Manly cut Josh Schuster loose after ‘worst deal ever done’

Manly have finally made a call on out of favour forward Josh Schuster after his lucrative contract came under intense scrutiny.

Josh Schuster has been cut loose by Manly.

Manly have officially released out of favour forward Josh Schuster from the final three years of his lucrative contract.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Sea Eagles said they had “mutually agreed” to release the second-rower from the final years of his deal.

Schuster, 22, was signed until the end of the 2027 season but is now free to explore other opportunities in his career.

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He scored five tries in 50 games for the Sea Eagles after making his NRL debut for Manly in 2020.

“Unfortunately, things haven’t worked out for both parties in the end,’’ said Manly CEO Tony Mestrov.

“Josh now needs time to focus on himself and what is best for him moving forward.

“We all know Josh is a very talented player and we hope that he can find a new club soon. We wish him well.”

It has been reported Manly will have to pay out Schuster close to $1 million.

Schuster inked a three-year extension in June last year said to be worth $800,000-a-season, which reportedly included pre-season weight clauses.

Josh Schuster has been terminated by Manly. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

A broken finger and calf injury also disrupted his training, forcing him to miss Round 1 and then make his return via New South Wales Cup.

Earlier this month he was informed by Sea Eagles officials that he was free to leave the club immediately if he can find a new club.

He was then granted indefinite personal leave. That has now escalated to a contract termination.

But as part of the mutual agreement he will receive a $1 million payout that “averages out to be $250,000 this year and the next three years,” according to News Corp journalist Brent Read.

Read added on Tuesday’s NRL 360: “It’s crucial to know, all that goes on Manly’s cap is the $250,000, no more. If he signs somewhere else it doesn’t matter.

“It’s a mutual termination, all that Manly carry is that settlement year for the next three years.”

NRL 360 host Braith Anasta said in response: “So it’s a great deal? Or is it the worst deal ever done by a footy club in the game?”

Read conceded “it’s probably on the podium (for worst deals) … but the way they’ve finished they’ve done well to negotiate their way out of it.”

Josh Schuster was stuck in reserve grade at Manly. Credit: NRL Images.

The 22-year-old is free to explore his option. NRL Imagery

Anasta wasn’t buying it though and was critical of Manly’s decision to re-sign Schuster on big money in the first place.

“We all sat here when they signed him for $800,000 a year and we could not believe it. At that point he wasn’t training, he was overweight and he was playing poorly,” he said.

“There was no other club bidding for him.”

Anasta’s co-host Paul Kent agreed and revealed the club’s big error in the negotiating process.

“It was the worst contract ever negotiated from a club point of view,” he said.

“Manly won’t acknowledge it but Manly were competing against themselves, they were bidding against themselves.

“There was no one else bidding that kept upping the price and the longer Schuster and his manager sat back doing nothing, the higher Manly went.

“It was an unusual deal because they were bidding against themselves and didn’t realise.”

The silver lining is that the Sea Eagles will have an extra $550,000 to spend in each of the next three years.

Read expects some of that to be used to re-sign forwards Nathan Brown and Matt Lodge before the club weighs up going to market.

Originally published as Manly cut Josh Schuster loose after ‘worst deal ever done’