Incoming assistant coach John Sutton reveals the five Rabbitohs set to debut in 2024
Newly-appointed South Sydney Rabbitohs assistant coach John Sutton has identified the Redfern young guns set to take rugby league by storm.
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Newly appointed South Sydney assistant coach John Sutton has a message for every Rabbitohs player.
“Put it this way, there’s no excuses next season,’’ Sutton said.
“Nothing beats hard work and we’re going to be ripping in from day one of pre-season to be ready for the new year.’’
The longest-serving Rabbitoh of all-time with 336-games, Sutton has also declared new recruit Jack Wighton is set to start in the centres and exciting winger Tyrone Munro “could be anything.’’
Sutton has emerged as a major influence on South Sydney’s response to a horror 2023 season, which ended with the club missing the finals for the first time since 2017 and club legend Sam Burgess walking out.
Sutton’s promotion represents the turning of a page at Souths.
The premiership-winning captain joins head coach Jason Demetriou alongside Ben Hornby and victorious NSW Cup coach Joe O’Callaghan in 2024 following the dramatic departure of former assistant Burgess.
Ex-assistant John Morris has also left to join the Wests Tigers.
Sutton retired in 2019, taking his first steps into coaching with the club’s SG Ball team before being elevated to a development coach, focused on club’s next-generation players.
His focus under Demetriou will be to work with the NRL spine, including stars Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell, but particularly the players on the edge of first grade.
“I did a lot of work with our reserve grade team last season and mostly the spine and backrowers,” Sutton said. “I did some really rewarding stuff with them and went onto win the competition, so I think JD (Demetriou) recognised that he could use me a lot more, particularly the guys that are just on the fringe.
“It’s a great sign of trust from JD.
“Just to be able to work with first grade now, and be more hands on is something I’m really looking forward to.
“I’m looking forward to doing a lot of work for the younger players in the squad, which I love to do.
“I’ve been around 20-years now, so I’ve seen a lot of different coaches and a lot of different styles.
“Hopefully I can transition that into my coaching going forward.
“I’m looking forward to that.’’
Describing the exit of his close mate Burgess as ”sad”, Sutton went onto explain why he had belief in the Rabbitohs ability to respond from one of the most disappointing seasons of any club in 2023.
“I’ve got plenty of belief,’’ Sutton said.
“I just look around at the organisation of people. Yes, it was a hiccup last year, but we’ll work hard in the pre-season, increase our bond.
“I like the look of our squad. It’s a great squad.
“We just lacked confidence going into the back end of the year, but a good, hard pre-season changes all that.
“You get what you deserve in this game, so we’re one of the clubs back to training earlier and who need to train hard to get back to where we should be.’’
Wighton’s arrival to Souths adds a new dimension to the team’s attack in 2024 with the former Raider capable of playing at five-eighth, centre or fullback.
“He’s a great signing for the club. He’s in his prime now, Jack. He’s playing really good footy,’’ Sutton said.
“It would be good to see him in the red and green.
“If you’re asking me now where I think he plays, I’d probably say centre.
“But he can change in the pre-season, its just great to have him on board.’’
Sutton has worked closely with a host of the club’s rising stars including Tyrone Munro, Tallis Duncan, Jye Gray, Ben Lovett and Thomas Fletcher, all of whom he believes will progress to first grade.
“The sky is the limit for Tyrone Munro, he could be anything,’’ Sutton said.
“They’re all going to be putting pressure on first grade for sure.
“After poor end to our season everyone is focused on the future. I’ve always been about this football team and this club and I will always put that first.
“I’m committed to one thing and that is coaching the boys the South Sydney way.’’
RABBITOHS EXTEND DEMETRIOU, ELEVATE CLUB GREAT
South Sydney have put their faith in head coach Jason Demetriou to return the club back to the finals with confirmation of a new extended contract.
After months of conjecture surrounding Demetriou’s new deal, the Rabbitohs have locked in the Rabbitohs mentor until the end of 2026.
In the wake of failing to make the 2023 finals series, the Rabbitohs had been waiting to solidify Demetriou’s coaching staff for next year before making the new contract public.
That was determined on Wednesday when it was revealed that club legend John Sutton and former NSW Cup coach Joe O’Callaghan will join assistant coach Ben Hornby as members of Demetriou’s coaching staff for 2023.
The elevation of Sutton, who had been working as a development coach in 2023, and O’Callaghan, who won the 2023 NSW Cup premiership with Souths last Sunday, was required following the sudden exit of Sam Burgess and John Morris at the end of this season.
Sutton will be focused on preparing the club’s next-generation players from inside the top-30 roster for first grade each week.
Originally published as Incoming assistant coach John Sutton reveals the five Rabbitohs set to debut in 2024
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