Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall says his club can help get Josh Schuster’s life back on track after they signed the former Sea Eagles prodigy on a NSW Cup contract that comes with “no risk”.
Schuster, 25, was once touted as the brightest talent in the game when he burst onto the scene, but he lasted just 50 games across four seasons at Manly before his contract was mutually terminated in 2024.
Form, fitness and other factors threatened to derail his career, with Schuster then joining Souths last season where he played five games in reserve grade but never made the NRL side before he took an indefinite break from rugby league for mental health reasons.
He has now been handed a lifeline by the Tigers after edge forward Samuela Fainu got in touch with Marshall and convinced him to chat with the utility about his future.
“It was more about helping him get his life back on track than the actual footy side of things,” Marshall said.
“I sat down with him a couple of nights ago and said to him ‘if it’s about the money, don’t come’ and he said ‘it’s not about the money, it’s about the opportunity’.
“He’s proven that by taking a NSW Cup contract, which means he’ll train with us one day a week.
“There’s no risk for us because it’s not costing us anything, and the flip side is that if he returns to what everyone knows he can be, it’s a big bonus for us.
“The only risk is him letting himself down, but I think what I like about this the most is that I can resonate with his story a little bit. The human element of me feels sorry for the kid and wants to give him the opportunity to have some people around him to help him get out of it.
“The first step for him is he’s 97 kilos now, and I think he was 120 last year. That plays a part. But the ball’s going to be in his court to what happens from here.”
Schuster’s silky skills at the Sea Eagles earnt him a lucrative deal worth about $800,000 a season before he walked away, with all eyes on whether Marshall can unlock his potential and a possible return to the NRL.
“That’s not even in the thoughts of my head at the moment,” he said.
“He’s on a NSW Cup contract, and if he earns (an NRL shot) then it might happen.
“But it’s about getting his life back on track first. For him, I think having someone believe in him and back him that he can return to playing footy again (is important) and I’m all for that.
“The big softie in me caved the other night talking to him, but that’s what our game’s about – giving people opportunities and chances. At our club, I think we can help him.”
Marshall confirmed Adam Doueihi would return from injury in the halves this weekend, but Alex Twal will miss the Knights clash ahead of his comeback next week.
Originally published as ‘The big softie in me’: Benji Marshall hopes Josh Schuster can get his life back on track after joining the Wests Tigers