When South Sydney coach Michael Maguire first approached John Sutton about being a co-captain this NRL season, the enigmatic five-eighth was reluctant.
However, Sutton eventually accepted the added responsibility, and his consistency this year is perhaps the best advertisement for Maguire’s controversial five-man captaincy team.
The Rabbitohs are in sixth place and well poised for a top-four charge, as they prepare to face Newcastle at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
Sutton has been a key figure and says he feels empowered by the captaincy.
“A little bit, yeah,” he says.
“At the start, I was probably a little bit reluctant to do it because we’ve got such great leaders in Crock (Michael Crocker) and Roy (Asotasi) … and to be named in that group was a big achievement for me.
“I’ve really taken it on.
“I just try to lead with my actions out on the training paddock … hopefully the boys will look up to me, but nothing really changes for me. I’m just trying to do my job.”
Teammate Jason Clark says Maguire has brought the best out in Sutton.
“Even though he’s got the big name behind him, he’s quite shy so he doesn’t like being in the limelight … to take on the captaincy role with the other four blokes is a big deal for him,” Clark says.
Parramatta great Peter Sterling has pointed out in television commentary this year how Sutton has been the man to benefit most from Greg Inglis’ switch to fullback.
An outstanding talent since he debuted in 2004, Sutton has often struggled to fire on a regular basis.
He agrees that Inglis’ positional change has helped his game and also praised Maguire for giving he and halfback Adam Reynolds the direction they needed.
“I’ve just got to set up and get Greg as much good ball as possible and get him a little bit of room, and he just does his thing,” Sutton says.
“In previous years maybe (ex-Souths halfback) Chrissy (Sandow) was better playing off the cuff, so it’s a bit different … but we know what we have to do. Madge has given us a great structure and it’s working really well for both of us.”