Yahoo Sport Australia has been told that Josh Schuster‘s coffee catch up with Manly coach Anthony Seibold was nothing more than a wellbeing check and not the start of a path back to the NRL. The pair was snapped at a northern beaches café on Sunday, with Nine Newspapers reporter Michael Chammas posting the image on X and reporting Schuster was “in a good place and still wants to make something of his career”.
That led to speculation Schuster may be readying himself for a comeback after spending more than two years out of the game dealing with mental health issues. The gifted but erratic playmaker – once described by Immortal Bob Fulton as the “closest thing to Wally Lewis” he’d seen – played the last game of his 50 NRL games on August 18, 2023.
Josh Schuster (far left) and Anthony Seibold (R) were spotted catching up for a coffee. Image: Getty
After being released from his Manly contract in early 2024, South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett threw Schuster a lifeline in the hope of resurrecting his career this year. “We think a comeback to the NRL with our club will be just what Josh needs to get his career back on track,” Souths’ Head of Football Mark Ellison said at the time.
“We’re confident that he can use this second opportunity at NRL level, at a new club with new coaches, new teammates and renewed expectations, to resume his NRL career and achieve his and the team’s goals.”
‘No plans’ for Manly to bring Josh Schuster back
Schuster failed to play a single game with the Rabbitohs, quitting mid-season before being formally cut from the roster at the end of 2025. At 24, the Samoan international has time on his side should he wish to revive his career.
Josh Schuster didn’t play a game for South Sydney. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
But the Sea Eagles have no plans to bring him back to Brookvale. One source with knowledge of Manly’s roster management told Yahoo Sport Australia: “Seibs is a players’ coach and cares for all of them as people as much as footballers.
“His coffee with Josh would have been nothing more than a friend catching up to see how a mate is going. Playing in the NRL again might be on Josh’s radar in the future, but there are no plans to get him back to Manly.”
In response to the Seibold photo, the player’s management company Crown Sports posted: “Josh Schuster is in a great head space. Beautiful to see that his former coach is checking in with him.”
The Sea Eagles open their 2026 campaign against the Raiders at 4 Pines Park on March 7.