The honesty of Wayne Bennett and the support of forgotten NRL prodigy Junior Amone have helped Jayden Sullivan find his groove at South Sydney.
Sullivan, on loan to the Rabbitohs until he returns to Wests Tigers next season, delivered his best performance in a Souths jersey to date on Friday when his linebreak to set up Jye Gray helped drag the Bunnies towards a 20-14 win over the Sydney Roosters.
The interchange utility was thrust into the action early when first-choice halfback Jamie Humphreys limped off with a hamstring injury, recovering from a missed tackle that led to a Sandon Smith try to keep Souths in the game.
Sullivan has endured a testing few years in the NRL after bursting onto the scene as a player of immense potential at St George Illawarra.
He was signed by the Tigers from Dragons last year but managed just eight games before being shopped around and landing at Souths on a season-long loan, where he has become the latest player to excel under Bennett's spell.
"His honesty, the way he cares about you off the field is really special," Sullivan said.
"I'm not saying any of that other coaches haven't cared about me off the field, but I feel like I had a real special connection with Wayne as soon as I signed and I left that meeting room.
"I wouldn't say I'm starstruck, I'm just happy to be in his presence.
"When someone of his aura and his calibre cares about you and puts time and effort into you, you don't want to let them down."
The 23-year-old said Amone, a former Dragons teammate who hasn't been sighted in the NRL since 2023 due to off-field indiscretions, had helped him get in shape to attack his make-or-break season at Souths.
"He was side by side with me, we pretty much trained every day in the off-season," Sullivan said.
"He went through a tough time and got footy taken away from him, and I want to repay him as well - he has been a big, massive part in my life."
With Humphreys and five-eighth Cody Walker doubtful ahead of next week's clash with North Queensland in Perth, Sullivan looms as the likely candidate to fill in as a starter alongside Lewis Dodd.
English import Dodd was Souths' main off-season signing but a suspension led to Humphreys winning the race for the club's No. 7 jersey.
"I've been in Doddy's shoes and rugby league is a really weird sport," Sullivan said.
"A week ago I was never having these conversations with you fellas (journalists), and they have one good game and it all changes.
"If he comes in, does his job then he's going to be his own critic."
