Josh Schuster, a Samoan international, was released from Manly before the end of his contract, meaning his stint with the club ended prematurely. Less than a year after Schuster rejected competing offers and inked a new contract to stay on the Northern Beaches, the shocking news was revealed. When the deal was announced in June of last year, Anthony Seibold stated, “Josh has shown his commitment to playing his best football in a Sea Eagles jersey by signing long term for our club on less financial terms than he could have got elsewhere and for less than his current contract.”
But things rapidly went south when Luke Brooks entered the team, pushing Schuster out of the five-eighth position and giving Ben Trbojevic the left backrow spot. Schuster was unable to make an impression on the team this season. The player and the club decided to part ways, and the 22-year-old will allegedly get payments totaling about $800,000 over the following three years. Tony Mestrov, CEO of Manly, stated, “Unfortunately, things haven’t worked out for both parties in the end.” “Josh needs some time to reflect on his life and his future goals. Josh is a very talented player, as we all know, and we hope he can sign with a new team soon. We hope the best for him.”
Des Hasler, the former Manly mentor, had only won one game during his erratic reign on the Glitter Strip. Even worse, David Fifita’s future is far from certain as he considers his choices before making a decision in Round 10. Schuster might be a ready-made backrow replacement if the Queenslander decides to move on, having proven his mettle in that position on the left for the Sea Eagles in 2021. During that season, Schuster participated in 21 games and established himself as a player to watch. He scored two tries, created eight line breaks, oversaw more than 20 offloads, and averaged 75 run metres per game while tackling with a 93% efficiency rate.
When Schuster capitalized down the left, players like Tom Trbojevic and Reuben Garrick were frequently overlooked due to his ability to disrupt the game. Having previously worked together at the Sea Eagles, Hasler and Schuster developed a strong friendship. Furthermore, the seasoned coach would surely be confident in bringing out the best in the international Samoan player. However, Schuster’s deal wouldn’t necessarily be nullified if Fifita chose to stay on the Gold Coast. If Hasler chooses to pursue that option, Kieran Foran, who is in the last year of his contract, may decide to retire, leaving Schuster’s five-eighth slot open at the Titans in 2025.
Shuster’s manager, Mario Tartak, told 9News reporter Danny Weidler that the five-eighth spot is where he sees himself in the long run. “He doesn’t want to be a back-rower, he wants to get his fitness to a level where he can be a five-eighth again,” Weidler told 100% Footy. “Right now though, they’re putting all club talks on hold, and they just want to concentrate on getting his mental state right and then his football right.”
