Dragons young gun Jayden Sullivan has issued the club a second release request citing mental health problems over the uncertainty surrounding his future amid Ben Hunt’s contract extension.
The Bulldogs have been linked to making a play for Sullivan, whose contract doesn’t expire until the end of the 2025 season, which is the same year Hunt’s new deal comes to an end.
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DRAGONS GUN ISSUES SECOND REQUEST RELEASE AS DOGS CIRCLE
Dragons halfback Jayden Sullivan has issued the club with a second formal release request amid reported interest from the Bulldogs to lure him to Belmore.
The Daily Telegraph reported Sullivan’s management wrote to Dragons officials on Friday afternoon requesting an immediate release from the final three years of his contract.
Sullivan is tied to the Dragons on a deal through until the end of 2025, but Ben Hunt’s two-year extension through until the end of that same season has blocked his path to regular first grade.
Sullivan issued his first release request after Hunt re-signed earlier this month but was denied by the club.
Sullivan’s management cited mental health problems as a result of the uncertainty over his playing future as a reason for the second request.
Sullivan’s deal with the Dragons is worth a reported $1 million over three seasons, which is a lot of money for a fringe first grader unless the unlikely outcome that Hunt moves to hooker in the coming seasons.
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Hunt will start for the Kangaroos in the position and has excelled there at club and representative level in the past.
However, the Dragons skipper desires the halfback jersey and returned to form in 2022 finishing third in Dally M voting.
Dragons boss Ryan Webb wrote to Dragons members this week confirming that Sullivan and fellow young gun Tyrell Sloan wanted out of the club.
“It is unfortunate that we have had formal release requests from two of our young players in Tyrell Sloan and Jayden Sullivan,” Webb wrote.
“From a club perspective, we do not want to release either of these young men as the club has put years of resources towards the development of them both and see them as playing large roles in our future.
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“At the crux of this they are both seeking more consistent first grade exposure while, as a football club, we must balance player development with the need to win and these two aims don’t always perfectly align.”
New Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has denied he has met with Sullivan regarding his future.
“I haven’t met Jayden,” Ciraldo said.
“I know there was some chat before I signed. Rosters are going to change over time. We will make decisions in the best interests of the club.”
Sullivan, 21, has scored four tries in 15 games for the Dragons since his debut in 2020, but has been used mainly as a bench utility and hooker option with Anthony Griffin preferring Hunt at halfback.
