Veteran rugby league coach Wayne Bennett has revealed his side’s spine leading into the club’s inaugural season in the NRL.
Bennett has decided to hand the number seven jersey over to former Panther Sean O’Sullivan who will partner up alongside Anthony Milford at five eighth.
O’Sullivan has spent the last two seasons playing behind Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary, playing eleven games for the club during their second premiership year.
Despite only having 32 first grade NRL games to O’Sullivan’s name, Bennett is adamant that he is ready to lead the side at halfback for 2023.
“Sean will be our halfback,” Bennett told The Courier Mail.
“He is a really good team player and knows his role really well. He is a smart player who will do a good job for us.
“He came to the Broncos because of me but I got the sack (2018) and never got to coach him for one minute.
“When he went to Penrith, into a good system at a good club, we saw what he could do.”
Alongside the halves partners the Dolphins coach has chosen former Bulldog Jeremy Marshall-King at hooker and speed machine Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at fullback.
“He has speed and movement,” Bennett said of Tabuai-Fidow.
“He is very skilful and you can’t coach that,” he said.
“The Cowboys were in a tough position there with different position players over a period of time. He came here as our fullback and will be playing fullback.
“It’s one of the most challenging positions on the field to play in the modern game.
“There’s so much required of them and they’ve got to have a very good skill set. His is very good, it’s a credit to the club that’s brought him through.”
Bennett has also made an itriguing call on Euan Aitken, informing the veteran he will be playing in the centres as opposed to the back row
“I had a chat to Wayne and that’s what he wanted me to have a crack at,” Aitken told the Courier Mail..
“He thought it’d be the best fit for the team.
“I’m excited to be back in the centres. It’s a good challenge for me.
“There’s a lot of competition for spots in this backline and I’m ready to attack that head on and hopefully get that round one centre spot.”
