John Sutton (rugby league)

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Not to be confused with John Sutton (footballer).

John "Sutto" Sutton
Personal information
Full nameJohn Sutton
Born (1984-11-05) 5 November 1984 (age 39)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
PositionFive-eighth, Second-row, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2004–19 South Sydney 336 61 7 1 259
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2005 Prime Minister's XIII 1 0 0 0 0
2008–09 NSW City 2 1 0 0 4
Source: [1]

John Sutton (born 5 November 1984) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row, five-eighth and lock for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.

Sutton played for NSW City Origin and the Prime Minister's XIII. He captained the Rabbitohs in their 2014 NRL Grand Final victory, and is the most capped player in South Sydney's history.[2] Sutton currently works as a development coach for the Rabbitohs.[3]

Background[edit]

Sutton was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and is of Fijian Rotuman descent.

Sutton played his junior football for Kensington United and the Coogee Randwick Wombats. Sutton attended Marcellin College, J J Cahill Memorial High School and South Sydney High School before being signed by the South Sydney Rabbitohs.[4]

Sutton is a member of the Maroubra Bra Boys gang.[5] He is the older brother of Joanna Sutton. Due to his Rotuman mother who comes from the village of Hapmafau, Itu’tiu, Rotuma, Sutton qualifies to play for the Fiji Bati.

Playing career[edit]

2004[edit]

In Round 17, Sutton made his NRL debut for South Sydney against the Brisbane Broncos at centre and scored a try in the 48-28 loss at Suncorp Stadium.[6] He finished his debut year with 10 matches and 2 tries as South Sydney finished last on the table.

2005[edit]

Sutton finished the 2005 NRL season with him playing in 19 matches, scoring 5 tries, kicking 7 goals and kicking a field goal for Souths. On 18 September, he played for the Australian Prime Minister's XIII team against Papua New Guinea, playing off the interchange bench in the 34-0 win in Port Moresby.[7]

2006[edit]

Sutton played in 21 matches and scored 7 tries for Souths in the 2006 NRL season as the club finished last and claimed the wooden spoon.[8]

2007[edit]

In Round 8 against the Brisbane Broncos, Sutton suffered a shoulder injury attempting to score the Rabbitohs match-winning try in dramatic circumstances. Sutton was ruled to have knocked on following a late attempt from Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt to prevent the try. Souths lost the match 8-4 after a scoreless hour of play at Suncorp Stadium.[9] Sutton missed 9 matches from the injury. Sutton played in 16 matches and scored 3 tries for Souths in the 2007 NRL season as the club qualified for the finals. It was the first time since 1989 that the side had reached the finals.[10]

2008[edit]

On 2 May 2008, Sutton played for NSW City Origin against NSW Country Origin at lock and scored a try in the 22-all draw at WIN Stadium.[11] Sutton finished the 2008 NRL season with him playing in all of the Rabbitohs 24 matches and scored 6 tries. In October 2008 Fiji named Sutton in their training squad for the 2008 World Cup, but he pulled out citing injury.[12][13][14]

2009[edit]

In 2009, Sutton moved to play at five eighth permanently for the Rabbitohs.[15] On 21 April 2009, Sutton was named in the preliminary 40 man squad for game 1 of the 2009 State of Origin series.[16] On 8 May 2009, Sutton played for City Origin against Country at five-eighth in the 40-18 win in Orange, New South Wales.[17] Sutton was one of the favourite for the NSW halves combination, but he injured a knuckle during the City-Country match and missed the Origin series as a result. In Round 13 against the North Queensland Cowboys, Sutton played his 100th NRL career match for the Rabbitohs in the 46-12 loss at 1300SMILES Stadium.[18] In 2009 Sutton won the George Piggins Medal as the South Sydney Rabbitohs' best and fairest player for the season.[19] Sutton played in 22 matches and scored 5 tries for the Rabbitohs in the 2009 NRL season.

2010[edit]

Sutton played in 20 matches and scored 4 tries for South Sydney in the 2010 NRL season as the club narrowly missed the finals by finishing ninth under new head coach John Lang.[20]

2011[edit]

In Round 20 against the New Zealand Warriors, Sutton played his 150th NRL match for South Sydney in the 48-16 loss at ANZ Stadium.[21][22] Sutton played in 23 matches and scored 3 tries for South Sydney in the 2011 NRL season.

Sam Burgess alongside Sutton

2012[edit]

On 29 January 2012, Sutton was named by coach Michael Maguire as one of five co-captains of the South Sydney Rabbitohs alongside Michael Crocker, Sam Burgess, Matt King and Roy Asotasi for the 2012 NRL season.[23] Sutton played in all of South Sydney's 27 matches and scored 4 tries in the season as the club made it to within one game of the grand final but were defeated in the preliminary final by Canterbury-Bankstown.

On 6 October 2012, Sutton again won the George Piggins Medal as the South Sydney Rabbitohs best and fairest player for the season.[24] On 24 September 2012, Sutton was included in the Australian train-on squad.[25]

2013[edit]

On 4 April 2013, Sutton re-signed with South Sydney on a four-year contract to the end of the 2017 season.[26] In Round 20 against the Gold Coast Titans, Sutton played his 200th NRL career match for South Sydney in the 32-4 win at Cbus Super Stadium.[27][28] Sutton played in 25 matches and scored 7 tries for Souths in the 2013 NRL season as the club reached the preliminary final for a second consecutive season but were defeated by Manly-Warringah. At one stage in the match, Souths were ahead 14-0 but a second half capitulation saw the score end 30-20 in Manly's favour.[29]

On 10 October 2013, Sutton and Greg Inglis were named the joint winners of the George Piggins Medal as the South Sydney Rabbitohs best and fairest player for the season.[30] In October 2013, Sutton was named in the Fijian squad for the 2013 World Cup, but was replaced by Ryan Millard prior to the tournament.[31][32]

2014[edit]

In February 2014, Sutton was included in the South Sydney Rabbitohs inaugural Auckland Nines squad.[33] Sutton made the shift back to lock for make way for upcoming five-eighth Luke Keary.[34] In Round 5 against the St George Illawarra Dragons, Sutton became the most capped South Sydney Rabbitohs player with 212 matches overtaking Bob McCarthy with 211 matches, Sutton also made a return to five-eighth in the Rabbitohs 26-6 win at SCG.[35] On 5 October 2014, in South Sydney's 2014 NRL Grand Final against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Sutton played at second-row and captained Souths to a 30-6 Grand Final victory.[36][37]

2015[edit]

On 20 January 2015, Sutton was dumped as captain of South Sydney and was replaced by Greg Inglis after himself and former teammate Luke Burgess got into an incident at a bar in Flagstaff, Arizona.[38] The pair were arrested after a bouncer told them to leave and Burgess threw the bouncer to the ground, the pair were heavily intoxicated and were later charged with disorderly conduct.[39] Later on 2 March 2015, the club received a $20,000 fine by the NRL for the incident.[40] In Round 25 against the Brisbane Broncos, Sutton suffered a season ending broken leg injury in the Rabbitohs woeful 47-12 loss at Sydney Football Stadium.[41] Sutton finished the 2015 NRL season with him playing in 18 matches and scoring 2 tries for Souths as the club reached the finals but were eliminated in the first week by Cronulla-Sutherland which ended their premiership defence.[42]

2016[edit]

On 2 February, Sutton was named as the captain of the Rabbitohs 2016 Auckland Nines squad. Although being heavily linked with a move to the super league. In round 1 against the Sydney Roosters, Sutton tore his pectoral and was ruled out for half the season.[43]

2017[edit]

Sutton played in all 24 games for Souths in the 2017 NRL season. Towards the end of the year, Sutton signed a one year extension with Souths for the 2018 season with the goal of becoming the first player in the club's history to pass the 300 game mark.[44][45]

2018[edit]

In 2018, Sutton played his 300th first grade game against the Wests Tigers in a 22-6 defeat. Sutton became the first South Sydney player to reach 300 games and only the 32nd player in the history of the game to reach this milestone. Sutton featured in 27 games as Souths finished 3rd on the table at the end of the regular season and made it all the way to the preliminary final before losing to arch rivals Eastern Suburbs 12-4.[46]

2019[edit]

On 14 August 2019, Sutton announced that he would retire at the conclusion of the 2019 NRL season.[47]

Sutton made a total of 27 appearances for South Sydney in the 2019 NRL season as the club finished third on the table and qualified for the finals. Sutton scored his final try for the club in their elimination semi-final victory over Manly at ANZ Stadium. Sutton's last game as a player came the following week against the Canberra Raiders in the preliminary final which South Sydney lost 16-10 at Canberra Stadium.[48][49][50][51]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "John Sutton - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Russell Crowe Hails Rabbitohs Recordbreaker John Sutton A South Sydney's Favourite Son". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Inglis and Sutton join Rabbitohs coaching staff". National Rugby League. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  4. ^ Glenn Jackson (26 July 2013). "Sutton hasn't looked back since turnaround at Souths". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  5. ^ Hooper, James (9 March 2008). "Maitua, Sutton back Bra Boys". Fox Sports News (Australia). Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  6. ^ "Teen joins select group of Broncos - League". Smh.com.au. 5 July 2004. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  7. ^ "PM's XIII outclasses Kumuls - Breaking News - Sport - Breaking News". Theage.com.au. 18 September 2005. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  8. ^ "The worst teams in NRL history". Sporting News.
  9. ^ "Broncos fail to impress". Smh.com.au. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  10. ^ "NRL Grand Final: South Sydney Rabbitohs looking to join rugby league's greatest drought breakers". ABC News. October 2014.
  11. ^ "Country - City Draw 22-22". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Civoniceva will skipper Panthers in 2008". The Fiji Times Online. 4 February 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  13. ^ [1] Archived 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ [2] Archived 10 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Sutton in Frame for Blues Five Eighth". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Anasta and Mason left out of 40-man Origin squad - LHQNews". Smh.com.au. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  17. ^ "Country Beat City Origin 40-18". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Cowboys Destroy Rabbitohs at Dairy Farmers Stadium". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  19. ^ [3] Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "2010 SEASON REVIEW: South Sydney Rabbitohs". www.nrl.com.
  21. ^ "Rabbitohs v Warriors preview". NRL.com. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  22. ^ "Rabbitohs v Warriors". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  23. ^ "South Sydney Coach Michael Maguire Appoints Five Captains". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  24. ^ Webster, Andrew (6 October 2012). "Rabbitohs five-eighth John Sutton named 2012 George Piggins Medallist". News.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  25. ^ "Merritt among names added to Roos squad". NRL.com. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  26. ^ "John Sutton Re-Signs with South Sydey; Rabbitohs Set for Record". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  27. ^ "Round to rival no other". NRL.com. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  28. ^ "Rabbitohs Blow Titans Away to Get NRL Premiership Tilt Back on Track". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  29. ^ "Manly Sea Eagles stun South Sydney to keep Rabbitohs' waiting on NRL grand final appearance". www.abc.net.au.
  30. ^ "Inglis and Sutton Crowned as First Joint Winners of the George Piggins Medal in 2013". Rabbitohs.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  31. ^ "Fiji's Home on the World Wide Web". Fijivillage.com. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  32. ^ "Sutton-ly a Bati". The Fiji Times Online. 1 October 2013. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  33. ^ "Squads For Auckland Nines". Rugby League Week. 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  34. ^ Hooper, James (8 February 2014). "New halves pairing of Adam Reynolds and Luke Keary forces John Sutton to move to lock". News.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  35. ^ "Jamie Soward Lauds John Sutton as the Driving Force Behind South Sydney Rabbitohs Form". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  36. ^ "Rabbitohs Win 2014 NRL Grand Final Defeating Canterbury Bulldogs 30-6". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  37. ^ "Rabbitohs Grand Final Player Ratings". NRL.com. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  38. ^ "NRL Reopens Investigation Into Wild Night in Arizona as Details of John Sutton, Luke Burgess Arrest Emerge". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  39. ^ Adrian Proszenko (20 January 2015). "John Sutton dumped as Rabbitohs skipper as injury cloud hangs over Luke Keary". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  40. ^ Michael Chammas. "South Sydney Rabbitohs fined $20,000 by NRL over John Sutton and Luke Burgess incident in Arizona". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  41. ^ "Rabbitohs Skipper John Sutton Injured; Issac Luke on Report for Shoulder Charge". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  42. ^ "NRL finals: Cronulla Sharks defeat South Sydney Rabbitohs to eliminate defending premiers". www.abc.net.au.
  43. ^ "Rabbitohs name 2016 Nines squad - Rugby League Week". 2 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  44. ^ "South Sydney Rabbitohs re-sign John Sutton for 2018, 300-game milestone".
  45. ^ "Custom Match List - Rugby League Project".
  46. ^ "NRL 2018: South Sydney John Sutton breaks down ahead of 300th game".
  47. ^ Walsh, Dan (14 August 2019). "Rabbitohs icon John Sutton to retire at the end of 2019". NRL.com. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  48. ^ "South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett confirms major changes for Sydney Roosters final". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  49. ^ "South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Manly Sea Eagles 34-26 in NRL semi-final". ABC.
  50. ^ "Rabbitohs dig deep to eliminate Sea Eagles in finals thriller". NRL.
  51. ^ "Canberra Raiders end 25-year wait to reach NRL grand final with victory over Rabbitohs". The Guardian.

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