Out-of-favour Wests Tigers half Jayden Sullivan has joined South Sydney for the 2025 season but will remain contracted at the joint-venture club for the two years after that.
It comes as highly-touted playmaker Jonah Pezet rejects rival interest to sign a four-year contract extension with Melbourne.
Only days after the Tigers cut second-rower John Bateman loose, NRL battlers the Tigers announced Sullivan had also been released.
The 23-year-old former Dragon had signed a rich four-year deal to join the Tigers from 2024 and was starting halfback for their first game of the season.
But Sullivan quickly fell out of favour under new coach Benji Marshall, who preferred Lachie Galvin, Latu Fainu and Aidan Sezer as halves options.
Sullivan made only eight first-grade appearances in his first season at the Tigers, the last of those in early June.
The arrival of superstar signing Jarome Luai looked set to further diminish Sullivan's opportunities this season as he and Galvin prepare to start in the halves come round one.
The Tigers will nevertheless retain Sullivan for the final two seasons of his deal in 2026 and 2027 after his year at Souths.
"'Bud' is a good person and a very talented player, and we all hope this move works out for him," Marshall said.
In the meantime Sullivan will bolster a Rabbitohs side expected to start English recruit Lewis Dodd and veteran Cody Walker as its round-one halves pairing.
“Jayden is a great talent and we think he can play his best football here at the Rabbitohs under the guidance of Wayne (Bennett, head coach),” said Souths' head of recruitment and retention Mark Ellison.
“He will add to our depth in the five-eighth and halfback positions and we are looking forward to Jayden joining us for pre-season training."
Elsewhere, back-up halfback Pezet will remain with the Storm until at least the end of 2029 as part of his new contract.
The decision is a big showing of faith from the 21-year-old, who is stuck behind Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes in the pecking order at the Storm and had commanded interest from Newcastle.
Pezet has played 10 NRL games to date but would almost certainly have featured more this season had he not suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April.
“I have loved the environment and playing with this group of players, I’ve learnt a huge amount from the senior guys and our coaching group," Pezet said.
"Last season didn’t go to plan for me, but I’m excited to get back playing and contribute as much as possible."
