South Sydney NRL legend John Sutton opens up about his drunken hell and depression since retiring

The great John Sutton of South Sydney has confessed his problems with alcohol and depression have gotten so bad that he has had to enter rehab this year to get his life back.

The 37-year-old has revealed he has struggled badly since leaving the game at the end of the 2019 season following a career in which he led the Rabbitohs to the 2014 championship and became a capped player. the most of the club.

‘The last few years have not been great. I’ve suffered from major depression since retiring and obviously, drinking doesn’t help with that,’ Sutton said.

Sutton (pictured holding the championship trophy after the Souths won the final in 2014) was in rehab as he struggled with drinking and post-retirement depression

The Great Souths says he’s now turned off alcohol and tries to ‘be there more for my wife and family’ (pictured with wife Stacey)

‘I worked with myself and alcohol. I gave up on it. I’m avoiding that. Every day that I stay awake is a good day.

‘It’s something I don’t need in my life right now.’

The former Bunnies captain is still working for the club as a coach, runner and development coach, but admits facing life after his playing career has been extremely difficult. towel.

“A few months ago, I was in rehab and trying to sort out my life,” he told Andy Raymond’s Unfiltered podcast.

‘It’s weird after football. I didn’t think I would struggle that much.

‘But having played 16 years of rugby league, in that sense it’s been tough. It’s hard to speak up… when I’m done playing, I don’t want to talk about my problem until it gets too bad and I get stuck. ‘

After making his NRL debut at the age of 19, Sutton (pictured with Chris Hemsworth) spent the next 16 years at the top – and struggled when he retired

Despite a stellar career that saw him captain the Souths as they broke a 43-year drought at the top (pictured) and set a record for most club caps, Sutton has shocked by how hard life was when he took off his shoes for the last time. time

Sutton debuted in first grade in 2004 at the age of 19 and spent most of her adult life in the NRL system.

He believes the league needs to do more for the stars who have just left the game, with his comments on the tragic death of champion player and coach Paul Green.

‘I’m very grateful to the Souths and I have a good job there but I think the NRL should do more in the space where players are moving into the next phase of their lives and careers.

‘The last few months have been very good for me personally. I have been working hard to become a better person, a better person for my wife and family. ‘

Sutton believes the NRL is not doing enough to support players when they leave the game

Sutton’s only alcohol-related scandal of his playing career occurred in 2015, when he and teammate Luke Burgess were arrested during Souths summer camp in Arizona.

The couple have been charged with disorderly conduct after an incident at a Flagstaff bar saw them scuffle with bar staff when they were asked to leave.

Sutton played a record 336 level one games for the Southern team, scoring 68 tries and leading the team when they broke a 43rd place drought by beating Canterbury in the 2014 final.

As a member of Maroubra’s Bra Boys, he played under eight coaches for the Bunnies and says that experience helped him in his later coaching career with the club.

Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk