NRL Market Watch: Jayden Sullivan signs with Wests Tigers on $2.2m four-year deal

He had no shortage of suitors, and now unwanted Dragons star Jayden Sullivan has found a new home for 2023, after being given permission to look elsewhere. See the latest transfer news.

Franklin Pele has played six games off the bench for Canterbury this season. Credit: NRL Images.

The Wests Tigers have signed Jayden Sullivan from St George Illawarra on a four-year, $2.2 million deal, pending a medical clearance on Tuesday.

Released two weeks ago by incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, Sullivan settled on the Tigers after talks with coach Benji Marshall and recruitment boss Scott Fulton on Saturday.

He needs to pass a medical examination before the contract is registered with the NRL.

Despite picking up Sullivan, the Tigers are still going ahead with the signing of veteran halfback Aidan Sezer from the UK Super League.

The 22-year-old Sullivan, who had another two years remaining on his deal with St George Illawarra, is seen as the long-term halfback option following Luke Brooks’ decision to join Manly.

Dragons star Jayden Sullivan has signed with the Wests Tigers on a four-year $2.2m deal.

After weeks of speculation over the relationship between Marshall and Fulton, the pair have finally come together over the unwanted Dragon.

Sullivan, who is understood to have also met with Newcastle officials this week, will officially link up with the Tigers in October.

His four-year deal is aligned with the club’s other recent long-term signings in brothers Latu and Samuela Fainu.

His exit is also likely to pave the way for fellow Dragons youngster Talatau Amone, who enters the final year of his contract next season, to partner Ben Hunt in the halves next year.

Sullivan toured the Wests Tigers headquarters at Concord last week with CEO Justin Pascoe and player manager Mario Tartak. Picture: Richard Dobson.

ANOTHER BULLDOG MOVED ON BY GUS AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR

—Michael Carayannis

Canterbury big man Franklin Pele is set to be the fourth player signed by the Bulldogs only to be let go in the same year.

Pele joined Canterbury on a two-year deal from Cronulla but he is expected to last just half that contract with the 22-year-old on the verge of quitting the NRL to take up a Super League deal.

He will join Andrew Davey, Fa'amanu Brown and to a lesser extent Josh Reynolds as a quartet of Canterbury players who came to the Bulldogs this year only to leave before well before their deals expired.

Combined the four of those players have featured in just 20 games between them and failed to make a real impact in their new colours.

Franklin Pele has played six games off the bench for Canterbury this season. Credit: NRL Images.

In Davey’s case he lasted just two games and 81 minutes before the forward left the club for Parramatta. Brown featured in five, Pele six and Reynolds seven matches.

Reynolds was thrown a lifeline by the Bulldogs after earning a contract in the pre-season and his 244 minutes in the top grade is the most out of the four players who have moved on.

He has now retired.

The Bulldogs will also lose Jake Averillo (Dolphins) at the end of the season. Luke Thompson is also off-contract while Kyle Flanagan will not be at the club next year. The likes of Braidon Burns, Corey Waddell, Jayden Okunbor and Paul Alamoti face uncertain futures.

The Bulldogs were one of the more active clubs during the off-season under the watch of head of football Phil Gould but have had mixed success from their new recruits despite their aggressive spending spree.

They spent big money on the likes of Viliame Kikau (Panthers) and Reed Mahoney (Eels) and Ryan Sutton (Raiders), while also adding Hayze Perham (Eels), Karl Oloapu (Broncos) and Ethan Quai-Ward (Broncos).

Josh Reynolds after his final professional game and retirement. Picture: Izhar Khan/Getty Images

In recent weeks the Bulldogs have continued to splash the clash by adding Toby Sexton (Titans) and Liam Knight (South Sydney). Reynolds and Brown, who signed with Newcastle, were forced to make way to enable the club to sign the pair.

Canterbury – who are on track to finish third last this year – have also been a major player in the free agency market heading into next year. Aside from Sexton and Knight, they have also added Bronson Xerri, Blake Taaffe, Jaeman Salmon and Stephen Crichton.

Siosiua Taukeiaho is also expected to join the club from Catalans next year on a deal worth about $1 million for two seasons.

CARTWRIGHT KNOCKS BACK RIVALS TO SIGN EELS DEAL

By David Riccio

Bryce Cartwright has been rewarded for his most consistent NRL season by extending his future at Parramatta. 

The ball-playing backrower has agreed to terms on a new two-year deal that will keep him at the Eels until the end of 2025. 

Cartwright had attracted attention from rival clubs, notably St George-Illawarra. 

The 28-year-old has been a mainstay in the Eels line-up for coach Brad Arthur averaging 74-minutes across his 20 appearances so far this season. 

Meanwhile, the Roosters have made a bid to keep utility Connor Watson at the club despite interest from Canterbury and English Super League club, Hull KR.

The Roosters have tabled a new contract with Watson weighing-up a one-year offer from the Bulldogs.

Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Jayden Sullivan signs with Wests Tigers on $2.2m four-year deal