‘Great talent’: Souths confirm Jayden Sullivan signature for next season, but young half remains contracted to the Tigers for following two years

Jayden Sullivan is off to the Rabbitohs next year, but his time at the Wests Tigers is far from over.

Jayden Sullivan has been released from his contract at the Wests Tigers for the 2025 season to sign with the Rabbitohs, but the deal isn’t as simple as it seems with the playmaker still signed for 2026 and 2027 with the Tigers.

The club announced last August that Sullivan had signed a four-year deal with them, but the former Dragon played just nine games last season and fell out of favour and was dumped to reserve grade.

There isn’t a spot for him in the halves next year with star recruit Jarome Luai to partner Lachlan Galvin, which is why Sullivan is the second high-profile player in as many days to be released by the Tigers following the club’s decision to let John Bateman sign with the Cowboys.

Welcome to the Rabbitohs, Jayden Sullivan ✍️❤️💚

READ MORE: https://t.co/FhGtKj1feypic.twitter.com/tQcLnPSZlu

— South Sydney Rabbitohs 🐰 (@SSFCRABBITOHS) December 19, 2024

“Jayden has been nothing but professional both on and off the field,” Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson said.

“We all hope he makes a success of his time at Souths.”

Sullivan now has an opportunity to develop at the Rabbitohs for the next 12 months before he returns to the Tigers to see out the rest of his deal.

“Bud is a good person and a very talented player, and we all hope this move works out for him,” Tigers coach Benji Marshall said.

Sullivan is on a reported $700,000 a season and will now join Souths where he’ll battle it out with English recruit Lewis Dodd for the right to partner veteran Cody Walker in the halves.

Lewis Dodd is also in the mix to start in the halves for South Sydney next year. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“Jayden is a great talent and we think he can play his best football here at the Rabbitohs under the guidance of Wayne (Bennett),” Rabbitohs head of recruitment and retention Mark Ellison said.

“He was one of the country’s best young talents coming through the junior representative system on the south coast of NSW and has had opportunities to play first grade at the Dragons and Wests.

“He will add to our depth in the five-eighth and halfback positions and we are looking forward to Jayden joining us for pre-season training as we get ready for our premiership charge come March 2025.”

Originally published as ‘Great talent’: Souths confirm Jayden Sullivan signature for next season, but young half remains contracted to the Tigers for following two years