Former Wigan Warriors star available to Super League clubs

Former Wigan Warriors star is now available to Super League clubs to sign after five years in the NRL with the Canberra Raiders and the Canterbury Bulldogs.

The prop forward left Wigan at the end of 2018 to join Canberra Raiders being one of the many British players recruited by the Green Machine alongside Elliott Whitehead, John Bateman, George Williams and most recently Morgan Smithies.

Sutton helped Raiders to the 2019 Grand Final and was well liked at the club until he had to leave to join Canterbury Bulldogs on a three year deal ahead of 2023 season.

That being said reports down under earlier this year suggested that he could be available for Super League clubs to sign ahead of the 2024 Super League season.

Now that has been reignited now that the Bulldogs are looking to offload players to open up cap space to sign the likes of Siousiua Taukeiaho from the Catalans Dragons.

If he did return to Super League, it would be interesting to see where he would end up with a return to Wigan unlikely given they signed his former Canterbury teammate Luke Thompson.

Sutton is Wigan through and through saying upon his exit: “Being a young lad from Wigan it was a tough decision to make to leave my hometown club but I’ve always wanted to try my hand in the NRL and this was a great opportunity for me.

“I’m grateful to all of the coaching staff and players that have helped me develop not just as a player but as a person too.

“I am still a Wigan player this year and I am hungry to leave with more silverware and will give 100 per cent in everything I do until my departure.”

Sutton made over 100 appearances for Wigan since making his debut in 2014 and was in the team that won the 2016 Grand Final and the 2017 World Club Challenge and again helped Wigan to Grand Final glory in his final appearance for the club against Warrington Wolves.

In comments very reminiscent of what he recently said about Morgan Smithies, Kris Radlinski said of Sutton’s exit: “It is disappointing to lose a player who we have helped develop through our academy and someone who we believe can and will improve in the future.

“That said, a rugby league player only has a short career and Ryan has given five seasons of great service to Wigan.

“Ryan made this decision a long time ago and has been transparent throughout this process.

“He made no secret of his desire to play in Australia. There were actually no negotiations, Ryan knew that he wanted NRL and stuck firm to that. We wish him every success for the future as he looks to fulfil his dreams overseas.”