The No-Look News (Schuster Chronicles)

[mave]

The implication there is that anyone playing five eight must be lazy. He was put in the 5/8 spot because he was outstanding in the role, better than as a second rower. Won awards for it including State Player of the Year U16s, Ken Arthurson and Jake Trbojevic rising star awards, and was considered by certain judges of the game to be he next super star on the rise., all as five eighth.

The problem was he was a kid with amazing skills destined for Manly's five eight spot and then betrayed and thrust into the second row, which he hadn't played for years. He also didn't have the weight for second row immediately but was put into a position where he was playing second five eighth and doing twice the defence of Foran (his average was around 28 a game to 17 for Foran). He was one of only three forwards who then had to play the full 80 minutes, Jake and Croker the other two.. He was made into a work horse who also had to perform in setting up play. It was a betrayal. The death of his closest mate Titmus of course compounded the problem.

I'm sorry,

Are you seriously suggesting Shu was betrayed by Des/the Club by finding a spot for him in first grade after Foran was signed again?

I'd take that sort of betrayal every day of the week.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

and then betrayed and thrust into the second row, which he hadn't played for years

"Betrayed" what the... (I agree with Mave!)

He also didn't have the weight for second row immediately

can't help suspecting you have invented this one Bear

This was Josh in 2017 - aged 16 years and one month - already looking bigger than Test forward Jake Turbo !!

 

[LeonardCohen]

The implication there is that anyone playing five eight must be lazy. He was put in the 5/8 spot because he was outstanding in the role, better than as a second rower. Won awards for it including State Player of the Year U16s, Ken Arthurson and Jake Trbojevic rising star awards, and was considered by certain judges of the game to be he next super star on the rise., all as five eighth.

The problem was he was a kid with amazing skills destined for Manly's five eight spot and then betrayed and thrust into the second row, which he hadn't played for years. He also didn't have the weight for second row immediately but was put into a position where he was playing second five eighth and doing twice the defence of Foran (his average was around 28 a game to 17 for Foran). He was one of only three forwards who then had to play the full 80 minutes, Jake and Croker the other two.. He was made into a work horse who also had to perform in setting up play. It was a betrayal. The death of his closest mate Titmus of course compounded the problem.

Have to agree to disagree. He was still athletic enough to play 80 in 2021 but as he grew into his body and filled out, he started gassing bad at the back end of games and was a liability. I don’t see the implication either…I’m talking about Schu being a 6 in NYC and being able to throw the ball around instead of getting busy in contact.

It’s funny, in all of these discussions, we keep talking about hypotheticals and this and that, but the proof is in the pudding. The evidence is there; his career is floundering.

 

[frank stokes]

as he grew into his body and filled out, he started gassing bad at the back end of games

anyone who remembers that Schu intercept against the riff in 2023 (where he ran 30m and then kicked… wtf?)… or even the interception against the knights (where he looked like he was running in mud before he passed to Garrick)… knows that Schu is not an NRL level back… too big, too slow…

Some will say “they were great intercepts and show his skill” which is partially right… but the flip side of that argument is they are the lazy play that just depends on good hands (which he has) and a bit of luck… plenty of times he did not get the intercept and ended up in no-man’s-land which let the defence down…