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Adam Ritson

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Born
Friday, 6th August, 1976
Current Age
49 years and 313 days

Competitions Won

NSW City vs Country Origin
1995
NSW Reserve Grade
1994

Biography

Cronulla coach Arthur Beetson drew much criticism for drafting 16-year-old schoolboy Adam Ritson into first grade in 1993. The giant prop was up to the task, however, and after playing in the club's President's Cup grand final-winning side in 1994, surprisingly found himself at the centre of a tug-of-war between Super League and the ARL. Ritson remained with the ARL and, after commencing his promising rep career with selection for City, joined P’matta in 1996. That year, Ritson was knocked unconscious in a match against Canberra after a high tackle by rival forward John Lomax, and a routine scan discovered a life-threatening cyst in his brain. After 14 operations in an ordeal that almost claimed his life, Ritson recovered his health but his playing career was over.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Additional Notes

Junior Club: Engadine Dragons

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Representative Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSW City vs Country Origin 1 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
NSW City vs Country 1 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRL/ARL (NRL Premiership) - 19 22 41 2-2 - - - 8 - - - 21 19 1 51.22% List
NRL Finals - - 2 2 --- - - - - - - - - 2 - 0.00% List
Challenge Cup AU - 4 - 4 1-1 - - - 4 - - - 3 1 - 75.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  20 22 42 2-2 - - - 8 - - - 22 19 1 52.38% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSW City 1995   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List

NSWRL/ARL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
CronullaCronulla 19931993 NSWRL Winfield Cup   - 4 4--- - - - - - - - 1 3 - 25.00% List
CronullaCronulla 19941994 NSWRL Winfield Cup   2 8 101-1 - - - 4 - - - 6 4 - 60.00% List
CronullaCronulla 19951995 ARL Winfield Cup   5 10 15--- - - - - - - - 8 7 - 53.33% List
ParramattaParramatta 19961996 ARL Optus Cup   12 - 121-1 - - - 4 - - - 6 5 1 50.00% List

NSWRL/ARL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP ST PT T G1FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Cronulla 1993-95   7 22 29 1-1 - - - 4 - - - 15 14 - 51.72% List
Parramatta 1996   12 - 12 1-1 - - - 4 - - - 6 5 1 50.00% List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    15 Jan 2012 11:23pm

    Great player. Lovely bloke.
    It's a shame he is too humble to appreciate the plaudits

  • Anonymous
    1 Feb 2012 10:21pm

    Agree with anonymous

  • Anonymous
    5 Feb 2014 2:37pm

    Best player never to have made the big time in my opinion!! effort less tackle breaks, magic off load, strength, power, good guy

  • Kev
    16 Jul 2015 5:25pm

    Was set for a huge career. Life can be cruel sometimes

  • Anonymous
    7 Sep 2020 6:17pm

    Would of been one of the best props ever to have played the game. He was mixing it up with all the top props already and he was just a kid
    Such a tragedy
    I always wonder what he could have been
    Big strong fast good offload match fit
    Best props ever

    Beetson
    Lazo
    Chief
    Webke
    Pedro
    Morley
    Carroll
    Burgess
    Shrek
    Mason
    Price
    Wiki
    McDermott
    Roach
    Pay
    Johnston for defence only
    Gillespie all good props

  • James Simmons
    24 Sep 2020 2:05pm

    One of the few times a player can be thankful for being knocked out. I wonder if the cyst would have been found before it was too late but for that high tackle?

  • Ray
    16 Jul 2024 6:14pm

    Anyone know what Adam went on to do after he recovered? Did he have a career and lead a normal life?
    Just interested to see how it all ended up after the terrible time he endured.

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, AJ Lucantonio, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Shawn Dollin, Max Turner

Sources: David Middleton's Rugby League Yearbook (1987-88 to present)