The South Sydney Rabbitohs are excited to announce the re-signing of South Sydney junior John Sutton until the end of the 2017 season, making him a Rabbitoh for life. Sutton, 28, agreed to the new four-year deal today, making him a one Club player throughout his career, extending his tenure at the Club to 14 seasons of NRL football since making his debut against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on 4 July, 2004. Sutton has played 186 NRL games for South Sydney to date, and is in line to break Bob McCarthy’s club record of 211 first grade matches with this contract extension, and could become the Club’s first 300-game player. He has also represented City Origin twice in 2008 and 2009, and represented the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII in 2005. He was also selected in the Australian train-on squad at the end of the 2012 season. Sutton is the only Rabbitohs players to have twice won the George Piggins Medal for the Club’s best and fairest player of the season, awards which he won in 2012 and 2009. He also won the Coach’s Award in 2008 and the Supporters’ Choice Award in 2005. Sutton is a South Sydney junior who has developed through the junior representative sides to represent his home Club. Rabbitohs Head Coach Michael Maguire is very happy to see the Club secure the services of Sutton for four more seasons. “John has grown to be one of the more influential leaders at our Club and I couldn’t be happier that he has re-signed for four more years,” Coach Maguire said. “He has proved himself as someone that leads the way both on and off the field here at Souths, which led him to be selected as one of five captains at the Club last year, and he is massive part of what we’re doing as a group here at the moment. “He is one of the most damaging players we have on the field and he has been a fantastic influence on the young players in our squad, particularly our young halves such as Adam Reynolds, Luke Keary and others. “He has a young family now, lives in the South Sydney district, his family are all passionate Rabbitohs supporters, and we’re really pleased to know he will be here with us for the long term.” Sutton is happy to have his future at the Club secured. “I’ve never wanted to play anywhere but South Sydney,” Sutton said. “We have wonderful support from our Members and supporters every week, and there was no way I was going to move away from any of this. I love the Club, I’m 100% behind the direction which we are going in, I’m enjoying playing under ‘Madge’ and I’m sure there are special times ahead for the Rabbitohs. “I’m glad that I am going to be a part of that, and I’m looking forward to getting out on the field against the Warriors this week as our next challenge of this season.”