As South Sydney Rabbitohs gear up for their high-stakes Friday blockbuster against the Canterbury Bulldogs, young utility player Jayden Sullivan — the frontrunner to replace injured starting half Ashton Ward — has launched a candid critique of the National Rugby League’s controversial six-man bench rule, arguing it is actively holding back the development of emerging specialist playmakers.
Ward was forced out of South Sydney’s Saturday night victory over the Parramatta Eels after suffering a hamstring injury during a goal attempt, and the 24-year-old playmaker is set to miss an extended stretch of games. His injury has created an unexpected starting opportunity for Sullivan, who will make only his third starting appearance of the 2024 NRL season if named this week.
This season, Sullivan has spent the majority of his time on the first-grade bench: he has made several appearances coming on as a reserve, while he has been left as an unused substitute six times already this year. For the young half, this lack of consistent game time is a direct unintended consequence of the NRL’s decision to expand the match day bench to six players. While the rule provides much-needed flexibility for teams dealing with early-game injuries to outside backs, Sullivan says it robs young specialists of the regular minutes they need to grow.
“I’ve been part of the six-man bench set-up for a while now, but I’ve never really been a big fan of it,” Sullivan told reporters ahead of the Bulldogs clash. “I’ve stayed healthy all season and I’ve only played 10 games — it’s been pretty tough. I’m still a young player, I’ve only got 50 first-grade games under my belt, and I’m still learning how to play the half position. The best way to improve is to play week in and week out, whether that’s in the Cup or the NRL, and I just haven’t been getting that opportunities right now.”
Sullivan has not been completely sidelined this year, picking up seven matches in the NSW Cup to stay in match condition, and he has held open, honest conversations with legendary Rabbitohs head coach Wayne Bennett about his development pathway. The young playmaker says Bennett has been a consistent advocate for him, and the pair regularly align on the best way forward for his career.
“It’s a tricky position to be in,” Sullivan explained. “I still want to be part of the first-grade squad, even if that means sitting on the bench, but it’s hard to stay sharp when you’re not getting on the field. Wayne’s been great with me, we can talk honestly about where I’m at, which I really appreciate.”
With Ward sidelined, Sullivan is set to get an extended run of game time over the coming weeks, an opportunity he says he is relishing as the Rabbitohs push toward a finals berth. Sullivan has not played finals football at the NRL level, but his last post-season appearance came in 2019, when he led the Illawarra Steelers to a famous SG Ball Cup grand final victory over Manly Warringah Sea Eagles — and seven years on, he is hungry for another shot at high-stakes football.
“Seven years is a crazy long time to wait for another crack at finals footy, but I’m just grateful to get any opportunity to play now,” he said. “I’ve been healthy all year, even if I haven’t played as much as I want, and the two years before that I was out with injuries the whole time, so I don’t take any minute for granted.”
Sullivan also paid tribute to Ward, who he says is one of his closest friends off the field, with both hailing from Wollongong. “Wardy’s had an outstanding year, and I’ve learned so much from him,” he said. “I know exactly what it’s like to do a hamstring injury, I’ve had a few myself, so it’s really tough for him right now. I’m just sending him all my support as he recovers, and I’m going to do my best to fill in while he’s out.”