Canterbury’s Sutton Cleared of Serious Neck Injury

Ryan Sutton of the Bulldogs receives attention after injuring himself in a tackle during the round 19 NRL match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bulldogs at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia, on July 8, 2023. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Canterbury prop Ryan Sutton has been cleared of a serious neck injury after being taken to hospital following his side’s NRL win over South Sydney.

Sutton had his head rocked back in a tackle from Rabbitohs winger Taane Milne and complained of severe neck pain.

The English prop was in obvious distress and exited the field on a medicab during his team’s 36-32 win on Saturday night.

Milne was hit with a grade-one careless high contact charge and will escape suspension with a $3,000 (US$2,000) fine.

Thankfully for Sutton, who underwent assessment on Saturday night, he was cleared of a neck fracture as well as concussion.

He will have a further scan to assess any potential nerve damage to his neck, according to Bulldogs football manager Phil Gould.

“(The) neck spasms he experienced on field wouldn’t subside, so our staff had to be cautious,” Gould tweeted. “He is home, in good spirits.”