Jayden Sullivan is expected to become the Wests Tigers halfback from 2024 onward after the 21-year-old was apparently very impressed with the joint venture’s sales package in a meeting last week.
Sullivan is still signed with the Dragons until the end of 2025 but met with incoming coach Shane Flanagan late last week and was told he will not be part of the plan moving forward. Ben Hunt is expected to stay as the St George number seven and will partner Junior Amone or a fresh signing, should Flanagan dip into the kitty.
The young half was originally heralded as a long-term option for the Dragons but has since been deemed surplus to requirements behind Hunt and Amone.
The Tigers have been very interested in Sullivan, who is currently earning around $500,000 a season, for some time now.
Once the 21-year-old was given the green light, the youngster’s manager Mario Tartak picked up the phone and spoke to Wests as well as the Newcastle Knights—who were very interested until signing Jack Cogger this week—and the Canterbury Bulldogs.
The Sporting Base understands the Knights will still meet with Sullivan, just in case.
However, pending any eleventh-hour bid by the Newcastle club once management returns from Perth on Saturday, which is unlikely, Sullivan will put pen to paper on a deal with the Tigers.
Wests are expected to slot ‘Bud’ straight into a bloated halves rotation that will also include future starlet Latu Fainu, veteran Aiden Sezer, and injured incumbent Adam Doueihi. Luke Brooks, who has been the club’s seven for more than a decade, is walking out the door to join the Manly Sea Eagles at the end of the year.
The deal Sullivan is likely to accept will see him sign until 2025, with options.
