In a surprising move, the St George Illawarra Dragons have reportedly rejected an offer from the Wests Tigers to re-sign halfback Jayden Sullivan. This follows an intense period of speculation regarding the Dragons’ pursuit of a new playmaker to bolster their halves as part of their ongoing squad rebuild.
The Tigers, as per The Daily Telegraph, made an enticing proposition to the Dragons, offering Sullivan to return to his former club at a heavily subsidized rate. The Wests Tigers were reportedly willing to pay a significant portion of Sullivan’s contract—around $300,000 per year over the next three seasons, effectively freeing up a space in their Top 30 salary cap as they continue to reshape their roster.
However, despite the apparent generosity of the offer, the Dragons have firmly turned down the opportunity to re-sign the 23-year-old playmaker. The decision follows the Dragons’ recent announcement of Clint Gutherson’s arrival on a three-year deal from the Parramatta Eels, signaling a shift in their recruitment strategy. With Gutherson now committed to the club, the focus has been squarely on finding a suitable partner for Kyle Flanagan in the halves, following Ben Hunt’s decision to depart the club at the end of the season.
The Dragons’ rejection of Sullivan’s return comes as no real surprise when considering the current state of the Tigers’ halfback. Having signed a four-year, $2.4 million contract with Wests in 2023, Sullivan has found himself on the outer for much of the 2024 season. Despite the high expectations when he first arrived, the young playmaker spent most of this year playing in the NSW Cup, overshadowed by the emergence of exciting young talents Lachlan Galvin and Latu Fainu in the halves. The Tigers’ acquisition of Jarome Luai from the Penrith Panthers, a four-time premiership-winning halfback, further complicates Sullivan’s prospects of securing a starting spot in 2025.
For the Dragons, Sullivan’s rejection fits into their broader plan of rebuilding a team capable of challenging for the NRL Finals in the near future. With Ben Hunt set to depart, the club is clearly in need of a quality halfback to pair with Flanagan, who joined the Dragons earlier this year. The ongoing speculation suggests the club is exploring multiple options, including potential signings from both the NRL and Super League. The club’s priority is to secure a playmaker who can partner with Flanagan and help elevate the team’s attack, something Sullivan’s limited game time at the Tigers suggests may not be a guaranteed fit.
The rejection of Sullivan also serves as a reminder of the evolving player market and the ever-increasing pressure on clubs to balance salary cap management with on-field performance. While the Tigers are clearly looking to offload some salary in their quest for cap flexibility, the Dragons are choosing to take a more cautious approach, carefully evaluating their options rather than jumping at offers that may not align with their long-term vision.
As the 2025 season draws nearer, all eyes will be on the Dragons as they finalize their squad and make critical decisions about who will be guiding their attack in the halves. With other options still on the table, it remains to be seen who will ultimately secure a spot alongside Flanagan as the team aims to break back into the NRL Finals series after a challenging few years.
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