John Sutton stands to become South Sydney’s first 300-game player after signing a one-year contract extension to stay at the NRL club in 2018.

Sutton, who turns 33 in November, is the club’s most experienced player with 282 NRL games to his name after 14 seasons at the top level.

However, provided he remains injury free next year, he will be the first one-club Rabbitohs player to reach the elusive milestone next July or August.

“I love this club and everything it stands for and I’ve never wanted to play for anyone else,” said Sutton, who was the premiership-winning captain in Souths’ 2014 victory over Canterbury.

“To have the opportunity to have another year with Souths is fantastic and I want to thank everyone at the club for having faith in me to get the job done next season.”

A Souths junior, Sutton debuted for the club in 2004 and has three times been named the club’s player of the year.

He had remained off contract at the club this year, but had long maintained his desire to play another season at the Rabbitohs.

Former coach Michael Maguire had previously indicated the club was waiting on the NRL’s finalisation of the 2018 salary cap figure before Sutton’s future was secured.

But with Maguire going and Anthony Seibold arriving as head coach two weeks ago, Sutton’s extension was confirmed by Souths’ general manager Shane Richardson on Thursday.

“He is our longest serving player, he has led the club to a premiership, he’s played more games than anyone else in the history of this club, and he is a fantastic mentor for the young players in our squad,” Richardson said.

“He is a South Sydney man from a wonderful South Sydney family and he has shown amazing commitment to stick with the club since 2002.”