Benson: Sutton can star

OLDHAM RL coach Tony Benson is banking on Luke Sutton becoming one of the top props in Co-operative Championship One next season.

Benson pulled the big front-rower back into the Roughyeds fold last March in the firm belief that the former Keighley Cougars man’s best days were still in front of him.

Nothing has happened to change Benson’s confidence in the 24-year-old, although a serious knee injury restricted him to nine appearances last term.

He has since signed a new one-year deal to cover 2011 and Benson remains convinced that, given an injury-free run, Sutton will take club and division by storm.

“I’m delighted he’s signed again,” said the Kiwi coach. “He has enormous potential. It isn’t every player who hits his peak at 21 or 22.

“The exciting thing about Luke is that, because he has been unlucky with injuries, he has so much more to offer.

“We’ve seen glimpses of him at his best, but I know that if he can string together a run of matches he will definitely come through as one of our top players.

“He’s big, strong and for such a big bloke he is agile, good on his feet and he has a lot of skill.”

Whitworth-based Sutton, the club’s biggest forward at 6ft3in and 17st10lbs, has made 16 senior appearances in two and a half seasons — six in 2008, one in 2009 and nine in 2010.

He and Dave Ellison, two props coming off the bench, gave outstanding performances in a 28-16 win at Workington followed by a 40-26 triumph against Blackpool Panthers at Whitebank midway through last season.

Unluckily for Sutton it was in the Blackpool game that he damaged the cruciate ligament in a knee.

“Happily, that’s all behind me now,” said Luke, a bricklayer by trade. “I’m fully fit again and I was chuffed to sign a new deal.

“I’m hoping for better luck on the injury front and keeping fingers crossed that 2011 will be my year.”