Get to know Bradford’s tough-as-teak prop Ryan Sutton as he tackles our 20 Questions.

1 What was the best thing about the seven seasons you had playing out in Australia?

You’ve got the weather for one, but also just the real level of competitiveness you faced, week in, week out – that was really good. I also got the chance to play against some world-class players. Watching rugby league as a kid and then getting to play against players like Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Sonny Bill Williams was a great experience.

2 What is the main difference between Super League and the NRL?

Just that the talent pool over in the NRL is much wider. Rugby league is a national sport over there compared to over here, and there are so many players, not just in Australia and New Zealand, but across the Pacific Islands and Fiji who are involved. Add to that the English players going over and you have so much talent in that competition and that’s what makes it so competitive every week. I’m not saying that Super League isn’t competitive, but they’ve just got more players to work with.

3 You weren’t the only new face in the Bradford camp this season with several new players brought together, so how do you feel you’ve gelled as a side?

I linked up with the squad quite late so I was one of the last to come in, but from the start I could tell I was coming into a very welcoming group.

We’re a team, but we’re a family as well and when we do things, whether that’s just in the chill room playing table tennis or darts, or anything else, we’re all doing it together. And whenever we’re on the field, we’re always doing everything as a team, too. That’s not just the players, it’s the staff as well.

4 Who have you become closest friends with since you arrived at Bradford?

I’ve played with and against a lot of players during my career so there is a connection with the guys that are around my age, so people like Andy Ackers, Joe Mellor and guys like that. But I am the kind of player who can be friends with anyone. That’s what I like about this club – we’re friends together.

5 You played in quite a few Wigan versus Saints derbies in your time, but the Bradford versus Leeds games must be ones to look forward to as well?

Any derby is a good derby, but whenever I used to watch Super League as a kid the Leeds versus Bradford games were always in the calendar to watch. They’d not happened for a long time before this year so it’s good to have them back.

6 You made your Wigan debut against Bradford back in 2014, what do you remember about that game?

I was very, very young and very light, and was playing against a pack that weighed about 300kg or something like that.

I’d played for Workington on loan a few times before I made my Wigan debut so I’d had a bit of experience of what it was like to play against men.

But to play at the DW Stadium (as it was then), in front of your own fans, and with your family there, it was pretty surreal to be fair.

I don’t actually remember too much about the game to be honest, but if I sit down and watch it back I’ll definitely reminisce about it.

7 What is your favourite ground to play at?

There are a few – St Helens’ stadium is really good and so is Headingley. Wigan’s is also always great on the derby days against Saints, so there’s a lot of good ones.

But one thing I like about Super League stadiums is that they’re all close to the action. In the NRL the stadiums are quite big and everything feels so far away.

8 Who was your rugby league icon when you were growing up?

I had probably two and I was lucky enough that I got to play with one of them in Sean O’Loughlin. 

He was an idol and someone I really looked up to at Wigan, so it was pretty surreal when I got to play alongside him. 

But Andy Farrell was definitely one as well – as a kid coming through you want to be just like him.

9 What has been the greatest moment of your career so far?

Finishing on a high in Super League with the 2018 Super League Grand Final. Things had been going really well that year and I had already signed for the Raiders, but then I got the opportunity to play in a Grand Final and won it.

It was my last game with Wigan and all my family were there, so that was a really special moment to have before heading to Australia.

10 Who is the toughest opponent you’ve come up against?

James Roby is one of the toughest players there has ever been. He’s played so many games in the middle, with over 500 career games. He’d play 80 minutes and make 40 to 50 tackles a game.

11 Is there a go-to song or artist on your playlist?

I’m like a mixed bag so I can listen to anything, but I do like a bit of country, so probably Chris Stapleton. That’s just nice and chilled.

There is a lot of country music over in Australia, but it seems like it’s getting big over here now too.

12 What is top of your bucket list?

Me and my wife have spoken about this. We want to live in an exotic place in the middle of nowhere, near the beach, and have cattle, horses and stuff like that.

We’re pretty private people and we just like the thought of living somewhere like that – maybe in Central America – that would be quite cool.

13 Where’s the most interesting place you have travelled to?

We had quite a big trip when we got married so that was probably the most enjoyable holiday.

We got married in Mexico for one, which was quite cool, and before that we did a Caribbean cruise and went to Hawaii. That was all in one trip either side of the wedding, and with two kids.

14 What is the one thing that annoys you more than anything?

Bad manners and when people just don’t use manners in general. If you don’t say please and thank you, then I hate that.

15 What would be your ideal night out?

At a beach club, just chilling on a beach.

16 If you weren’t a rugby league player, what would you be doing?

I’ve often thought about this. I’m an electrician by trade, so I’d have probably got into that and some house renovation as well. I’m a bit of a grafter so it would be something like that.

17 If you could travel back in time to witness any historical moment, what would you like to go and see?

I’d have loved to see the pyramids in Egypt get built. I don’t know how they’ve done it – it’s a bit of a phenomenon. Crazy.

18 Is there a star from another sport that you particularly admire?

Cristiano Ronaldo is the pinnacle of his sport. He’s done everything and is one of the greatest goal scorers in the world. He’s in his 40s now and he’s still playing. I know it’s not in the Premier League, but it is still at a competitive level.

19 What is your fondest childhood memory?

My dad used to love making things and he used to always take me into the garage to help. I’d have been four, five or six years old and I’d be helping him with a saw and things like that. So just building things with my dad.

I think that is where I get my attitude of hard work from.

20 If you could be on any celebrity TV show or reality TV show, which one would you fancy having a go at?

There is a show in Australia called ‘The Block’ where a couple or a pair of people start at the very bottom with a renovation project and work their way up until they have finished it. They then sell it and take the prize money.

I’d quite like to do that.

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 523 (August 2026)