Can Tigers shutout un-Lach the secret to starting role for Sean

He may have doubled his career 40/20 tally and unlocked halfback Lachlan Galvin in a 32-0 whitewash of Wests Tigers, but Sean O'Sullivan knows it guarantees him nothing going forward.

In his sixth game of the season at his sixth NRL club, 27-year-old O'Sullivan tormented the Tigers by foot and displayed the natural ball-playing skills that would earn him a starting spot at plenty of clubs.

"Obviously I like to be in those kinds of moments and a lot of hard work goes into that from the coaching staff and in the games you’ve just got to execute it,” O’Sullivan said, having only kicked one 40/20 in his previous 65 NRL matches. 

But perhaps his best attribute was working in sync with Galvin as he helped straighten the Bulldogs' attack in just their second game together in the halves.

Yet coach Cameron Ciraldo said post-match that skipper Stephen Crichton would return to the No.6 jersey with vital games ahead for the Bulldogs to push into the top eight, starting with the Warriors at Accor Stadium on Saturday. 

“I’ll just keep playing my role whatever that is, I’ll keep doing it and back myself 110 per cent,” O’Sullivan said.

“Me and Lachie have got on really well since I came to the Bulldogs. He’s a super kid.

“We trained a lot in the pre-season too... I was excited we got to play again together. 

He likes what I do so he can run around like a headless chook as he does, it’s good

“Of course I’d like to be starting but like I said, I’m really confident in what I can bring especially to the Bulldogs. I understand what my strengths are. 

“I just have to bide my time and keep working hard. Whatever happens, happens... whatever ‘Ciro’ thinks is best.” 

It is a one-year deal with the Bulldogs and O’Sullivan said he hadn’t given deep thought to 2027. 

“We’re just sorting through a couple of things at the moment but I leave that up to my manager – I’ll just keep trying to put my best foot forward in whatever position I’m in and go from there.” 

He hasn’t ruled out Super League but said he felt comfortable at the Bulldogs. 

“I love being part of the Bulldogs... my partner and I are about to have our second kid, so for me I won’t look too far ahead.” 

In other words, he’s not particularly keen for a seventh club after the Roosters, Broncos, Warriors, Panthers, Dolphins and now Dogs – three of those were one-year deals. 

“I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t the case,” he said, when asked if he’d like to settle at just one club.