Eels have only beaten Melbourne four times in the last 10 years and have lost all three finals matches played during that time (2017, 2019, 2020). Gutherson is hoping the home ground advantage at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night will give the Eels the edge needed to overcome Craig Bellamy’s men.“Melbourne are always going to be good. It’s just who they are. It’s in their DNA,” Gutherson said.“They have won plenty of comps over the years. I think many teams find it hard to beat Melbourne, it’s not just us. “We are going to do our best this week to beat them. We’ll be at home, hopefully in front of a big crowd and we are looking forward to the challenge.”



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