Former Wigan youngster Harry Rushton set for NRL debut
Photo: Canberra Raiders/Behind the Limelight podcast
Former Wigan youngster Harry Rushton is set to make his NRL debut with Canberra Raiders this weekend.
He could make his debut from the bench in their clash with Penrith Panthers on Sunday, April 24.
Rushton, 21, made the switch Down Under ahead of the 2021 season on a three-year deal from Super League’s Wigan. He played 10 games in Canberra’s New South Wales Cup team in 2021 before the season was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The Blackpool-born forward made one Super League appearance for Wigan in a derby against St Helens in 2020.
Rushton will become Raider #382 after being named on the bench with jersey 15, with Emre Guler dropping out of the 17.
He will join team-mate and Wiganer Ryan Sutton in the pack, who has been named at loose forward. The 26-year-old made the move to Canberra ahead of 2019, and has made 60 appearances for the Raiders.
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Harry Rushton on time in Australia
Rushton spoke about his time with Canberra so far earlier in March.
“I’ve been here 18 months now,” he told the Behind the Limelight, the official podcast of Canberra Raiders.
“When I came here I didn’t know anyone but regardless whether they are English, Aussie or wherever they are from, they all really welcomed me here.
“I played at Wigan, that’s where Sutty (Sutton) played and also George Williams when he was here. It was nice to have them here because they were similar to me in that when they came over here they didn’t really know anyone. But all the young and old boys really welcomed me. We are like a family here rather than a club.
“I was pretty nervous back then. I’d only played one Super League game and I hadn’t really trained much first-grade over there but coming here was a big step up. The boys really helped me and I think I’ve changed a lot in them 18 months.”
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