Adam Ritson
Encyclopedia
Adam Ritson was an Australia
n rugby league
player for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Parramatta Eels
in the New South Wales Rugby League
competition in Australia, his position of choice was at prop-forward
.
While attending De La Salle in 1993, Ritson was selected to play for the Australian Schoolboys team
.
. Beetson immediately drafted Ritson into the Sharks first grade team while he was still only sixteen years of age in 1993 making him one of the youngest ever first grade players, Ritson then went on to make several appearances over the next three seasons for the club.
After impressing all with his talent, skill and size at such a young age and appearing in the Sharks Presidents Cup final victory in 1994 as well as tasting his first representative game with the City side, Adam found himself in the middle of a battle for his signature between the Australian Rugby League
and Super League
competitions. Ritson decided on staying with the Australian Rugby League essentially meaning he would have to leave his Cronulla club after they had signed on to become a Super League team making himself a free-agent after the 1995 season.
for the start of the 1996 season. Adam was placed into the Eels starting line-up with immediate effect and after playing just eleven games for his new club struck tragedy in a fixture against the Canberra Raiders. Just two minutes into the game he was knocked unconscious after a dangerous high tackle from Canberra
forward John Lomax
and with the completion of the game and a routine scan it was discovered he had a life-threatening brain cyst. Ritson then went on to have fourteen operations over the next year several of which nearly left him dead, eventually he made a full recovery but was never the same and retired from the game later that year at the age of twenty.
After his career was effectively over at such a young age a lawsuit was filed by Ritson first against Lomax for the high tackle but was then shifted towards his club the Raiders instead. Eventually the case was settled out of court with Ritson being given a six-figure sum.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
in the New South Wales Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
competition in Australia, his position of choice was at prop-forward
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
.
Childhood and early career
Ritson began playing rugby league at an early age for the Miranda Magpies in the Sutherland Shire and was quickly earmarked as a star player for his advanced skills at such a young age along with his size. He later moved on to rival club the Engadine Dragons before being signed to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at an early age.While attending De La Salle in 1993, Ritson was selected to play for the Australian Schoolboys team
Australia national schoolboy rugby league team
The Australian Schoolboys rugby league team is the national rugby league football team for secondary school students in Australia.The Australian Schoolboys or Australia Schoolboys represent Australia on a national level at rugby league at youth level...
.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
His talent was noticed immediately at the Cronulla club impressing coaches at all levels including first grade coach Arthur BeetsonArthur Beetson
Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best...
. Beetson immediately drafted Ritson into the Sharks first grade team while he was still only sixteen years of age in 1993 making him one of the youngest ever first grade players, Ritson then went on to make several appearances over the next three seasons for the club.
After impressing all with his talent, skill and size at such a young age and appearing in the Sharks Presidents Cup final victory in 1994 as well as tasting his first representative game with the City side, Adam found himself in the middle of a battle for his signature between the Australian Rugby League
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
and Super League
Super League (Australia)
Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
competitions. Ritson decided on staying with the Australian Rugby League essentially meaning he would have to leave his Cronulla club after they had signed on to become a Super League team making himself a free-agent after the 1995 season.
Parramatta Eels
With his signature being chased after by the majority of ARL clubs Ritson eventually agreed to sign for the Parramatta EelsParramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
for the start of the 1996 season. Adam was placed into the Eels starting line-up with immediate effect and after playing just eleven games for his new club struck tragedy in a fixture against the Canberra Raiders. Just two minutes into the game he was knocked unconscious after a dangerous high tackle from Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
forward John Lomax
John Lomax (rugby league)
John Junior Lomax is a New Zealand former rugby league player who represented his country. He is the brother of another international, David Lomax.-Early years:...
and with the completion of the game and a routine scan it was discovered he had a life-threatening brain cyst. Ritson then went on to have fourteen operations over the next year several of which nearly left him dead, eventually he made a full recovery but was never the same and retired from the game later that year at the age of twenty.
After his career was effectively over at such a young age a lawsuit was filed by Ritson first against Lomax for the high tackle but was then shifted towards his club the Raiders instead. Eventually the case was settled out of court with Ritson being given a six-figure sum.