Josh Schuster is as confident as he can be heading into a fresh new season for not only himself, but for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in 2023.
“I’m hungrier than ever to show what Josh Schuster is really about,’’ the 21-year-old five-eighth said.
And why wouldn’t he be confident leading into Manly’s final trial against the Sydney Roosters in the Pre-season Challenge in Gosford this Friday night.
For Schuster has been a man on a mission since the end of a tough 2022 season, a year that saw him battle injuries early on before playing at a much heavier weight in the second-row to accommodate Kieran Foran in the halves with Daly Cherry-Evans.
It's been a physical and mentally challenging past two seasons for the talented Schuster playing in the back-row in between coming off the bench. He now has 35 NRL games behind him.
With Foran now at the Gold Coast Titans and a burning desire to grab back the number six jersey, Schuster decided to miss representing Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup to get himself ready for the pre-season and life under new Coach Anthony Seibold.
It all started with countless hours running up torturous hills and roads near Long Reef Golf Club on Sydney’s Northern Beaches to lose weight.
It worked for the gifted ball player, with Schuster dropping from 120kg to 105kg as he was joined by the likes of exciting Manly youngsters Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Zac Fulton, Viliami Fifitai, and James Uesele.
“What I really enjoyed about those runs was all the boys that I grew up with in the juniors wanted to work just as hard as me,’’ Schuster said.
“I want to be a leader for those boys. Seeing them wanting to work hard is very pleasing knowing they are chasing their goals as well.”
The hard work has paid off. Schuster is back at five-eighth and working tirelessly on building his partnership with Cherry-Evans.
And he won't give up the coveted six jersey without a fight either.
The six jersey means everything to me
Josh Schuster
“It's been that way since I started playing in that number for the Sea Eagles in the junior reps. I arrived here at Manly when I was 14.”
Having made a superb NRL debut for the Sea Eagles in round 17, 2020, Schuster is excited about what he and Cherry-Evans can achieve together this year.
"It’s been going really well, actually. I’ve only played one game with ‘Chez’ in the halves since my debut,’’ Schuster added.
“The combinations are coming along. I’ve learnt so much from Daly. He is the ultimate professional.
"Just the way he carries himself on and off the field. It’s definitely something that a young guy like me can look up to.
“I feel like it’s the start of something special.”
