2X7B1YR Brisbane, Australia. 19th May, 2024. Jayden Sullivan of the Tigers in action during the NRL Round 11 match between the Wests Tigers and the Redcliffe Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AAP Image/Jason O?Brien) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY Credit: Australian Associated Press/Alamy Live News
Australian Reports: Wests Tigers Chief Flies to UK to Slash Salary Cap, Offload Top Earners According to reports in the Australian press, Wests Tigers’ Chief Executive, Shane Flanagan, has traveled to the UK with a mandate to reduce the club’s salary cap by offloading several high-earning players. Topping the list of available players is former Wigan Warriors star John Bateman, who is reportedly open to a return to Super League.
Additionally, half-back Jayden Sullivan and utility back Brent Naden are also available for transfer, despite both being under contract through 2025. Sullivan, in particular, only joined the Tigers recently on a multi-year deal.
With the club set to sign Samoan superstar Jarome Luai on a five-year, $6 million contract in the upcoming season, offloading players is crucial to balance the books.
Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin recently shared his thoughts on one of the Tigers’ available stars. Speaking before the Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos game, Wilkin commented on Jayden Sullivan, who has been linked with potential moves to Super League teams Hull FC and Salford Red Devils. However, Sullivan’s agent has distanced him from these rumors.
Wilkin expressed skepticism about Sullivan’s value, noting that his salary demands don’t match his performance level compared to past overseas stars commanding similar salaries.
“But I think one of the big challenges for a club like Hull, which isn’t performing well at the moment, is that due to the commercial side of the NRL, Hull has to pay above the odds for players who wouldn’t have made the cut a few years back. You end up spending excessively on your salary cap for players you’re not sure will deliver.
“For example, Shane Richardson has been offloading players from the Wests Tigers, and Jayden Sullivan is rumored to be offered at £180,000 a year. In a salary cap sport, with just 35 NRL games under his belt, this isn’t great value.
“When I played for St. Helens, we had marquee players like Richie Barnett, Stephen Kearney, Mark O’Meley, Craig Fitzgibbon, and Jason Smith at Hull FC. The quality and value of these marquee players were significantly higher.”
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