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…

 

[Dion Johnson]

An exceptionally talented player, renowned for his extraordinary skills who announced himself at a packed Commbank stadium playing five eight against Parramatta in a game where the team paid tribute to the late Bozo Fulton with a game-changing performance, there was plenty to like about him and it looked like we had a superstar in the making.

I like many others remain hopeful that he will overcome these fitness and personal obstacles, allowing him to return to peak form and continue his footy journey.

 

[Bearfax]

WOW ... the number of people in denial here is breathtaking ... it was Dessie's fault ... it was Sieb's fault ... it was being moved to 2nd rows fault ... it was the injuries fault ... it was the secret recipe of herbs and spices fault ...

Meanwhile the much maligned Froggy, with three knee reconstructions ... moved from 5/8th to hooker .. had Api, and Fainu ahead of him ... just said ... "hold my beer, I'll have a go"

So Des was blameless for pushing our potential star five eighth into the second row was he? Bit of revisionist history there Woodsie. You haven't been learning from John Howard have you?. Even stated he wasn't going to do it. Foran will be used off the bench or maybe as hooker, he said. I remember it well and was disgusted by it. I'm not saying Schuster didn't spit the dummy, though I suspect the Titmus issue hit him more than most think from what I've heard.. And certainly he totally lost the plot after 2021. But the fault should be evenly shared as far as I'm concerned. This is not maligning Foran. He played well. Wasn't his choice and surprised us all I suspect when he managed to get through the season unscathed. He was a crock for 4 years yet Des picked him up instead of letting Schuster take the reins and see if he was the champion player many expected. Have great respect for Des and what he achieved at Manly. Not this issue though and not because of favouritism. Its because the kid had the qualities and was not allowed to use them. Same happened with Gutherson, Tom Wright etc

 

[Woodsie]

So Des was blameless for pushing our potential star five eighth into the second row was he? Bit of revisionist history there Woodsie. You haven't been learning from John Howard have you?. Even stated he wasn't going to do it. Foran will be used off the bench or maybe as hooker, he said. I remember it well and was disgusted by it. I'm not saying Schuster didn't spit the dummy, though I suspect the Titmus issue hit him more than most think from what I've heard.. And certainly he totally lost the plot after 2021. But the fault should be evenly shared as far as I'm concerned. This is not maligning Foran. He played well. Wasn't his choice and surprised us all I suspect when he managed to get through the season unscathed. He was a crock for 4 years yet Des picked him up instead of letting Schuster take the reins and see if he was the champion player many expected. Have great respect for Des and what he achieved at Manly. Not this issue though and not because of favouritism. Its because the kid had the qualities and was not allowed to use them. Same happened with Gutherson, Tom Wright etc

No worries Bear ... I'm sure Wayne Bennett sees the 120kg Shu as a 5/8 ...

PSS ... you have lost the plot.

 

[Dion Johnson]

No worries Bear ... I'm sure Wayne Bennett sees the 120kg Shu as a 5/8 ...

PSS ... you have lost the plot.

This was Wayne’s take on Schuster in September 2024.

SAVING SCHUSTER​

Josh Schuster arrives at Redfern with his career at the crossroads. The 23-year-old was a highly-paid flop at Manly and copped brickbats for his weight issues and attitude to training.

Bennett has a history of resurrecting lost souls - he turned Jamie Soward into a premiership winner and State of Origin player at the Dragons - and he is ready to gamble on Schuster.

“I gave him a chance because I knew he has a lot of football ability, simple as that,” he said.

“He wanted to come to Souths and the money’s not ridiculous.

“He just wants a chance and I’ll give it to him. He’s only a young man, so he’s not finished at all.

“I met with him when I was down there last week. I said hello to him. It was a short conversation. I told him I was pleased he made the decision to come to Souths and he looked in great shape and happy.

“He was very well mannered and respectful. That’s the one conversation I’ve had with him.”

The Samoan Test rookie has the skill set to play five-eighth, lock or second row. Bennett says the pre-season will determine which position Schuster plays - or whether he is good enough for Souths’ top 17.

“I haven’t worried about his position too much, that will sort itself out,” he said.

“He is highly skilled and can play a number of positions.

“His manager came to us about a month ago. He has some real talent so I feel I can get something out of him. I don’t know where he plays. He is a big man. He didn’t look unfit, so we’ll see how it goes at training, what I think he can do and can’t do and go from there.

“I’m not doubting his talent. He is going to get an opportunity with Souths.

“My mindset with him is he just needs a second chance. He is a young man. He had time to sit out and got plenty of publicity he wouldn’t have enjoyed so I’m giving him another chance.”

 

[The Insomniac]

An exceptionally talented player, renowned for his extraordinary skills who announced himself at a packed Commbank stadium playing five eight against Parramatta in a game where the team paid tribute to the late Bozo Fulton with a game-changing performance, there was plenty to like about him and it looked like we had a superstar in the making.

I like many others remain hopeful that he will overcome these fitness and personal obstacles, allowing him to return to peak form and continue his footy journey.

Re : your last paragraph. Nice thoughts, but I'm sorry to say....I doubt it.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Bit of the cart before the horse there EB. Let's go back to 2020. He was a star junior and got his first opportunity in first grade in Round 17 as 5/8. That was his first and only appearance in first grade that year. Suffered an injury and didn't play another game that year. But it was an impressive first game. In the off season Hasler brought in Foran. Said he would use him as a bench player or even hooker. Instead he brought him straight into 5/8 and shifted Schuster to second row. Schuster from that time rarely played 5/8 again until a year or so later. So the hot and cold only applies much later because he played like a second 5/8 in 2021 despite doing a second rowers tackling as well, and he performed consistently well. He wasn't hot and cold that year but that year he put on weight, partly to deal with the second row needs. So what happened was a star junior 5/8, and he was one of the very best juniors as described by critics, is thrust into a forward position requiring a more defence and weight increase. That I believe is where Schuster lost his enthusiasm.

Possibly. I do wonder, though, whether his training deficiencies were what caused him to lose the 6 jersey to Foran.