Sullivan withdraws request to exit Dragons
Jayden Sullivan has withdrawn his request for a release from St George Illawarra, with the young playmaker committing to see out his contract with the NRL club.
Still contracted until the end of 2025, Sullivan had asked to be released earlier this month following an approach to play No.7 at Canterbury.
The Dragons had long indicated they were hesitant to let the 21-year-old go, even after re-signing halfback Ben Hunt on a new two-year deal until the end of 2025.
However AAP has been told that Sullivan has now retracted his request, with a change of heart after talks with the club in recent weeks.
Sullivan made his debut for St George Illawarra in 2020, but spent most of last season coming off the bench and playing dummy-half with Hunt starring at halfback.
Hunt's new deal had prompted concerns that Sullivan's path to the No.7 jersey would be blocked, and that he should look elsewhere for that shot.
However the Dragons have told Sullivan they still see him as the long-term option, and there is no reason why can't claim the jersey sooner.
One alternative could include Hunt eventually moving to hooker, given he stars there for Queensland in State of Origin.
The news comes as a welcome relief to the Dragons, who have had their culture questioned in recent weeks.
But there is a hope within the club that they have now shown they are able to connect with their younger players.
Sullivan, Tyrell Sloan and Talatau Amone have long been seen as the future of the NRL club.
Sloan earlier this week also revealed he had withdrawn his request for a release, after he committed until the end of 2025 earlier this year but played just four games as fullback this season.
Amone meanwhile has developed into a rising star, impressing more and more at five-eighth late in 2022 and is already signed until the end of 2024.
The Dragons' culture had been called into question in recent weeks, with several body blows landed on coach Anthony Griffin from exiting players since Monday.
Griffin is off-contract at the end of 2023, with significant chunks of his football department changing over the current off-season.
However in more positive news for the club, they have also welcomed premiership-winner Ben Creagh to the board this week with director Peter Black stepping aside.
