“We just couldn’t afford to keep paying him:” Richardson address Sullivan’s exit

Despite having three years left on his contract, Tigers manager Shane Richardson has responded to the decision to cut Sullivan.

After joining the Tigers in 2024, Sullivan played halfback and five-eighth eight times.

His transfer to the Rabbitohs is a part of a special arrangement that was supposed to pay him $2.1 million over the course of his contract.

Prior to rejoining the Tigers on a two-year contract for 2026 and 2027, he will play for South Sydney for one year in 2025.

Richardson told The Sydney Morning Herald, “The only reason we let Jayden go is because you can’t have him on that money when we’ve signed Jarome.”

It was always going to be challenging to keep Jayden on the money he was on once we signed Jarome.

“There have been no issues with Jayden; we just couldn’t afford to keep paying him what we were paying him.”

It was difficult to predict where Sullivan would fit into the Tigers’ lineup after the recent signing of Jarome Luai.

Tigers coach Benji Marshall expressed his support for Sullivan’s departure, stating, “Bud is a good person and a very talented player, and we all hope this move works out for him,” in a statement on Friday morning.

South Sydney Rabbitohs Head of Football, Mark Ellison, highlighted Sullivan’s talent and believes that working with coach Wayne Bennett might help him thrive.

“He was one of the country’s best young talents coming through the junior rep system,” Ellison stated to Nine.

“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.”

Wayne Bennett, the Rabbitohs’ new coach, will coach Sullivan and may use him in a variety of positions.

Lewis Dodds and Jamie Humphreys, two recent additions who are probably going to compete for the No. 7 jersey, will present Sullivan with competition.