There's no bad blood between Jayden Sullivan and his "No.1 supporter" Benji Marshall - despite the new recruit finding himself benched midway through Wests Tigers' first game of the season.
Sullivan is targeting a return to the starting side in 2024, but is prepared to remain on the interchange if that's what Marshall wants from him.
The Tigers signed Sullivan from St George Illawarra as part of a playmaker spending spree that also took halves options Aidan Sezer and Latu Fainu to Concord.
But Sullivan lasted less than one game in the Tigers' starting side.
Marshall benched the struggling 22-year-old during the first-up clash against Canberra, which ended in a 20-point loss for the Tigers.
His replacement Sezer earned the nod to start at halfback the following week.
Sezer and young gun Lachlan Galvin, the pairing that secured a 32-6 win over Cronulla last week, have been named as the Tigers' first-choice halves to face Parramatta on Monday.
Sullivan, meanwhile, will continue to be used as a bench utility - a role he filled at times across 27 games with the Dragons.
But if that's what his boyhood hero Marshall wants from Sullivan, it's what the youngster will do.
"He gave me reasons, but that was between Benji and I," Sullivan said.
"He's very honest and when he talks you listen. He's done everything in the game, now he's stamping his authority as a coach.
"Benji just said to be myself. When I'm myself, I play good footy. That's what he's challenged me to do, just be myself week in, week out.
"He's been there in my corner and he's my No.1 supporter at the moment."
Competition for spots is only set to become fiercer at the Tigers.
Sezer, Sullivan, Galvin, Fainu and the injured Adam Doueihi are all vying for the spot next to Jarome Luai in 2025, when the Penrith five-eighth arrives at the joint venture.
"Everyone wants to start in the NRL," Sullivan, who is contracted to the end of 2027, said.
"But if the team needs me to be on the bench, I'll be on the bench.
"Everyone in the team puts the team first. That's what I'm doing at the moment."
Australian Associated Press
