Josh Schuster’s frustrating run at Manly has been labeled a “real story to watch” amid concerns the club’s patience could wear thin for the young gun who is on a lucrative contract worth a reported $800,000 this season.
Schuster made just his third appearance of 2023 last week but has been left out of this week’s team “to allow him to do more reconditioning work on a recent quad injury.”
It continues a frustrating run for the player and club, with the 21-year-old’s halves partnership with Daly Cherry-Evans still in its infancy due to a lack of playing time together.
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Manly skipper Cherry-Evans on Wednesday threw his support behind Schuster but also delivered a clear challenge to the youngster, emphasising it would take plenty of hard work to get back into the team.
“Not having any continuity has been hard for the team let alone him having to actually go through it. It’s never a fun time when you’re in and out of first grade,” Cherry-Evans said.
“He’s got some time to work on his body, get himself right and he’s a really important part to this team so I’m hoping he goes away, works really hard and comes back a better player for us and stays in the team.
“… I don’t have the answers to it and I don’t have the answers for him but I know if he keeps working hard – like anything in life – you keep working hard you’re eventually going to come good. It’s not going to be easy for him to get into first grade because he’s obviously been quite inconsistent coming in and out so there’s work to be done there obviously. But I hope he knows he’s got a lot of support around here and I definitely have got his back.”
Discussing Cherry-Evans’ comments from the press conference the NRL 360 panel said it was a concerning issue for the club, with Daily Telegraph reporter Michael Carayannis revealing Schuster’s whopping salary that is set to increase again next year.
“Because of the quadricep tear he had initially he hasn’t been able to train and this is a guy who needs to train, he needs to be on the paddock,” Carayannis said.
“… It’s an issue for them going forward. He’s on $800,000 this year, that goes up next year, it’s a huge whack in your (salary) cap. He’s on huge money and it goes up next year when he’s off-contract.
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“They’re still not 100 percent convinced he’s going to be a 6 (five-eighth). Is he that ball-playing 13 (lock) in the middle of the field? Does he do a job on an edge like he did last year?
“But it’s a real story to watch because if he’s on that much money and he’s not playing first grade or stringing some games together, he might not be at the club next year.”
NRL 360 host Braith Anasta said of Cherry-Evans’ comments: “If you read between the lines there, he (Schuster) has got to work harder.
“He’s got to work harder at everything and that’s the part of evolving and growing and maturing as a player as well. So you can forgive him, but when you’re on 800k the patience wears thin.”
Paul Kent said Schuster’s “obligations” of being a professional athlete included all aspects of his preparation including diet and training.
“He’s put on weight and that’s part of the concern,” he said.
“That’s what Cherry-Evans was alluding to today that he’s got to get out and work hard. He’s got to get fit, he’s not fit and part of that is getting his weight down.”
Starting his NRL career in the forwards, Schuster has replaced veteran Kieran Foran in the halves this season and Anasta believes the experiment can still work.
“Because of his body type I thought he’s probably going to move into the backrow or play lock but I actually like him at five-eighth when he plays there,” Anasta said.
“He’s not only a big body but he’s got speed and footwork and great hands. It’s just getting his fitness right.”
