'Finding my feet again': Sullivan hoping All Stars can reboot NRL career

Starring at the Koori Knockout kickstarted Jayden Sullivan’s NRL career and the talented playmaker is hoping his Indigenous All Stars debut can help revive it.

After leading the South Coast Black Cockatoos side, which included his father Jason, to victory at the 2019 Koori Knockout, the then 18-year-old Sullivan was touted as a long-term Dragons playmaker.

Yet he now finds his career at a crossroads after being squeezed out of St George Illawarra and joining Wests Tigers last year in a move that didn’t work out for him or the club.

The 23-year-old has reunited with former SG Ball coach Ben Hornby at South Sydney on what is effectively a one-year loan deal and is hoping the All Stars match can help catapult him into favour with Wayne Bennett.

“Wayne has been good, he is a freaky man,” Sullivan said. “He just told me to believe in myself, that I can play footy, and he sees a lot in me. He has a lot of trust, so I have just got pay him back and return the favour.

“It is a full circle moment linking up with Benny again. He was a big part of my juniors, he found me when I was at the Dragons and coming through the ranks. He was with me in SG Ball.”

Sullivan captained the Illawarra Steelers 2019 premiership winning SG Ball side which included the likes of Tyrell Sloan, Talatau Amone, Max and Mat Feagai, Aaron Schoupp and Connor Muhleisen.

Just months later the teenager was starring against men, with his speed, electric footwork, playmaking vision and laser-like kicking helping the Black Cockatoos to victory at the Koori Knockout and he made his NRL debut in 2020.

“My NRL career is sort of in a rut and I probably have to find my feet again, but the Knockout has been a massive thing for me. I will hopefully play again next year,” he said.

“The Knockout is such a big thing these days, more NRL teams should get out there and watch, I reckon. There is plenty of talent out there.”

The Rabbitohs have a proud Aboriginal history and Sullivan has connected with Indigenous stars Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Jack Wighton.

He is one of five Souths players in the Indigenous All Stars team, along with Wighton, Tyrone Munro, Tallis Duncan and Shaquai Mitchell.

“Coming into this camp I was nervous as,” Sullivan said. “I didn’t really know what to expect but just being in camp the past few days, learning off everyone and hearing the boys' stories, it is not just a game.

“It is much bigger than a game and to learn the culture during the week has been amazing.

“Growing up around my dad and playing in the Knockout, that was probably my main source of education [about his culture]. You get an education from the Knockout. But this week, you can’t really put it into perspective.”