'Job done': O'Sullivan on Knights exit as search begins for new recruitment manager

The Newcastle Knights will have to fill the void of one of the game's best eyes for talent after parting ways with Peter O'Sullivan.

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O'Sullivan has agreed to join the Brisbane Broncos on a five-year deal reportedly worth more than $2.5 million.

"It's a bit sad but I couldn't pass up the opportunity and family comes first," O'Sullivan told the Newcastle Herald.

"I loved my time here. I feel like it's job done and we went within a point of the ultimate fairytale.

"I look forward to seeing the Knights win a grand final."

O'Sullivan's departure is a huge loss for Newcastle, given his track record of landing the big names - and often before they become genuine stars.

Over several decades, O'Sullivan has signed the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Greg Inglis and Reece Walsh.

He worked for the Storm, Roosters and Warriors before assembling the Dolphins' inaugural NRL roster. He joined the Knights in mid-2024 after helping the Redcliffe-based expansion club get up and running.

Scott Fulton, previously at the Sea Eagles and Tigers, and Ezra Howe, previously at the Titans, are two names to emerge as potential replacements for O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan departs the Knights having largely set the NRL roster up for the next couple of years.

This year alone, Kalyn Ponga (2030), Dylan Lucas (2030), Francis Manuleleua (2028), Jermaine McEwen (2028), Greg Marzhew (2029) and Dom Young (2030) have all re-signed until at least the end of the 2028 season.

Peter O'Sullivan. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Last year, the Knights recruited Dylan Brown (2035), Sandon Smith (2029) and Trey Mooney (2029) on similarly long-term deals. Phoenix Crossland also re-signed until the end of 2028.

Harrison Graham, Pasami Saulo, Peter Hola, James Schiller, Matt Arthur, Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana and Asu Kepaoa are other players in the top-30 roster not signed beyond next year.

The Knights released a brief statement late Sunday confirming O'Sullivan's departure. "The club thanks Peter for his services," it said.

Chief executive Peter Parr is overseas.

O'Sullivan joins Brisbane ahead of the 2027 NRL season. Picture by Peter Lorimer

The Broncos are understood to have offered a financial package superior to what O'Sullivan was earning at the Knights. Brisbane were premiers in 2025 in their first year under coach Michael Maguire but slumped to 14th this season.

Before news emerged at the weekend O'Sullivan was joining Brisbane, he said on Thursday it was "flattering to have interest from a club like the Broncos".

"I'll be making a decision in the next few days," he told Brisbane's Courier Mail. "We've just made the grand final so I wanted to give it a few days to think about it.

"They are a massive club and I'm very honoured to be offered to be a part of the Broncos, but I'll see what works out for myself and my family and go from there. I've got a couple of options."

Parramatta were reportedly interested in O'Sullivan as well, but he has chosen to return to Queensland, where his wife is from.

He thanked Parr, former Knights CEO Philip Gardner, and Tony Price, a director of the Wests Group board which oversees the club, for their assistance.

"Very appreciative of what Philip, Parry and Tony did for us in our time here," O'Sullivan said.

Meanwhile, new Knights recruit Marata Niukore has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup with a groin injury.

The late scratching for Cook Islands was confirmed on Sunday.

Former Warriors and Eels forward Niukore, who represented New Zealand at the same international tournament in 2022, was due to play against Fiji at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium this weekend.

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