Josh Schuster has signed a three-year contract extension with the Manly Sea Eagles which involves taking a pay cut and having to contend with the incoming arrival of Luke Brooks next season.
The 22-year-old is currently playing as a five-eighth, but with Brooks set to slot into the halves alongside Daly-Cherry Evans in 2024, a return to the forward pack is likely on the cards for Schuster.
Josh Schuster signs new deal to stay at the Sea Eagles
"Josh has shown his commitment to playing his best football in a Sea Eagles jersey by signing long term for our club on less financial terms than he could have got elsewhere and for less than his current contract," Anthony Seibold said upon the announcement of the deal.
"I think this shows his commitment to his team-mates and club.
"His best football is in front of him and we look forward to developing Josh into a consistent, high performing NRL player."
Schuster's extension follows a recent signing spree from the Sea Eagles, who announced four fresh contracts earlier in the week.
On top of Brooks' four-year deal, the club recruited Jaxson Paulo and Tommy Talau along with an extension for young gun Tolu Koula.
MORE: Who will replace Luke Brooks at the Wests Tigers?
"We believe all three [new signings] will only further improve their game under Anthony Seibold," the club's CEO, Tony Mestrov, stated.
The competition for spots in the backline is set to heat up with Paulo and Talau adding to the depth the club already has through the likes of Reuben Garrick, Jason Saab and Christian Tuipulotu.
"What Jaxson and Tommy add to us is competition for spots because we are trying to build consistent performances as a team," Seibold said.
"We want competition for spots, and they add to the quality that we have already got in our outside backs."
Why did Josh Schuster take a pay cut to stay at Manly?
The Sea Eagles have locked down rising star Schuster on a three-year contract, keeping him at the club until at least the end of 2027.
"I know there will always be media speculation about what players are paid but the fact is I am staying here for less than I was offered elsewhere and less than my current deal which was due to expire in 2024,'' Schuster said.
"The reason is that I want to be a part of a successful Manly team going forward, and I have bought into what 'Seibs' is trying to do at the club now and beyond.
"I think he is being inventive, and he has an obvious plan to forge a team that goes beyond just numbers on players' backs.
"There is a good opportunity for me to keep learning off great role models like Daly Cherry-Evans, and Jake and Tom Trbojevic."
Where will Josh Schuster play for the Sea Eagles next year?
The signing of Brooks immediately raised questions about Schuster's future as a five-eighth, with the Tigers' No. 7 likely to slot into the halves alongside Cherry-Evans in 2024.
Although with the halfback's deal set to expire in 2025, there could be an opportunity for Schuster to return to the halves later down the track.
Schuster was a powerful edge forward before his shift to a playmaking role, and his contract extension signals that he is comfortable returning to that position.
Maroons enforcer Gorden Tallis feels that Schuster is best suited as part of the forward pack.
“He’s not a No. 6, he’s a back-rower," he said on NRL 360.
"I think he’s one of the most skillful back-rowers ever to play the game, but when he goes to five-eighth, he doesn’t stay in the contest long enough.
“Against Newcastle [in Round 13], he had the best 20 minutes and then for the next 50 you don’t see him.
"To be a five-eighth, you need a lot of game management and I don’t think he has that.”
Braith Anasta also advocated for the idea of Schuster making a permanent switch to the second-row, where he would form a dynamic partnership with Haumole Olakau'atu.
The former Roosters star believes with the Samoan international on an edge, it would give Manly strike all over the park.
“If he can just find his way in the back row, they’ve got Jake in the front row, Turbo at fullback, DCE and Brooks," he said.
"All of a sudden, there’s a bit of a formidable spine forming at Manly which they probably need.
"If they can make those combinations work, I think it's [Brooks] a great signing.”
Manly Sea Eagles 2023 off-contract list
Brad Parker, Ethan Bullemor, Kaeo Weekes, Morgan Boyle, Morgan Harper, Raymond Vaega, Samuela Fainu, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Jacob Sykes, Jamie Humphreys, Aaron Woods
