NRL 2022: Ben Hunt signs new Dragons deal, Jayden Sullivan’s official release request
Ben Hunt’s decision to re-sign with St George has prompted a young star to request an immediate release despite being contracted until 2025. What’s going on at the Dragons?
Michael Carayannis and Brent Read
St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt has urged Jayden Sullivan to follow his path and stay at the club despite the young Dragons half requesting an immediate release.
Sullivan formally asked for a release to leave the Dragons to join Canterbury on Thursday morning – a day after Hunt inked a rich two-year extension.
Fellow half Sullivan is contracted until the end of the 2025 season and only agreed to remain at the club on the proviso that Hunt would not be at the club.
New coach Cameron Ciraldo’s Bulldogs have earmarked Sullivan to be Matt Burton’s long-term halves partner.
Hunt wants Sullivan to stay at the club.
“We haven’t had an in-depth conversation but I’d like him to stay,” Hunt said. “He is a good young kid.
“In time he can sit down and learn. I played off the bench for the first four or five years of my career and it set me up for where I am now.
“Young kids really want to get out and play and show them what they can do. If he wants to leave and get that opportunity then I’ll fully back him. I’d like him to stay.”
Sullivan is the second young Dragon to request a release since the St George Illawarra’s season ended after the club rejected fullback Tyrell Sloan’s bid to join Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins. Sullivan’s potential arrival at the Bulldogs will have ramifications for Kyle Flanagan, who is contracted until the end of 2023.
Flanagan played 20 games this season, despite starting the year in reserve grade as head of football Phil Gould made him off limits to the NRL squad for the first month of the season.