THE door is open for Gareth O’Brien to return to Warrington Wolves – if he can become a dictator.

The 23-year-old Academy graduate will be released by Wolves at the end of the current season.

And the club's head of coaching and rugby says it is important for the young half back to go elsewhere in a bid to develop his game.

“For Gaz it’s time for him to go and run a team if he can,” said Tony Smith. “That would be his idea, to be number one or two rather than the back up half back.

“I think that’s important for his development. Whether he ends up doing that or playing a backup role somewhere else, that’s entirely up to him.

“It’s difficult letting him go anyway because he’s a Warrington boy and he loves the club. It would be difficult to keep him here on standby again.

“I really wish him well for his future and the door’s not shut by any means for Warrington in the future.

“But I think the best thing for his development would be to go and become the dictator at some club.

“If he ever desires to come back once he’s developed some of those attributes he’ll come back a much better player."

O'Brien, who nearly left for Bradford last year, has found chances limited since the arrival of Chris Sandow.

“None of those decisions are taken lightly, it gets to a stage where we talked to Gaz about it and he understands," added Smith.

“You think it’s the best development for your player you’ve got to talk to them about it, and that’s what we did.”