Controversial ‘genius’ to join Warriors

The Warriors will appoint Peter O’Sullivan as the club’s recruitment manager.

Stuff broke the story earlier this week that the man who discovered Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Billy Slater and more recently Latrell Mitchell, has agreed terms to join the Warriors.

Later, Warriors CEO Cameron George confirmed the news.

‘‘This is a fantastic opportunity for the Warriors,’’ George said.

‘‘This is a role that’s crucial to our future.’’

O’Sullivan is regarded as a genius when it comes to spotting talent and played a crucial role in the success of the Storm and the Roosters when he was working with those clubs.

But since 2016 O’Sullivan has been serving an indefinite ban from the NRL, following an investigation into his financial dealings with notorious Australian punter and former brothel owner Eddie Hayson.

O’Sullivan had to explain why a substantial amount of money had been deposited into his account by Hayson.

It’s understood that the NRL will agree to lift the ban and it should be confirmed later this week that they will formally approve his registration.

The Warriors grilled O’Sullivan about the ban and his relationship with Hayson, and were convinced that it was all in the past. If the NRL was worried that O’Sullivan had ever provided Hayson any inside information, it’s unlikely they’d re-register him.

‘‘We’ve done our due diligence on what’s happened in the past,’’ George said.

‘‘It’s been dealt with by the National Rugby League. They’ve obviously taken whatever action they believe was appropriate.

‘‘More importantly they’ve advised myself that he’s welcome back in the game and that process is being undertaken now in terms of his registration.’’

A number of clubs have been trying to sign O’Sullivan after it became likely that the NRL would let him be involved in the sport again.

Most recently, the Sea Eagles have been chasing him and he met with their CEO Lyall Gorman earlier this month. However, the Warriors appear to have won the race to sign the man regarded as the NRL’s best talent spotter.

Warriors management are aware that for too long the best young players have been snapped up by Australian NRL clubs and they believe hiring O’Sullivan will reverse the trent.