Manly prepares $2.5m Josh Schuster offer, Tyson Frizell targeted by Bulldogs and Wests Tigers, Adam Elliott on the outer

As rumours persist he could be the first domino to fall in a mass exodus, Manly is preparing an offer in excess of $2m to ensure it holds onto Josh Schuster.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: Tyson Frizell of the Knights is tackled during the round 19 NRL match between the Newcastle Knights and the Sydney Roosters at McDonald Jones Stadium, on July 22, 2022, in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Manly have made a blockbuster $2.5 million offer to keep playmaker Josh Schuster at the club long-term dismissing talk that the rising star was on the brink of leaving the club.

Sea Eagles boss Tony Mestrov has boldly declared the club’s intentions to tie-down Schuster until at least 2027 after meeting with the rising star’s management last week.

The Tigers are among the club’s circling the 22-year-old who still has one year left on his rich deal.

The Sea Eagles want to tie him down before he can formally sign with rival clubs come November 1.

Josh Schuster has been linked with several of Manly’s NRL rivals.

“We don’t want him going anywhere,” Mestrov said. “As a club we are not going to let other clubs come in and take our players. We want Josh to stay and we’ve put a good offer forward.

“The fact is, he is going to play his best footy under (coach) Anthony Seibold and this year is the best he has played in a while. We believe Seibs is the best man to make him play his best football.

“We see him as a valuable player for the club. He has skills no other player has got. He has that X-factor that every club needs.

“He has been at the club since he was 14, we want him to be a one-time player. He has his best footy ahead of him.”

Schuster has struggled with injury but is considered one of the NRL’s rising stars.

The move is a significant show of faith from the Sea Eagles to Schuster who has struggled with injuries this season and has played just 41 top grade games. He made a concerted effort in the pre-season to shed some weight as he made the permanent switch from the halves to the backrow.

He put in a dominant performance in his first game of the season in round three against the Eels but again battled niggling calf and quad complaints which resulted in Schuster taking a break from playing.

Seibold said he had little doubt Schuster could reach great heights.

“We’ve only scratched the surface with where his game is at,” Seibold said. “He has gone

a good job.

“He has lot a whole heap of weight in the off-season. He has recently lost eight kilograms through being really disciplined around his lifestyle.

“He has a good understanding of footy and I enjoy working with him. He has been here since he was a kid. We want to keep him at Manly and he wants to stay. We will get something done.

“He has a great deal of potential. He needs to reach that and that’s what we are here to help him do.

“He will develop into one of the elite ballplayers in the game regardless of what number he has on the back.”

The Sea Eagles are also closing in on extending centre Tolutau Koula before he hits the market on November 1.

BULLDOGS ENTER RACE TO SIGN FRIZELL

Newcastle have warned rivals clubs off Daniel Saifiti as the Bulldogs step up their bid to sign off-contract NSW forward Tyson Frizell.

Frizell is locked in a three-way tug of war for his services with the Tigers and Canterbury trying to entice him away from the Knights.

It is understood Frizell met with Bulldogs officials last week having already spoken to the Tigers.

Newcastle have also tabled a multi-year deal to keep the 31-year-old at the club. Privately, Newcastle are confident they will be able to keep Frizell but the Tigers and Canterbury are keen to bolster their forward packs. Frizell is close to Tigers coach in-waiting Benji Marshall who is pushing for the club to sign him.

Tyson Frizell of the Knights is a man in demand. Picture: Getty Images

Frizell has had a career revival after picking up Newcastle’s player of the year award last year. Despite winning the club’s individual honours, his form this year has been arguably even better and led to him earning an Origin recall.

While the Knights continue to navigate a tricky salary cap situation in the hope of keeping Frizell, they have warned rival clubs against talking to Saifiti or centre Bradman Best.

Instead it could be the likes of new recruits Jack Hetherington and Adam Elliott who are moved on at the end of the season.

The Bulldogs and the Dragons were among the clubs keen on pursuing Saifiti – who is a chance of earning a NSW recall of his own for game two.

The 27-year-old prop is on a mega deal worth more than $800,000 next year.

He is contracted until the end of 2026. Despite the huge payday the Knights have made it clear to Saifiti that they will not be letting him go early.

Adam Elliott is on the outer at the Knights.

Saifiti has shown no signs of wanting to leave. The Knights have also told Best that they will honour the final 12 months of his contract despite some suggestions he too may be moved on.

There is little doubt though that Newcastle will move players on at the end of the season. Among those who could exit prematurely is Elliott, with some clubs already aware that he may be available despite being just months into a three-year deal.

The Knights threw big money to secure Elliott from the Raiders last year.

Hetherington has also had an underwhelming first few months in Newcastle and he too has another two years left on his contract.

The Knights have a host of players off-contract including Adam Clune, Brodie Jones, Enari Tuala, Hymel Hunt, Jack Johns, Kurt Mann, Lachlan Fitzgibbon. Dom Young will join the Roosters next year.

Originally published as Manly prepares $2.5m Josh Schuster offer, Tyson Frizell targeted by Bulldogs and Wests Tigers, Adam Elliott on the outer