Usaia O’Sullivan has walked away from a contract with West Wyalong to link up with Group Nine outfit Southcity.
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The representative centre had agreed to stay on with the Mallee Men after a successful 2015 but changed his mind weeks later.
West Wyalong co-coach Mark Wood said the club were never going to stand in his way and that O’Sullivan must have been made “a good offer that he couldn't refuse”.
“It’s disappointing but we aren’t going to hold him back,” Wood said.
“If he wants to go there, there’s not much we can do about it.
“He’s got to do what’s right for him and his family.”
As they did in 2015, O’Sullivan was to partner co-coach Chris Mayberry in the centres – a combination that produced 30 of West Wyalong’s 94 tries last year.
West Wyalong's list was finalised for 2016 before the loss of O’Sullivan but the Mallee Men aren’t going into panic mode.
Premiership-winning utility Willy Jones will return to the club this year and was to play in the back-row for Wyalong.
Jones is one of many options, according to Wood, that could fill the void left by O’Sullivan.
“It’s definitely a big loss but hopefully we will find someone who will take that spot,” Wood said.
“We will probably look within the club. We have a couple options with a few young blokes or moving positions around.”
While the loss is massive for West Wyalong, Southcity are over the moon to secure the excitement machine.
O’Sullivan starred for Riverina in the Country Championship series last year.
Southcity captain-coach Nick Skinner is thrilled to have O’Sullivan on board to add to the strike power in the Bulls backline.
Speaking to Fairfax Media last Wednesday, Skinner described O’Sullivan as “one of the best players” for Riverina in their Country Championship triumph in May.
“We’re been lucky to pick him (O’Sullivan) up,” Skinner said.
“He’s come across to Wagga to live and decided to play with us.
“He had a really good year and I thought he was one of the best players for Riverina.”