Brisbane Broncos sign recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan for the Newcastle Knights, richest deal, Reece Walsh,

The Broncos have officially confirmed that scouting guru Peter O’Sullivan will join the club as its new General Manager of Recruitment.

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O’Sullivan was poached from the Knights where he had worked for the past 18 months and helped put together a squad which made this year’s Grand Final.

The Knights were understandably keen to keep him but Brisbane’s reported $2.5 million deal is the richest contract ever for an NRL recruitment boss.

O’Sullivan has been recruiting players for the likes of the Dolphins, Warriors, Storm, Knights and the Roosters for 25 years and is regarded as the best eye for talent in the game.

While at the Knights O’Sullivan brought in the likes of Harrison Graham, Sandon Smith, Francis Manuleleua and $13 million halfback Dylan Brown.

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Former recruitment manager Simon Scanlan has moved into the newly created position of General Manager of Pathways and Strategic Football Projects.

O’Sullivan said last week that he was weighing up the Broncos offer and on Wednesday said he was “grateful” to have been approached by the biggest club in the NRL.

“I’m extremely positive about the direction, leadership and future of this great club,” O’Sullivan said.

“The Broncos operation is first class right across the board and we will focus continually on delivering the highest levels of talent identification and acquisition in the game.”

Brisbane Broncos Executive General Manager of Football Troy Thomson said O’Sullivan was the obvious man to help build future squads at the powerful club.

“With the recent changes to our football department, it was important that we found the right person to continue the great work of Simon in this space, and we believe Peter is that person,” he said.

“His knowledge and relationships across the game will be a real asset to the Broncos as we continue to strengthen our recruitment processes and build our playing squad for the future.

“We’re really pleased to welcome ‘Sully’ to the Broncos and look forward to seeing the impact he can have across our football program.”

The Broncos are coming off a disastrous 2026 season as the defending premiers.

They ran 14th on the NRL ladder and lost key forward Payne Haas while captain Adam Reynolds retired.

O’Sullivan will be able to team up again with Reece Walsh, whom he convinced to leave the Broncos and join the Warriors in 2021.