‘We just couldn’t afford to keep paying him’: Tigers explain Sullivan Souths switch
By Christian Nicolussi and Michael Chammas
Updated December 19, 2024 — 5.41pm first published December 16, 2024 — 2.56pm
Jayden Sullivan has become the second player to exit the Wests Tigers in as many days after club officials determined it was “bad business” to keep paying a back-up playmaker $700,000 a year.
A day after forward John Bateman left the Tigers for North Queensland, despite having two years to run on his deal, Sullivan inked a one-year deal with South Sydney.
Sullivan stood to earn $2.1 million over the next three years at the Tigers, but became surplus to requirements once Jarome Luai was recruited to play alongside boom five-eighth Lachie Galvin.
Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson confirmed Sullivan had agreed to spend next year at Souths, but had a new contract in place at the Tigers for 2026 and 2027.
“The only reason we’ve let Jayden go is because you can’t have him on that money when we’ve signed Jarome,” Richardson said.
“Once we signed Jarome, it was always going to be difficult to carry Jayden on the money he was on. There have been no issues with Jayden, we just couldn’t afford to keep paying him what we were paying him.
“He didn’t start the year well last season, but I will say when Jayden got dropped, nobody put in more than he did in reserve grade. He didn’t drop the bottom lip.
“He’s also come back to pre-season training 12 kilograms lighter. He looks a million dollars, and I’m sure he’ll put pressure on the halves at Souths. We needed room in our cap, and Jayden understood that.”
Richardson said Sullivan’s original deal had been cancelled and a new contract signed for the 2026 and 2027 seasons under which he will earn the salary he would have pocketed under his original deal.
“Obviously if he gets exposed and plays regular first grade, he might attract interest and have a chance to land a better deal; we’re open to letting him go if that happens, and he knows that,” Richardson said.
Four-time Penrith premiership winner Luai has arrived at the club on a five-year $6m deal, while Galvin, who is also locked into a long-term deal, will be the starting No.6. The Tigers view Latu Fainu as their back-up playmaker.
Souths have signed Lewis Dodd from England, with Cody Walker their five-eighth, but needed a back-up playmaking option following Lachie Ilias’ exit for St George Illawarra.
With Bateman looking for a fresh start at the Cowboys, the Tigers have two spots to fill on their roster. Richardson expected a train-and-triallist to be upgraded to a full contract, but would hold fire on what to do with their final slot.
Jayden Sullivan has become the second player to exit the Wests Tigers in as many days after the club decided it was “bad business” to keep him on as understudy to Jarome Luai on $700k a year.
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