NRL 2024: Manly to pay $600k to end Josh Schuster’s contract prematurely

Once considered the future of the Sea Eagles, Josh Schuster’s early contract termination with the club will come at a high cost.

Manly is poised to pay departing star Josh Schuster a $600,000 termination agreement.

The financial payout will formally end Schuster’s contentious tenure at Brookvale.

Manly will remunerate Schuster $200,000 a season for the next three years.

Sea Eagles management would not confirm the amount but privately admitted the settlement would be paid.

The $200,000 a year figure is significantly less than the $800,000 a season Schuster signed to remain at Manly.

Sea Eagles chief executive Tony Mestrov and Schuster’s manager, Mario Tartak, have been in dialogue for the past fortnight.

The termination between player and club will be mutual.

Manly has also met with the NRL salary cap auditor to discuss Schuster’s ultimate pay out.

It will be a sad exit for a player Manly once thought could become one of the finest in the club’s history.

Schuster’s time at Manly was mixed between some on-field brilliance and off-field issues.

Josh Schuster has reached a termination agreement with Manly. Picture: NRL Photos

Teammates complained he was not prepared to train to the levels expected of an NRL player.

Manly wanted Schuster to take time away from football to focus on personal problems – including some historic family issues – they claim have disrupted his football career.

Schuster still had this year, and another three seasons, remaining in his Sea Eagles contract.

The 22-year-old has told friends he wants to continue playing football at the highest level.

Schuster has conceded he needs to drive himself to greater levels at training.

He has told friends he’s upset at his demise at Manly but is understanding of the club’s decision.

No termination deal has been formally reached but the agreement will be finalised soon.

Some are urging Schuster to consider transferring to England’s Super League but the backrower has told friends he would prefer to remain in Australia.

This masthead contacted 16 clubs last week about Schuster, all of them publicly declaring no interest in the player.

But Tartak is aware of two clubs who have an interest in his client.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Manly to pay $600k to end Josh Schuster’s contract prematurely