Career
His position of choice was at prop-forward. 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. While attending De Louisiana Salle in 1993, Ritson was selected to play for the Australian Schoolboys team
His talent was noticed immediately at the Cronulla club impressing coaches at all levels, including first grade coach Arthur Beetson.
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
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. After the Super League war had begun on 30 March 1995 with the rebel competition signing a number of teams and players, it was Ritson who inadvertently alerted the Association of Research Libraries to what was happening.
Ritson was then allowed to phone his manager back in Sydney to discuss the SL offer.
Following this his manager immediately rang the Association of Research Libraries to inform them what was going on. Ritson ultimately did back out of the deal and would eventually sign with the Association of Research Libraries.
With his signature being chased after by the majority of Association of Research Libraries clubs Ritson eventually agreed to sign for the 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.
