Richardson said Sullivan’s original deal had been cancelled and a new contract signed for the 2026 and 2027 seasons under which he will earn the salary he would have pocketed under his original deal.
“Obviously if he gets exposed and plays regular first grade, he might attract interest and have a chance to land a better deal; we’re open to letting him go if that happens, and he knows that,” Richardson said.
“There have been no issues with Jayden, we just couldn’t afford to keep paying him what we were paying him.”
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson
Four-time Penrith premiership winner Luai has arrived at the club on a five-year $6m deal, while Galvin, who is also locked into a long-term deal, will be the starting No.6. The Tigers view Latu Fainu as their back-up playmaker.
Souths have signed Lewis Dodd from England, with Cody Walker their five-eighth, but needed a back-up playmaking option following Lachie Ilias’ exit for St George Illawarra.
With Bateman looking for a fresh start at the Cowboys, the Tigers have two spots to fill on their roster. Richardson expected a train-and-triallist to be upgraded to a full contract, but would hold fire on what to do with their final slot.
Meanwhile, the Dragons have re-signed Kyle Flanagan for a further two seasons, which will keep him at the club until the end of 2027. Flanagan’s extension follows news Cronulla’s Daniel Atkinson will join the club on a three-year contract from 2026.
And Canberra remain hopeful they can entice Newcastle forward Leo Thompson to the nation’s capital on what rival clubs believe to be a four-year deal worth around $3m.
Why McInnes is happy to extend one year at a time
Christian Nicolussi
Cronulla workhorse Cam McInnes is happy to sign one-year contract extensions for the remainder of his career if it keeps him hungry and helps the Sharks retain the next generation of young forwards coming through the ranks.
McInnes this week inked a 12-month deal to keep him in the Shire until the end of 2026, when he will be 32.
The veteran lock played his way into a NSW Origin jumper last season, and showing no signs of slowing down.
A longer-term deal would have provided his young family with security, but McInnes was happy with the extra year.
“The way I look at it, I’ll be 32 at the end of that [2026] season, and I feel like I want to keep earning and proving [my worth],” McInnes said.
“I won’t talk on behalf of the club, but they have a lot of kids coming through. They’re getting experience, and taking that next step. For me to take money away from what they could potentially be [earning], I don’t think that makes sense.
Cameron McInnes has explained why he is prepared to keep signing one-year extensions.Credit: Getty Images
“If I’m good enough, they have told me that [come] the 2027 season, we can go again. In my head I have an age I want to play to, which is 35 or 36. If [one-year extensions] are what it takes, that’s what I’ll do.
“It’s only my third or fourth year playing the lock role, so I feel like I’m still learning and improving, which is a good space to be in at 30 because the hunger is still there.”
McInnes and the Sharks slogged it out in Sydney’s sweltering heat early on Tuesday before heading to nearby Miranda for a series of hill climbs. It was the first time McInnes and the Sharks players completed an opposed session with recruit Addin Fonua-Blake.
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“We all know he has that ball-carrying ability, and is an absolute handful to try and control, but he’s under-rated when it comes to his movement around the field,” McInnes said of the new arrival.
Fonua-Blake, 29, who joined on a four-year deal after being granted an early release from the New Zealand Warriors, said the Sharks trained at high speed and he had been surprised by how fit some of the senior players were on their return from their post-season break.
Meanwhile, coach Craig Fitzgibbon confirmed the Sharks will base themselves in Los Angeles before the season-opening double-header in Las Vegas. The other clubs heading Stateside for the big kick-off on March 1 next year (March 2, Sydney time), Penrith, Canberra and the Warriors, will all prepare in Las Vegas.
Newcastle’s Leo Thompson could double his salary.Credit: Getty
Knights blow as Leo prepares to leap
Michael Chammas
Newcastle have suffered a significant blow ahead of the Christmas break after prop forward Leo Thompson informed the club that he will not remain at the Knights beyond 2025.
Thompson has been considering his future at the Knights for the past couple of months and on Monday told club powerbrokers of his decision to leave at the end of his current deal.
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Thompson is contracted until the end of 2025 and has a lucrative upgrade and extension on the table with Newcastle, but has decided to reject the club’s offer.
Thompson is now considering a big-money offer on the table from the Canberra Raiders, while the Bulldogs have met with the Kiwi international and expressed an interest in securing his services.
The Knights now have 10 days to try to convince Thompson to change his mind as per the NRL rules.
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