Rising Wests Tigers star Tallyn Da Silva has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs immediately as South Sydney work toward Bud Sullivan staying at the Rabbitohs rather than returning to the joint-venture next season.
Da Silva has fielded interest from Newcastle, along with other unknown rivals, regarding a move with both long- and short-term moves for the young hooker raised this week.
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson confirmed discussions between the two clubs had at first centred on loaning Da Silva, who is contracted at Concord for another 18 months, to the injury-stricken Knights for the rest of 2025.
Newcastle has since floated a swap deal that would see Da Silva join the Knights in exchange for English back-rower Kai Pearce-Paul taking up his three-year deal with the Tigers (originally for next season) before the June 30 mid-season deadline.
Da Silva’s agent has in turn requested and been granted permission to go to market before November 1. The 20-year-old local junior is rated one of the best young hookers in the game.
Da Silva has told the Tigers his preference is to re-sign at the club, but not if he is to play second fiddle to captain Api Koroisau, who is in negotiations around an extension beyond 2026.
Rising Tigers star Tallyn Da Silva.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Koroisau recently raised eyebrows when he said he “would be open to” joining the Perth Bears in 2027 but the 32-year-old’s preference is to finish his career at the Tigers.
A push for an immediate exit has not been ruled out by the Da Silva camp pending his negotiations with rivals.
“We thought the idea of swapping Tallyn just for this season was a good one that would give him exposure this season, and we would get Kai Pearce-Paul,” Richardson said.
“That’s changed and now we’ll see what happens.
“But just because you give permission to negotiate doesn’t mean you have to accept it. We’re trying to do everything we can to keep Tallyn in our system, but obviously he wants to play first grade and we don’t blame him. We’ll see how it unfolds.”
With Da Silva’s future in limbo as he returns to the Tigers’ first-grade side against Canberra on Friday night, injured Rabbitohs half Sullivan is in talks to remain at Souths in 2026.
As it stands, Sullivan holds a 2026 and 2027 deal with the Tigers after his original contract, worth around $2.1 million, was cancelled so he could move to the Rabbitohs for this season.
The 23-year-old is currently sidelined with a 2-3-week calf injury, but has leapfrogged English playmaker Lewis Dodd in the Rabbitohs’ pecking order to play 13 games this year.
Sullivan has spoken publicly of his desire to stay at Souths under Wayne Bennett and dialogue between the Tigers and Rabbitohs around his unique contract has begun.
Bud Sullivan is in talks to stay at South Sydney.Credit: Getty Images
The move puts Dodd’s lucrative three-year deal under further scrutiny given Cody Walker is poised to take up a 2026 extension alongside Alex Johnston.
Dodd was named to play five-eighth against Melbourne this week, but Bennett has since opted to replace him with centre Jack Wighton in partnership with Jamie Humphreys.
