Jayden Sullivan has requested an immediate release from St George Illawarra.
The club’s decision to re-sign Ben Hunt on a two-year deal has effectively blocked Sullivan’s pathway at the joint-venture outfit, prompting him to ask to exit immediately despite being contracted until the end of 2025.
The rising playmaker is expected to seek a new home at Canterbury, where he is earmarked to be the long-term halves partner of Matt Burton. Burton, off contract at the end of next season, has given the strongest indication yet that he wants to remain at Belmore long term.
The Herald revealed in May that Sullivan was on the Bulldogs’ radar and the club is expected to make a play for him should he come onto the open market.
The Dragons have a surplus of halves with Sullivan, Hunt and Junior Amone on their books. In an intriguing twist, one of the Red V powerbrokers who will decide Sullivan’s fate is recruiter Shane Flanagan, the father of Bulldogs No.7 Kyle Flanagan.
Should Sullivan be released, it again clouds the younger Flanagan’s future at Canterbury.
Jayden Sullivan wants out of the Dragons.Credit:NRL Photos
St George Illawarra chairman Craig Young told the Herald last month that Sullivan’s development would benefit from staying put and learning from Hunt.
“It’s a good opportunity for Sullivan, if Ben re-signs, to learn from him,” Young said at the time.
“Sometimes young players need to be patient – they end up getting a better outcome in the long term, have longer careers.
“If you’re patient, get the work ethic right and all of that stuff, you want to hang around for a long time, not a short time.
“Sometimes young players want it all too quick and that’s all part of man management.”
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
