In the hours immediately after Luke Brooks signed with Manly in June, an emergency meeting was convened by those close to Josh Schuster to ensure he did likewise while he still could.

An $800,000-a-year deal for Schuster had been sitting unsigned for several weeks as he weighed up his options. However, there were concerns that Manly would pull that offer if pen wasn’t immediately put to paper.

Wests Tigers had withdrawn their interest in Schuster and there were concerns the Sea Eagles would do likewise, given Brooks had accepted a deal that ostensibly handed him the No.6 jersey Schuster had long been groomed to wear.

Which is why Schuster signed before the ink had even dried on Brooks’ contract.

It meant coach Anthony Seibold was left with a roster and salary cap out of whack unless Schuster could make the transition to be a top-class back-rower.

On Wednesday morning, the club concluded that wouldn’t be the case.

Josh Schuster in action for Blacktown in the NSW Cup on Saturday.Credit: NRL Photos

Seibold told Schuster’s manager the Samoan international was free to negotiate with other clubs after a troubled start to the season.

Given his hefty salary – only last June, Schuster signed a three-year, $2.4 million contract extension that will keep him on the northern beaches until the end of 2027 – he will be a tough sell for rival clubs.

QOSHE - The contract, the expectation and the meeting: Inside Manly’s backflip on Schuster - Adrian Proszenko
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The contract, the expectation and the meeting: Inside Manly’s backflip on Schuster

16 0
10.04.2024

In the hours immediately after Luke Brooks signed with Manly in June, an emergency meeting was convened by those close to Josh Schuster to ensure he did likewise while he still could.

An $800,000-a-year deal for Schuster had been sitting unsigned for several weeks as he weighed up his options. However, there were concerns that Manly would pull........

© The Sydney Morning Herald


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