Bunnies’ big guns want part of Sutton salute
SOUTH Sydney’s biggest names including Sam Burgess, Cody Walker, Damien Cook and Adam Reynolds have all asked Wayne Bennett to let them play in John Sutton’s testimonial match this Saturday.
In a sign that has left the new Rabbitohs coach in no doubt about Sutton’s standing among his peers, Bennett confirmed to News Corp: “They all want to play out of respect to John Sutton. It is his testimonial and they think the world of him.”
While most of the club’s big guns were not expected to make their 2019 entrance until the following week in the Charity Shield against St George Illawarra in Mudgee, Bennett said he would not stand in the way of any player who was fit to take the field.
The trial against Penrith will be played at the Bunnies’ spiritual home at Redfern Oval and the club is expecting a good crowd to turn up in Sutton’s honour.
“A number of the senior players have put their hands up wanting to play,” Bennett added. “I just have to work it out, talk to them during the week and respect their wishes.
“They probably won’t play long minutes but if they want to play they will play.”
While Reynolds has expressed his desire to play he might not be able to because of a shoulder problem, and Greg Inglis is still recovering from an ongoing knee complaint.
Sam Burgess also missed England’s recent Test series against New Zealand with a shoulder and wrist injury but Bennett said the big forward hadn’t missed a session all summer and was raring to go.
There was plenty of debate going on within the NRL last year as to whether Sutton should be afforded a testimonial match. But ultimately sanity prevailed in the wake of huge support from the club and the wider rugby league community.
While Sutton never played State of Origin or Test football, he does hold a very proud record for most games ever played for Souths, an honour worthy of recognition.