Shane Richardson will depart his post as head of game strategy and development at the NRL to return to South Sydney.
Less than a year after resigning from the Rabbitohs to join the NRL, Richardson has confirmed he will shift back to the club in the newly created role of general manager.
"I really enjoyed the experience of working at NRL headquarters but this new role - and its direct involvement with the players and the game - is what I want to do next in life," he said in a NRL statement.
"I am looking forward to moving from a strategic role back to the coal face."
In his short time with the NRL, Richardson was responsible for drafting the game's elite pathway blueprint, which was released in December.
While it was endorsed by the ARL Commission (ARLC), the move to shift the current NSW and QLD Cups to a Platinum League, which would potentially merge a number of NRL clubs at a second-tier level, was slammed by the NSW Rugby League.
Richardson was forced to defend the move at the time.
However, ARLC chairman John Grant says it is the success of the blueprint which allows Richardson to move back to the Rabbitohs.
"He has completed the strategy and has been offered a long-term role at Souths so this is the logical time to make the change," he said in the statement.
"His experience at the NRL has given him a unique insight into the game that he did not have before and he leaves on the best of terms."
The transition is expected to take place in the next 60 days.
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