Jayden "Bud" Sullivan #278

[BlackWhiteGold]

Sullivan is not a total dud, he has plenty of talent which I have stated since the day we signed him, but has clear confidence issues he is somehow needing to overcome.
Sometimes players do not get over the lack of confidence after not being wanted.
The big issue is what we paid him. I actually called for his signing long before we ended up signing him, but after being dumped to NSW Cup by the Dragons I thought common sense would have said we offer him no more than 200-250k per season.
Obviously I was wrong and the wisdom of Benji and whoever else was signing off on our recruitment at the time thought it was a good idea to offer him 500-550k on a long term deal.
Coaching aside, Benji should have been sacked for that type of stupidity,

This situation has ramifications for our roster management next season.

For one, maybe his contract has already been sorted with the Rabbitohs next season. Hopefully so as he wants to be there & the WT 'did not' see him in our future.

If now the Rabbitohs backflip, we would have to accept Bud back into the squad, huge test of Benji's man management skills and he would likely become our #14 on $550k per year for 2 years. On paper, this may work with Bud's versatility to cover the halves, hooker & potentially that 10-15 min burst lock (if he shows the defensive intent he has shown at the Rabbits this year).

 

[Bellend]

Funny thing Benji and Wt Management were told not to sign Sullivan as he was not a consistent player good enough for week in week out first grade.

 

[Lukic]

Funny thing Benji and Wt Management were told not to sign Sullivan as he was not a consistent player good enough for week in week out first grade.

Sounds like a geeat player to give a 4 year multi million dollar deal to...

 

[clontarfkid]

Sullivan is not a total dud, he has plenty of talent which I have stated since the day we signed him, but has clear confidence issues he is somehow needing to overcome.
Sometimes players do not get over the lack of confidence after not being wanted.
The big issue is what we paid him. I actually called for his signing long before we ended up signing him, but after being dumped to NSW Cup by the Dragons I thought common sense would have said we offer him no more than 200-250k per season.
Obviously I was wrong and the wisdom of Benji and whoever else was signing off on our recruitment at the time thought it was a good idea to offer him 500-550k on a long term deal.
Coaching aside, Benji should have been sacked for that type of stupidity,

Thats the issue...the gap betweemn what Bennett will pay and what we are paying and contractually obliged to for another 2 years
Other mitigating factors are he wants to stay at Souths...but frankly,we dont have a backup 6 or 7 and need him here
Messy..yet again

 

[Tom Shines]

This situation has ramifications for our roster management next season.

For one, maybe his contract has already been sorted with the Rabbitohs next season. Hopefully so as he wants to be there & the WT 'did not' see him in our future.

If now the Rabbitohs backflip, we would have to accept Bud back into the squad, huge test of Benji's man management skills and he would likely become our #14 on $550k per year for 2 years. On paper, this may work with Bud's versatility to cover the halves, hooker & potentially that 10-15 min burst lock (if he shows the defensive intent he has shown at the Rabbits this year).

The article from the Telegraph today specifically says he has now played his last game for Souths

 

[Tom Shines]

Sullivan is not a total dud, he has plenty of talent which I have stated since the day we signed him, but has clear confidence issues he is somehow needing to overcome.
Sometimes players do not get over the lack of confidence after not being wanted.
The big issue is what we paid him. I actually called for his signing long before we ended up signing him, but after being dumped to NSW Cup by the Dragons I thought common sense would have said we offer him no more than 200-250k per season.
Obviously I was wrong and the wisdom of Benji and whoever else was signing off on our recruitment at the time thought it was a good idea to offer him 500-550k on a long term deal.
Coaching aside, Benji should have been sacked for that type of stupidity,

they are making shitty recruitment calls now , and this is with a guy that has been doing it for 30 years …

I wish the call to sign him was never made … but they are stuck with it seemingly

Like I say … if he is good enough for Bennett, he is good enough for here … but if he is back then this probably means they won’t spend another $500k on another half for next season ….

 

[Vicious]

they are making shitty recruitment calls now , and this is with a guy that has been doing it for 30 years …

I wish the call to sign him was never made … but they are stuck with it seemingly forever

Like I say … if he is good enough for Bennett, he is good enough for here … but if he is back then this probably means they won’t spend another $500k on another half for next season ….

I really can’t see him working out back here.
As I say it’s not through lack of talent, but his relationship with Benji is seemingly fractured, Benji does not seem like the type of person who makes much effort to mend fractured relationships with his players and Bud seems like someone who would be happy to just go through the motions and collect his pay cheque for the next couple of seasons.

 

[Tom Shines]

I really can’t see him working out back here.
As I say it’s not through lack of talent, but his relationship with Benji is seemingly fractured, Benji does not seem like the type of person who makes much effort to mend fractured relationships with his players and Bud seems like someone who would be happy to just go through the motions and collect his pay cheque for the next couple of seasons.

He will be only 24 next year … plenty of incentive for him to keep trying and getting the next deal …

I’d prefer to get rid of him , but he has over a million left on his deal here, and I can’t see anyone paying more than 30 percent of that

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Take the blue pill and break your leg, or take the red pill and return to WT. The choice is in your hands.

Do you believe now, he is the one lol.

 

[The Chad]

If Sullivan comes back to the Tigers, it takes away the need to sign Sandon Smith, Lachlan Ilias, Toby Sexton etc.

How much would you need to pay a guy like Sexton or Smith to join the Tigers?

 

[Vicious]

If Sullivan comes back to the Tigers, it takes away the need to sign Sandon Smith, Lachlan Ilias, Toby Sexton etc.

How much would you need to pay a guy like Sexton or Smith to join the Tigers?

I reckon 600k minimum.
They are now both proven NRL halves with plenty of football in front of them, they will both surely get at least 600k on the open market.
I think Sandon Smith the a better player with more upside due to his lightning speed off the mark, although Sexton is probably a touch smarter, plays a bit straighter and has a better kicking game.

 

[clontarfkid]

Bennett has same dilemma with Lewis Dodd,so Bud is really surplus to requirements everywhere...except were the ones who are contractually obliged ,anddo need a spare half after Gavlins departure and Masons horrible defensive efforts
Id rather have Sexton(particularly)or Smith...basically a ready made halves pairing rite there
Suspect Bennett will use the $$$ freed up by Bud much more wisely than us...

 

[Vicious]

Bennett has same dilemma with Lewis Dodd,so Bud is really surplus to requirements everywhere...except were the ones who are contractually obliged ,anddo need a spare half after Gavlins departure and Masons horrible defensive efforts
Id rather have Sexton(particularly)or Smith...basically a ready made halves pairing rite there
Suspect Bennett will use the $$$ freed up by Bud much more wisely than us...

If you were in control of a new club starting out such as Perth Bears and had the option of signing a halves pairing of Toby Sexton and Sandon Smith for a combined value of say 1.3million, or a halves pairing of Jerome Luai and Latu Fainu for 1.7 million, which one would you choose based on value for money ?
It’s debatable which halves pairing would be better, but taking value for money into consideration I’m pretty sure most would choose a Sexton/Smith combination and put the 400k saving towards buying better players in other positions.
For this reason it’s highly likely Perth Bears like the Dolphins before them will assemble a much better playing roster than ours straight away.

 

[king_sirro]

If you were in control of a new club starting out such as Perth Bears and had the option of signing a halves pairing of Toby Sexton and Sandon Smith for a combined value of say 1.3million, or a halves pairing of Jerome Luai and Latu Fainu for 1.7 million, which one would you choose based on value for money ?
It’s debatable which halves pairing would be better, but taking value for money into consideration I’m pretty sure most would choose a Sexton/Smith combination and put the 400k saving towards buying better players in other positions.
For this reason it’s highly likely Perth Bears like the Dolphins before them will assemble a much better playing roster than ours straight away.

Easily Luai and Fainu for me

 

[tig_prmz]

Why would Bud worry? He simply just needs to request a release and he can go to market.

 

[Vicious]

Easily Luai and Fainu for me

Fair enough.
We have plenty of supporters who strongly believe a spine of Bula/Luai/Fainu/Korisau is top quality and will give us the quality to play finals football providing we put a decent team around them.
I have no doubt all 4 are good players, but for an estimated 3.2 million per season combined value it would need to work as that’s a fair chunk of our salary cap.
Add Bud Sullivan’s 500k and it’s a 3.7 million dollars per season spend.

 

[Bellend]

Buddy has already stated he wants to stay at Souths and will drop money to stay. In the Souths system suits Buddy the way we currently play is not suited for Buddy style. Sandon Smith will be a very good pick up for West Tigers and he will more than insurance if Luai leaves after next season.

Sexton wants to go home to Gc he has Family and unfinished business with them.

 

[The Chad]

I'm happy for Sullivan to be the back-up #7/#6.

There are worse options. Seems a reasonable & sensible character. And I believe he creates opportunities when given a chance.

 

[kiwitiger]

Why is he called Jayden? I thought when he joined us, he wanted to be called Bud? remember articles about it.
Is he now Jayden again since he is at souths?

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

If you call Births, Deaths and Registry - they will help you out.