Salary cap may end it for Sutton
ONLY the salary cap stands in the way of South Sydney milestone man John Sutton extending his career into next year.
Sutton will be the toast of Redfern this afternoon when he runs out for his 300th game for the Rabbitohs, becoming the first player in the 110-year history of the foundation club to reach the mark.
With his 34th birthday coming in November the former South Sydney skipper has proven age is no obstacle, arguably finding his best form this year and helping the team to the No.1 spot.
Through 17 games this year the back-rower has made an average of 95m per game – his best season average since 2012.
South Sydney coach Anthony Seibold says he wants Sutton to play on and the man himself wants to go around for a 16th first-grade season next year.
It is just a matter of finding the funds to fit him into their salary cap.
“From my point of view, I’d like him to play on and Sutto would like to play on,” Seibold said.
“With every club, there’s salary cap constraints and so on.
“We’re going through that process but both parties have indicated we’d like to see him run around in a Bunnies jersey again next year.”
Sutton’s teammates this week called for Sutton to be given a testimonial game, similar to what Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith were afforded at the start of this year.
In terms of the NRL’s 10point criteria, Sutton ticks most of the boxes, but one of the NRL’s rules does state that representative appearances must be taken into consideration but are not a requirement.
Sutton has come close on several occasions to representing NSW but never pulled on a Blues jumper.