Former Super League star forced to have MRI

We used to see Ryan Sutton star for Wigan Warriors frequently against their title rivals and in famous battles against Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Hull FC and of course bitter rivals St Helens.

Sadly we have gone from seeing him ferociously battle in the middle of the pitch to being stretchered off at the weekend.

Sutton is an underappreciated success story. He won two Grand Finals at Wigan in 2016 and 2018 defeating Warrington in both Old Trafford deciders.

He also had the chance to play at Wembley in 2017 though against Hull FC he was on the wrong side of the scoreline.

In 2019, he followed teammate John Bateman to the NRL joining former Hull KR star Josh Hodgson and of course former Bradford Bulls star Elliot Whitehead at the Canberra Raiders.

he helped them to the Grand Final in his first season.

He spent four years there and though not the success Sam Burgess and others have been down under he has been a very handy player and joined Canterbury Bulldogs ahead of this year.

Despite this there has been a suggestion that Sutton could return to Super League this year with Leeds Rhinos.

However, deciding whether to stay in the NRL or leave to Super League will be the furthest thing from his mind.

This is because at the weekend, against South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sutton was worryingly stretchered off.

He was hit with a shoulder charge which jarred head and neck.

He was subsequently taken to hospital and is awaiting a scan after suffering “intense neck pain.”

Canterbury chief Phil Gould gave the following update on him:

“Spoke to Ryan Sutton. He is hospital. About to have scan. Suffered intense neck pain, so it was best to take no chances & get him to hospital. Bulldog staff did great job. Our Welfare manager Luke Goodwin is with him in hospital. More news as it comes to hand.”

Gould has now delivered a more positive update on the prop but revealed he had to have an MRI.

“Spoke to Ryan Sutton this morning. Scans cleared any fractures. Zero concussion. Intense neck pain. MRI tomorrow to clear any nerve damage. Expected to be clear. Neck spasms he experienced on field wouldn’t subside, so our staff had to be cautious. He is home, in good spirits.”