Liam Sutcliffe
{{Short description|England rugby league footballer (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| name = Liam Sutcliffe
| fullname = Liam Sutcliffe
| image = Liam Sutcliffe Leeds Rhinos.jpg
| image_size =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1994|11|25}}
| birth_place = Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
| height = {{convert|1.89|m|ftin|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| weight = {{convert|94|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| position = {{Rlp|SO|CE|FB|SR|SH}}
| club1 = Leeds Rhinos
| year1start = 2012
| year1end = 22
| appearances1 = 223
| tries1 = 72
| goals1 = 258
| fieldgoals1 = 3
| points1 = 807
| club2 = → Bradford Bulls
| year2start = 2014(loan)
| year2end =
| appearances2 = 4
| tries2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| fieldgoals2 = 0
| points2 = 4
| club3 = {{nowrap|→ Featherstone Rovers}}
| year3start = 2020(DR)
| year3end =
| appearances3 = 1
| tries3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| fieldgoals3 = 0
| points3 = 0
| club4 = {{nowrap|Hull FC}}
| year4start = 2023
| year4end = 24
| appearances4 = 38
| tries4 = 11
| goals4 = 14
| fieldgoals4 = 0
| points4 = 72
| club5 = {{nowrap|Huddersfield Giants}}
| year5start = 2025
| year5end = present
| appearances5 = 0
| tries5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| fieldgoals5 = 0
| points5 = 0
| teamA = England
| yearAstart = 2018
| yearAend =
| appearancesA = 1
| triesA = 0
| goalsA = 0
| fieldgoalsA = 0
| pointsA = 0
| teamB = England Knights
| yearBstart = 2018
| yearBend =
| appearancesB = 1
| triesB = 1
| goalsB = 0
| fieldgoalsB = 0
| pointsB = 4
| new = yes
| retired = no
| source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/liam-sutcliffe/summary.html Rugby League Project][http://www.therhinos.co.uk/rugby/matchcentre/leeds_rhinos_1st_xiii_profiles.php?player=112126&includeref=dynamic#.UdCyV_mbPu0 LRP][https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/Liam-Sutcliffe/ loverugbyleague]
| updated = 28 September 2024
}}
Liam Sutcliffe (born 25 November 1994) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays in a variety of positions for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super league.
He has previously played for Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos in the Super League and England and the England Knights at international level.
Sutcliffe has spent time on loan from Leeds at the Bradford Bulls in the Super League, and Featherstone Rovers in the Championship.
Background
Sutcliffe was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.
He is not related to fellow Rhino Alex Sutcliffe.{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/opportunity-knocks-leeds-rhinos-alex-sutcliffe-1353138|title=Opportunity knocks at Leeds Rhinos for Alex Sutcliffe|publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post|date=2 January 2020|accessdate=3 January 2021}}
Career
=Leeds Rhinos=
Sutcliffe featured in the pre-season friendly against Wakefield Trinity in the annual Boxing Day Festive Challenge. Liam broke into the 1st team due to a long-term injury to {{rlp|so}}; Danny McGuire. He made his début against St. Helens, and went on to play in the playoffs due to more injuries towards the end of the season. In his début season he went on to make 18 appearances and scored seven tries.
In 2014 Sutcliffe featured in Round 1 and played in the 2014 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Castleford Tigers at Wembley Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/aug/23/catleford-leeds-challenge-cup-final-match-report|title=Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford|publisher=Guardian|date=23 August 2014|accessdate=13 November 2019}}
In his second season, he played 25 games and scored 10 tries and he also kicked 8 goals.
Sutcliffe featured in more games in 2015. He started games after captain Kevin Sinfield was injured and proved he could score and kick goals which kept Sinfield out of the starting 13. Unfortunate Sutcliffe had an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury which ruled him out for the remainder of the season which meant he missed the Challenge Cup Final and Grand Final. He played 15 games scoring 6 times and kicking 25 goals. After Sinfield retired at the end of 2015 Sutcliffe was promoted to the starting 13 and was given the number 14 shirt. He also played in the World Club Series against North Queensland Cowboys.
He played in the 2017 Super League Grand Final victory over the Castleford Tigers at Old Trafford.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/oct/07/castleford-v-leeds-grand-final-2017-live-super-league-rugby?page=with:block-59d9128de4b00593b4d67a05#liveblog-navigation|title=Castleford 6–24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened|publisher=Guardian|date=7 October 2017|accessdate=5 November 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/41536394|title=Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6–24 Leeds Rhinos|date=7 October 2017|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=9 October 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/oct/07/castleford-leeds-super-league-grand-final-match-report|title=Danny McGuire guides Leeds to Grand Final success over Castleford|date=7 October 2017|work=Guardian|accessdate=9 October 2017}}
On 17 October 2020, he played in the 2020 Challenge Cup Final victory for Leeds over Salford at Wembley Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/54555957/|title=Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal|work=BBC Sport }}
In the 2022 elimination playoff, Sutcliffe scored a hat-trick in Leeds shock 20-10 victory over Catalans Dragons.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/62813693/|title=Super League play-offs: Catalans Dragons 10-20 Leeds Rhinos - Liam Sutcliffe hat-trick secures win|work=BBC Sport }}
On 24 September 2022, Sutcliffe played for Leeds in their 24-12 loss to St Helens RFC in the 2022 Super League Grand Final.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/sep/24/st-helens-leeds-super-league-grand-final-match-report-rugby-league/|title=St Helens sink Leeds to win record fourth consecutive Grand Final|newspaper=The Observer|date=24 September 2022 |last1=Bower |first1=Aaron }}
=Bradford Bulls=
In 2014, Sutcliffe was sent out on loan to the struggling Bradford Bulls on a one-month loan playing four games and scoring once before they were relegated.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}
=Hull F.C.=
In round 10 of the 2023 Super League season, Sutcliffe scored two tries in Hull FC's 20-14 win over Huddersfield which ended a seven-game losing streak.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/65322493/|title=Super League: Hull FC 20-14 Huddersfield Giants - home side claim first win in eight games|work=BBC Sport }}
Sutcliffe played a total of 19 games for Hull F.C. for in the Super League XXVIII season as the club finished 10th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-fc-high-lows-mid-8799429/|title=Hull FC highs and lows as mid-season resurgence not enough to prevent drop-off|website=www.hulldailymail.co.uk}}
=Huddersfield Giants=
On 27 September 2024, it was reported that he had signed for Huddersfield in the Super League on a three-year deal.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|date=27 Sep 2024|title=Huddersfield sign Hull FC centre Sutcliffe|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c4gd82x724go}}
International career
In 2018 he was selected for England against France at the Leigh Sports Village.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-league/2018/10/17/tom-johnstone-marks-debut-england-hat-trick-against-france/|title=Tom Johnstone marks debut with England hat-trick against France|publisher=Guardian|date=17 October 2018|accessdate=31 October 2019}}
In 2018 he was selected for the England Knights on their tour of Papua New Guinea. He played against Papua New Guinea at the Lae Football Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/live-scores/papua-new-guinea-v-england-knights-international-2018/718006#lineup|title=Papua New Guinea vs England Knights|publisher=WWOS|date=27 October 2018|accessdate=30 October 2019}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||
| bgcolor=#bdb76b
! Season !! Appearances !! Tries !! Goals !! F/G !! Points | |||||
| 2013 Leeds | 18 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 2014 Leeds | 25 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 56 |
| 2014 Bradford | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2015 Leeds | 15 | 6 | 25 | 0 | 74 |
| 2016 Leeds | 9 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 28 |
| Total | 71 | 27 | 41 | 0 | 190 |
Honours
- Super League: 2017
- Challenge Cup: 2014 2020
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.therhinos.co.uk/player/liam-sutcliffe/ Leeds Rhinos profile]
- [https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/106/liam%3Cbr-%3Esutcliffe SL profile]
{{Huddersfield Giants squad}}
{{Leeds Rhinos - 2014 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{Leeds Rhinos - 2017 Super League Grand Final winners}}
{{Leeds Rhinos - 2020 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutcliffe, Liam}}
Category:Bradford Bulls players
Category:England Knights national rugby league team players
Category:England national rugby league team players
Category:English rugby league players
Category:Featherstone Rovers players