SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 18: Sean O’Sullivan of the Panthers offloads the ball during the round two NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Penrith Panthers at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on March 18, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
The Dolphins have reportedly made their ninth signing for the 2023 season, finally bringing on board a spine player in Penrith Panthers back-up halfback Sean O’Sullivan.
Long touted as one of the brightest young talents in the game, the Penrith junior has struggled to lock down a spot during stints at the Brisbane Broncos, Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors.
The Panthers brought him back to the west of Sydney on a one-year deal this season, with O’Sullivan starring during the opening rounds as he stood in for Origin half Nathan Cleary who was out with injury.
Cleary will miss more games around the Origin window, giving O’Sullivan another chance to shine in Penrith colours.
According to Wide World of Sports‘ The Mole however, the Dolphins will have the youngster on board for 2023 – with the 23-year-old currently having 24 NRL games to his name.
It’s a big call for the Dolphins to entrust the inaugural running of the team to O’Sullivan, who is the son of recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan.
However, it’s understood he had nothing to do with the negotiations, which were solely handled by coach Wayne Bennett and CEO Terry Reader.
The Dolphins have been widely criticised for their recruitment to date, which has brought five experienced forwards (Jesse Bromwich, Kenneath Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi, Ray Stone and Mark Nicholls), one outside back (Jamayne Isaako) and two players without NRL experience (Isaiya Katoa and Valynce Te Whare).
The club are still holding out hope of signing Cameron Munster to partner him in the halves, although the Melbourne Storm have made it clear the earliest any other club can have him is 2024, with no early release likely.
The list of players off-contract in the halves at the end of the 2022 season is beginning to look extremely skinny, with O’Sullivan among the best options at halfback – joined by Phoenix Crossland, Albert Kelly, Jock Madden, Brandon Wakeham, Kodi Nikorima, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Brandon Wakeham when it comes to players with NRL experience – while the list of five-eighths is even shorter – headlined by Kieran Foran, Lachlan Lam, Matt Moylan and Ashley Taylor.
It’s understood the Dolphins are also close to securing Anthony Milford for the 2023 season, meaning the inaugural halves pairing could well be Milford and O’Sullivan if the club fail to land Munster.
Wayne Bennett, despite missing out on Kalyn Ponga this week, declared on Wednesday that he wasn’t reaching for the panic button as the push to sign players continues.
Ponga was just the latest in a long line of misses for the club when it comes to marquee players, although reports suggest they have a number of players lined up with announcements to be made in the coming weeks and months in the lead up to the squad beginning training in November.
Under NRL rules, they must have 24 players signed by the first Monday in November.
Source:: ZeroTackle
