Huge twist as rival club swoops on outcast Manly playmaker

Out of favour Manly star Josh Schuster is reportedly on the bargaining table with a rival NRL club making a pitch that comes with a catch.

Josh Schuster of the Sea Eagles celebrates scoring a try during the round 13 NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors at 4 Pines Park, on June 04, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Wests Tigers have reportedly held talks with Manly about the future of out-of-favour playmaker Josh Schuster.

The Sea Eagles star’s future has been tossed further into uncertainty with a new report claiming the Tigers would only be interested in bringing him to the club if the Sea Eagles were prepared to offer something in return, according to nine.com.au.

It has been a turbulent week for the 22-year-old and speculation has swirled around a possible defection to the Tigers following former Manly recruitment manager Scott Fulton’s move to Tiger Town.

The son of Immortal Bob Fulton will reportedly join Warren McDonnell, running the merger club’s recruitment and retention according to the SMH.

Fulton will reportedly oversee first grade, while McDonnell will focus on the club’s pathways system.

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The Tigers have begun inquiring about signing a number of players, including gun five-eighth Josh Schuster who has been stood down to nurse and injury and work on his fitness.

Schuster was also reportedly involved in a scrap with Dean Matterson at training, the brother of Parramatta gun Ryan Matterson.

According to the Nine report, the Tigers would demand Manly pay part of Schuster’s rich contract.

Schuster is reportedly earning $800,000 per-season but has only featured three times so far in 2023 due to issues with his fitness and injury. He remains contracted through to the end of the 2024 season. The Tigers would reportedly also consider the Schuster deal if another player was tossed into the mix.

Josh Schuster is struggling at the Sea Eagles. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Channel 7’s Michelle Bishop said on Wednesday she is continuing to hear “whispers” that Schuster will end up with the Tigers.

It would be a big first-up move by Fulton and the Tigers.

Fulton left the Sea Eagles during the off-season after his sisters, Kristie, was also outed from her role in administration.

Manly’s new chief executive Tony Mestrov has reportedly sparked a change in the club’s retention policy — however the move could prove costly.

Player agent Mario Tartak could also reportedly cause issues due to his strong relationship with the Tigers’ new recruitment manager.

The pair were instrumental in the Sea Eagles’ signing of Jason Saab, Haumole Olakau’atu and Schuster — who all hail from Sydney’s west.

Manly powerbrokers also reportedly came to blows with Tartak regarding the future of Viliame Fifita.

The young gun forward was eventually released and joined the Dragons in a swap deal for Aaron Woods.