Former Manly star Josh Schuster has shed over 30kg and is eyeing off a return to the NRL in 2027, revealing his manager is in talks with “a few clubs”.
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Schuster showed off his slimmed down figure in an interview with James Graham on The Bye Round podcast, with the former prodigy expressing a desire to return to the big time.
The 25-year-old hasn’t played in the NRL since 2024. Despite being on $800,000 a year at Manly, the Sea Eagles let Schuster go in April 2024.
Schuster would link up with Souths, with Wayne Bennett giving the talented footballer another chance, but after taking an indefinite break from the game for mental health reasons, Schuster was released at the end of last season.
Code Sports are reporting that at least two clubs are potentially interested in signing Schuster to a train-and-trial deal for next off-season, beginning in November.
Schuster told Graham he’s happy to bide his time and wait until the end of the current season for his next opportunity.
He also wants to earn a roster spot via a train-and-trial to prove he belongs back in first grade.
In the meantime though, Schuster is making every post a winner.
“I’m training so hard to get ready for a pre-season opportunity. My goal is to get back into the NRL for next year,” he said.
“I’m overtraining a bit, I need to relax but I’m so keen to get back and prove I can do it.”
The comments signal an attitude shift from Schuster, who had to deal with several reports during his career that he struggled at training and with his work ethic.
Schuster’s weight increased as well, but now he’s back to the weight he was when he burst onto the scene in 2020 as a 19-year-old in a debut Benji Marshall labelled “the best I’ve seen”.
Schuster admitted things came quickly and easily for him early in his career, and he wasn’t able to handle.
As he said in a brutally honest interview with Graham, he “lost himself” along the way.
“I’ve done a lot of self reflection, a lot of character building the last few months and just realising how good I had it,” Schuster said.
“Coming straight from high school into the NRL system and having everything thrown at me and not knowing anything else … Money, a free car from the club. I didn’t know what a 9-5 job.
“I was too comfortable from the moment I made my first grade debut and it went downhill (from there). I think everything started to fall down … I definitely lost myself.”