Former Wigan Warriors star set to leave current club and could make Super League switch

In 2018 Ryan Sutton lifted the Super League trophy with Wigan Warriors in what was the last game for John Bateman, Sam Tomkins, Shaun Wane and Sutton himself.

Sutton and Bateman left together joining the Canberra Raiders for a crack at the NRL.

Unlike Tomkins and Joe Burgess before, John Bateman alongside him and Oliver Gildart after him, Sutton bucked the trend and went to the NRL and stuck it out.

He helped the Raiders to the Grand Final in 2019 and stayed at the club for four years prior to joining Canterbury Bulldogs this year.

Though he still has a number of years left on his contract at Canterbury, the club have told him he can explore his options elsewhere for 2024 meaning he has emerged as a potential Super League transfer target.

There has been rumours linking him with a move to Leeds Rhinos earlier this year.

Sadly, Sutton has been making headlines for the wrong reasons lately. 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.”

It now seems Sutton is fully recovered and could even be set to return to Super League.

It remains to be seen if NRL clubs will make a move for the prop for 2024. Teammate and England star Luke Thompson is also headed for the exit door.