Youngster Watch: 2007

[danzan22]

who is the storm recruiting manager, who ever he is, he should be given a medal

 

[Philhawk]

who is the storm recruiting manager, who ever he is, he should be given a medal

Definitely!

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,20503322-10389,00.html

Man behind the man

Peter Badel

October 01, 2006 12:00am
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HE is the secret weapon who has travelled more than 170,000km this season to help deliver success to the Storm.

He rarely receives a compliment, but chief recruitment scout Peter O'Sullivan's work ethic and negotiating nous has underpinned Melbourne's rise to grand final favouritism.

In a testimony to his eye for talent, O'Sullivan has played a direct role in signing 20 of the Storm's 25-man fulltime squad.

The only players O'Sullivan did not identify were Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Nathan Friend, Cooper Cronk and Jake Webster.

The rest were discovered on the back of a gruelling talent identification strategy that sees O'Sullivan annually rack up more kilometres than the Leyland Brothers.

This year he has jetted to New Zealand six times and made almost 50 trips to Brisbane, Sydney and north Queensland. Based on his exhausting schedule, The Sunday Mail estimates the former Dragons lower-grade coach flies 172,600km every year to ensure the Storm secures blue-chip talent.

"I've picked up plenty of frequent flyer points but I've also picked up a few good kids along the way," said O'Sullivan, who averages six flights a week.

"To be honest, I don't have a day off. If I'm not watching footy or tapes I'm spending plenty of time on planes.

"I spend at least 60 per cent of the year travelling. I used to drive a lot but now that I'm in Melbourne I'm racking up the frequent flyer points.

"It's great when you see the blokes make it. I get a big kick out of seeing a kid like Greg Inglis develop into a first-grader and a representative player."

Rival clubs have awoken to O'Sullivan's spotting ability. Last month, he was linked with a move to the Roosters,

but O'Sullivan insists he has no desire to leave Melbourne.

"I've had a few approaches via third parties over the years but I'm not interested," said O'Sullivan, who joined the Storm in 2000.

"My heart is here, I'm very happy at the Storm."

O'Sullivan admits the initial task of luring players to Melbourne was arduous.

"When I started out no one wanted to come here. We were like lepers. If we're competing with a club like the Broncos, where the kids can stay at home, we'll get beaten two out of three times.

"The presence of Craig Bellamy has made it a lot easier to attract kids."

O'Sullivan rates Inglis, whom he snared as a 15-year-old from Macksville on the NSW north coast, as his best signing. His most satisfying was securing forward Adam Blair.

"I fought with the Warriors for three months to get him. I flew to New Zealand twice, drove to Whangarei (Blair's home town) and flew his grandfather to Christchurch to meet him.

"It can be a tough life but I love it. If I haven't got the best job in the world, I'm in the grand final."

Craig Bellamy, Peter O'Sullivan and Brian Waldron are the best things to ever happen to the Storm.