One day pairing back to build club
WAYNE BENNETT and Sean O’Sullivan once passed like ships in the night at the Broncos, never expecting to be reunited sharing the rudder on a new vessel on the other side of town.
O’Sullivan was only coached by Dolphins coach Bennett for one day at the Broncos late in 2018 before Bennett was axed, surely making it the shortest coach-player union in NRL history.
But they are back together at the Dolphins where O’Sullivan will be first choice halfback on the back of an interesting career which features one game for the Sydney Roosters, eight for the Broncos, 12 for the Warriors and 11 last year for Penrith when he was Nathan Cleary’s stunt double.
And he’s only 24.
“I will be forever grateful for what the Penrith Panthers did for me,’’ O’Sullivan said.
“They were unbelievable for me. They taught me what 80 minutes of NRL football looks like. They taught me how to train properly to maximise the way you play on the weekend. They taught me so many lessons.’’
Foundation halfbacks at new clubs – think Allan Langer at the Broncos, Scott Prince at the Titans and Laurie Spina at the Cowboys – tend to be men of great influence but O’Sullivan is trying not to be burdened by historical expectations.
“It comes with a lot and I am just concentrating on earning everyone’s respect and training really hard. I am not so much worried about outside noises and expectations, I am just worried about what’s in our club and what we are building at the Dolphins.
“I really want to make this my home now but to do that I know I have to train and play well.’’