Manly coach Anthony Seibold says his young No. 6 Josh Schuster has learned a valuable lesson over the past month: “hard work pays off”.
Schuster copped a stunning rocket from his captain Daly Cherry-Evans who publicly questioned his work ethic last month.
The 22-year-old on $800,000 per season has struggled to stay fit this year while battling hamstring and quad injuries.
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Schuster was even linked with leaving the club but Sea Eagles powerbrokers won’t be letting that happen anytime soon if he keep performing like he did against the Raiders on Sunday.
The five-eighth enjoyed a stellar return from injury, playing in his fourth game of the season and first since Round 8.
Schuster finished with a try, three try assists and three linebreak assists during a thumping win in Canberra.
“We know he’s a talented player but he’s worked really hard since the Wests Tigers game. He probably got a bit of a lesson in regards to preparation,” Seibold said.
“He really worked hard on reconditioning himself after his injury, which was a quad injury.
“The next challenge for him is to be consistent but it was a good little lesson that hard work pays off.”
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Warren Smith said on the Fox League broadcast that it was “incredible to think just a few weeks ago there was talk of him leaving the club”.
“What a tragedy it would be if he doesn’t knuckle down and reach his potential,” Steve Roach responded.
Schuster also earned praise from star fullback Tom Trbojevic and Fox League experts Corey Parker, Braith Anasta and Byran Fletcher.
He was very good, he opened up a lot of space for people like me and Chez which was awesome,” Trbojevic said.
Manly Sea Eagles Press Conference | 06:49
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“Defensively he’s had his issues but with the ball in hands, the way he squares up the defensive line just gives time and space for people outside him,” Parker said.
“He looks sharp, whenever he’s on Manly is a big chance of winning because he’s just such a creative player,” Anasta said.
“If they’re going to do anything in this competition they need their best side on the park and he’s in their best side,” Fletcher said.
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