South Sydney’s most-capped player John Sutton insists he’ll be staying put at the NRL club despite being dumped as captain for the 2015 season.

Sutton led the Rabbitohs to their first premiership in 43 years in 2014 but coach Michael Maguire announced last month the 30-year-old would not be at the helm again this season, the role instead going to star fullback Greg Inglis.

It’s thought to be the first time a defending premiership-winning NRL captain has been axed before the new season.

But speaking at the launch of the NRL Community Carnival, under which players and rugby league ambassadors visit schools across Australia, Sutton said he was staying at Redfern.

“I love this club and I am very proud to be part of this squad and, even though I don’t have the ‘c’ next to my name, I am still a leader of this team and I am very proud to be able to put the jumper on again,” said Sutton.

“We’ve (Maguire and Sutton) had plenty of chats about it but I don’t want to delve into it.

“I am still very much a part of this team and I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon – like the rumours saying I am going to the (Wests) Tigers – I don’t know where that came from.

“I love this club and I will be doing everything I can get back to the GF.”

A 229-game veteran with Souths, Sutton’s initial appointment to outright leader in 2013 after a five-captaincy arrangement raised some eyebrows, with the five-eighth-cum-backrower being thought to lack the discipline for the role.

But Sutton grew into the job and played a significant part in their premiership year.

Contracted with the Rabbitohs for another three years, Sutton also didn’t seem too perturbed about the addition of another ball-playing forward, with Glenn Stewart joining the club from Manly.

“He has been training the house down,” said Sutton who felt Stewart would play right side and he could slot in on the left. “I think he has shed 10 kilos or so. His niggling injuries are looking pretty good. He’s been training every session so I think he will be back very soon.”

Sutton had some minor clean-out surgery on his shoulder during the off-season and was hopeful of being available to play in the Club Challenge against St Helens in England on February 22.