Chiming In - Steve Gillis, Player Manager

Peter O'Sullivan. Building the Dolphins, Warriors, Roosters, Storm & more!

June 11, 2026·1h 6m
Episode Description from the Publisher

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 - Start00:04 - Highlights01:45 – Recruitment Manager03:05 – How He Put Redcliffe Together05:05 – Negotiating with Wayne Bennett06:20 – Roster Strategy07:40 – Dolphins Knock Backs09:20 – Who Said No to the Dolphins10:20 – Signing Hammer11:40 – What Do You Look For in a Player?12:40 – Dealing with Knockback15:45 – Joel Kane Story17:20 – Family + Kids (Sean O'Sullivan)19:20 – Busy Schedule20:20 – How to Become a Recruitment Manager23:20 – Managing Melbourne Recruitment24:20 – Recruiting Greg Inglis27:50 – Greg Inglis Being a Blue30:05 – "The Pitch"31:35 – Working with Player Agents34:25 – Parents + Agent Pressure on Players37:15 – Negotiating with Different Backgrounds38:45 – Player Obstacles Getting Into the NRL39:50 – Perth Bears Recruitment42:05 – Helping the Knights Recruitment43:45 – Dylan Brown Signing47:10 – Re-Signing Ponga48:20 – Justin Holbrook's Effects on the Club49:30 – Premiership at the Knights50:40 – How to Say No to a Player51:53 – November Deadline + Trade Windows54:15 – Coaches, Agents + Representation56:21 – Israel Folau58:05 – RTS59:04 – Boyd Cordner01:01:05 – Phone Visible on the Wide01:01:10 – PNG Signings01:03:10 – Club Bucket List Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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