‘Worst contract ever negotiated’: Crazy details of Manly’s Schuster deal

Manly’s decision to re-sign Josh Schuster on a big-money deal last year looks worse and worse with every day that passes.

Josh Schuster of the Sea Eagles. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

Manly’s decision to re-sign Josh Schuster on a big-money deal last season has been declared the “worst contract ever negotiated from a club.”

It comes amid reports the Sea Eagles and Schuster are set to part ways in a mutual contract termination — but will have to pay out the 22-year-old 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.

It’s understood the second-rower reached a career-low of 112 kilograms over the summer before his fitness once again slumped after a bout of chickenpox before Christmas.

The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

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, which is set to be sealed in the coming days.

Josh Schuster of the Sea Eagles. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

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.

While appearing on NRL 360, Read also added: “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.”

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 ‘Worst contract ever negotiated’: Crazy details of Manly’s Schuster deal