Sean O’Sullivan is ready to make his mark in the NRL with the Dolphins

There are very few halfbacks in the NRL that have been forced to work as hard and serve as long an apprenticeship as Dolphins playmaker Sean O’Sullivan.

Now, after five years and landing at his fifth NRL club, the 24-year-old halfback from St George is ready to make his mark with the competition’s newest franchise.

O’Sullivan was stuck behind Nathan Cleary and Jahrome Luai at the Penrith Panthers but learned valuable lessons in his two years at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

He proved to be extremely capable when called upon, winning every game he played while Cleary was suspended and during the State of Origin period in 2022. 

Now, speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the launch of Stan Originals documentary Dawn of the Dolphins, O’Sullivan said it was all starting to feel real for the new club. 

The Dolphins star has served a lengthy apprenticeship during his young career 

‘Last night made it feel real and then to see all the behind the scenes work of what made the Dolphins to what it is to this day, what we’re trying to build, we’re as excited as everyone else,’ he said.

‘It’s been hard, you obviously get flogged in pre-season but it has been really good. You get to build new connections with everyone, you get to meet literally 35 brand new players,’ he said.

‘We all haven’t played together, everything is from scratch so it is pretty cool.’

The young playmaker made the most of his opportunities at Penrith and played an important role in their 2022 premiership season when Nathan Cleary was absent 

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary and halfback Nathan Cleary have been huge influences on O’Sullivan

After stints at the New Zealand Warriors, Brisbane Broncos, Sydney Roosters and the Panthers, O’Sullivan boasts plenty of experience that he is ready to bring to his new club,

‘I’ve learned so much off all my experiences,’ he said.

‘Hopefully I can bring that and hopefully it has shaped me to be a better player and hopefully I can bring that to the Dolphins, really try and lead this team around.

‘I really need to focus on myself and getting my game sorted. All the other different layers and stuff will come off the back of that, but I really need to worry about my own backyard first and nailing that.’

O’Sullivan played 12 NRL matches for the New Zealand Warriors before moving to Penrith for two seasons

O’Sullivan during an NRL opportunity in 2019 playing for the Brisbane Broncos against the Parramatta Eels

After being given the keys to the Dolphins from master coach Wayne Bennett, O’Sullivan said he is ready to step up to controlling his own side. 

And many of those lessons have been learned from father-son duo Ivan and Nathan Cleary at the Panthers. 

‘I know I am ready,’ he said.

‘That was the whole reason behind going to Penrith, was to get that experience and get that feeling back again of what it feels like to lead a team around and get back to a really good environment.

‘I definitely learned so much from them and I am very thankful to them for what I learned at Penrith.

‘But I am definitely ready to make this my home and really try and nail this spot.’

‘They have been really good to me, both of them,’ he said.

‘I still talk to Nath at least two or three times a week. He is like a big brother to me and I am very thankful for all his support.

‘He is another sounding board that I have at my disposal and I am just so lucky to have them.

‘They were awesome for me.’

O’Sullivan will feature in the Stan Original Documentary Series Dawn of the Dolphins – chronicling the rise of the Redcliffe Dolphins from their announcement as the 17th NRL side, through to their first trial games which airs from March 6.