Josh Schuster may have to wait a little longer for his return to rugby league after suffering a nasty knock at training which left him in hospital.
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The former Manly player copped a blow to the throat by teammate Alex Twal during an opposed session at training on Wednesday, just a day after being named to play his first game for the Magpies in the NSW Cup.
In the moments after he copped the hit it was obvious Schuster needed help and the club doctors sent him to hospital for scans, which cleared him of any major damage.
Schuster is now in doubt for the match against the Dragons at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday, having not played a competitive match since May 2025.
Benji Marshall gave the gifted playmaker a lifeline in June and he joined the Tigers on a train-and-trial deal after a brief stint at Souths where he didn’t play a first grade game.
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Marshall met with Schuster after a request from Tigers back-rower Samuela Fainu to give his friend a chance to revive his NRL career.
“It was more about helping him get his life back on track than the actual footy side of things,” Marshall said at the time.
“I sat down with him and just said ‘if it’s about the money, don’t come’ and he said, ‘no, it’s not about the money, it’s about the opportunity’.
“He’s proven that. He’s taken the NSW Cup contract, which means he will train with us (NRL squad) one day a week.
“There is no risk for us. It’s not costing us anything. The flip side is, if he returns to what everyone knows he can be, it’s a big bonus for us.”
Josh Schuster in hospital bed.Source: Instagram
The 25-year-old has long been touted as one of the more naturally gifted footballers for his age and in June 2023, signed an $800,000 per season contract extension at Manly.
But by April the following year he was allowed to leave the club.
Schuster has battled injuries over the years and left South Sydney in June 2025, after a brief time at the club, to focus on his mental health.
Despite battling weight issues during his career, he’s now in top shape at the Tigers and has impressed the coaching staff.
He played a lot of back-row during his 50-game stint at Manly, but Schuster and the Tigers view him as a five-eighth.
Schuster will look to get back on the footy field as soon as possible as he tries to impress his new club and earn a longer-term contract.