Peter O’Sullivan is regarded the NRL’s premier recruitment manager having successfully shaped the playing rosters of teams like the Dragons, Roosters, Storm, Warriors and Knights over many years.

He was also responsible for putting together the Dolphins inaugural team in 2023 - which, amazingly, less than four seasons later, is now considered a genuine premiership contender.

So what does a recruitment manager do and how does he identify and procure talent.

O’Sullivan is credited with unearthing and launching the careers of players such as Greg Inglis, Latrell Mitchel, Israel Folau, Roger Tuivasa-Scheck and many, many more. He also plays a key role in the salary cap management of his club.

Today O’Sullivan is an integral part of the Newcastle Knights system and was the man responsible for luring Dylan Brown away from Parramatta in sensational circumstances.

In this episode of Chiming In, you are given a birds’ eye view into the tricks of the recruitment manager’s trade - how they identify players, entice them to switch clubs and build powerful playing rosters.

With new teams Perth and Papua New Guinea on the horizon, no-one is better qualified than O’Sullivan to comment on how their new look rosters are shaping up.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Start

00:04 - Highlights

01:45 – Recruitment Manager

03:05 – How He Put Redcliffe Together

05:05 – Negotiating with Wayne Bennett

06:20 – Roster Strategy

07:40 – Dolphins Knock Backs

09:20 – Who Said No to the Dolphins

10:20 – Signing Hammer

11:40 – What Do You Look For in a Player?

12:40 – Dealing with Knockback

15:45 – Joel Kane Story

17:20 – Family + Kids (Sean O'Sullivan)

19:20 – Busy Schedule

20:20 – How to Become a Recruitment Manager

23:20 – Managing Melbourne Recruitment

24:20 – Recruiting Greg Inglis

27:50 – Greg Inglis Being a Blue

30:05 – "The Pitch"

31:35 – Working with Player Agents

34:25 – Parents + Agent Pressure on Players

37:15 – Negotiating with Different Backgrounds

38:45 – Player Obstacles Getting Into the NRL

39:50 – Perth Bears Recruitment

42:05 – Helping the Knights Recruitment

43:45 – Dylan Brown Signing

47:10 – Re-Signing Ponga

48:20 – Justin Holbrook's Effects on the Club

49:30 – Premiership at the Knights

50:40 – How to Say No to a Player

51:53 – November Deadline + Trade Windows

54:15 – Coaches, Agents + Representation

56:21 – Israel Folau

58:05 – RTS

59:04 – Boyd Cordner

01:01:05 – Phone Visible on the Wide

01:01:10 – PNG Signings

01:03:10 – Club Bucket List

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