NRL: Warriors sign controversial recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan

The Warriors have agreed terms with former Storm and Roosters recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan.

However, O'Sullivan won't be able to begin work at Mt Smart until the contract is registered by the NRL.

O'Sullivan was de-registered by the governing body in 2016 due to his association with high profile Australian gambling identity and former brothel owner Eddie Hayson.

According to Australian media reports, Hayson had deposited more than A$700,000 in O'Sullivan's TAB account across a number of years.

If his move is rubber stamped – and Warriors CEO Cameron George is confident that it will be – then O'Sullivan's appointment will complete the final piece of the front office jigsaw at the Warriors.

O'Sullivan is recognized as one of the best talent spotters in the game, and has seen many young prodigies come into the sport, including Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Greg Inglis and Billy Slater.

But he's also a controversial character. Aside from the Hayson links, O'Sullivan was also in charge of recruitment at Melbourne during the salary cap scandal, though he was never formally charged by the NRL.

The Warriors recognize his past will raise some eyebrows, but George declared on Tuesday that O'Sullivan had done his time and that "everybody makes mistakes".

George added that they had done plenty of due diligence on O'Sullivan and discussed his past at length in the interview process. The club is confident there will be no ongoing issues.

But George, along with coach Stephen Kearney who worked with O'Sullivan at the Storm, believe O'Sullivan is the right man to lead the Warriors' recruitment and junior development strategy.

O'Sullivan will relocate to Auckland for the role. He will work under general manager of football Brian Smith.