Manly Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold has hit back over what he labelled a “personal” attack on Josh Schuster.
The 21-year-old is reportedly earning $800,000 per-season but has only featured three times so far in 2023 due to issues with his fitness and injury.
Schuster was also involved in a training fight with NSW Cup player Dean Matterson last week that had to be broken up by teammates.
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Schuster brawls teammate at training?! | 01:41
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It prompted former Sea Eagles head of elite pathways Kristie Fulton to take a swipe at the 21-year-old on social media
“The solution is simple, he needs to grow up,” Fulton wrote on her personal Facebook page.
“Move to Manly, cut ties with the negative influences in his life, stop hanging with fans, control the diet and have the mindset and attitude he once did circa 2019.
“Too many enablers and excuse makers around him.
“It’s always everyone else’s fault.”
Speaking to Nine’s Danny Weidler on Tuesday, Seibold defended his young playmaker.
“That’s a really personal thing,” Seibold said of Fulton’s comments on Schuster’s build.
“I’m assuming a lot of the commentary is from outside the building.
“He knows what he needs to do to play his best football and we’re working towards that.”
‘There’s work to be done there’ | 03:33
Seibold denied Schuster had an attitude problem but said ultimately his future rested in his own hands.
“I’ve seen a guy who does work hard,” Seibold said.
“But like I say to all the players, the coach isn’t in charge of their career, the head of performance isn’t in charge of their career, their manager isn’t in charge of their career, their parents aren’t in charge of their career; the players themselves need to own their career and that’s where Josh is.”
It comes after Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans issued a public challenge to his halves partner.
“I have been playing long enough to see so many people at this club not maximise their opportunity,” Cherry-Evans told the Daily Telegraph.
“That is rugby league mate – if you’re not willing to work hard enough, if you’re not willing to sacrifice, you just don’t last long.
“He is at a crossroads early in his career but it can be a real positive. This doesn’t have to be a negative for him – spending some time away to get his body right, this could be a defining moment where he takes off to that level we all know he can.
“That is what we are all hoping to see out of it all. I think a situation like this can really stoke the fire in the belly. As his teammates all we want to see is like I said, work really hard to get his body and his mind right, and come back and show consistency in first grade, which I know he can do.”
‘No big deal, you see it all the time!’ | 07:21
Schuster’s struggles this season prompted suggestions the Sea Eagles were looking to move him on from the club.
“They are trying to shift him out of the club… I do think they are,” Paul Kent said on NRL360 on Monday night.
“I think there’s a definite move there, he’s not giving the value they are investing in him, so lets send him away.”
This only intensified when the Tigers landed former Sea Eagles recruitment boss Scott Fulton.
Seibold, however, said Schuster’s future was on the northern beaches of Sydney.
“There’s been no commentary inside or conversations inside our building about that,” Seibold said.
“Josh knows where he stands with me as a head coach … That’s our starting six when he’s fit.”
