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Player Josh Schuster

Murray, Bennett and Fitler backing Schuster at Souths - The Tele

Josh Schuster is edging closer to ending his 19-month NRL exile, with the South Sydney forward on track to be available for selection in the coming weeks.
A calf injury, suffered in December, has hampered Schuster’s top flight comebackafter he was handed an NRL lifeline by the Rabbitohs last September.

Schuster, who has a history of calf injuries, has been on a rehabilitation program since the latest setback and is ticking all the right boxes.

He was spotted running at Heffron Park this week and is expected to be integrated into team training as he enters the final stages of his injury rehab.

With no other setbacks, it’s understood Schuster could be available for selection in the next 4-6 weeks. Though there is a view he could return to the field even sooner.

Considered a prodigious talent coming through the grades, Schuster struggled to cement a starting spot during his time at Manly and was eventually released from his contract in April last year.

His last NRL match was back in August of 2023.
But Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has been fully invested in unlocking Schuster’s immense potential and has been having one-on-one meetings with the 23-year old in bid to keep his NRL comeback on track.

Injured Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray told this masthead Bennett, who is known for his mentorship of troubled players, can turn Schuster’s career around.

“He’s under the right coach to unlock his potential,” Murray said.

“The calf injury he picked up is unfortunate but he’s at a really good club. We pride ourselves with embracing everyone and empowering them to be the best version of themselves and be comfortable to be true to who they are.

“That brings out the best that they can offer.”

Bennett isn’t the only high-profile figure backing Schuster to prove his detractors wrong.

Last Friday night, former NSW coach Brad Fittler went out of his way to give Schuster a personal pep talk after the Rabbitohs’ win over the Dolphins at CommBank Stadium.


Fittler’s message was simple, he, and all NRL fans, wanted to see Schuster back out on the field living up to his lofty potential and backed him to do so.

Schuster, who took time away from the gameafter being released by Manly, has spoken about his mental health battle and the impact it had on his performances.

Questions about his desire to play rugby league professionally, even since joining South Sydney, have also dogged Schuster for years.

But Murray said Schuster had proven those suggestions wrong by his actions since arriving at Heffron Park.

“He turns up every day, he sits on the assault bike and the watt bike and does all his rehab specific training. None of it looks like a lot of fun to be honest but he has turned up and done it without complaining,” Murray said.

“He’s proven to everyone around him that he is ripping in and that he wants to show everyone that he can train hard. He’s a competitor, regardless of the type of training he is doing.

“We can all see he’s putting in the work. We are all noticing it.”

Schuster’s best position has also been a point of contention.

It’s understood he’s viewed as a backrower at the Bunnies despite suggestions he could be better suited at lock or even in the no.6 jumper, where he made his NRL debut in 2020 – in performance Benji Marshall labelled the best he’d ever seen from a rookie.
 

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Pplspoet said:
Murray, Bennett and Fitler backing Schuster at Souths - The Tele

Josh Schuster is edging closer to ending his 19-month NRL exile, with the South Sydney forward on track to be available for selection in the coming weeks.
A calf injury, suffered in December, has hampered Schuster’s top flight comebackafter he was handed an NRL lifeline by the Rabbitohs last September.

Schuster, who has a history of calf injuries, has been on a rehabilitation program since the latest setback and is ticking all the right boxes.

He was spotted running at Heffron Park this week and is expected to be integrated into team training as he enters the final stages of his injury rehab.

With no other setbacks, it’s understood Schuster could be available for selection in the next 4-6 weeks. Though there is a view he could return to the field even sooner.

Considered a prodigious talent coming through the grades, Schuster struggled to cement a starting spot during his time at Manly and was eventually released from his contract in April last year.

His last NRL match was back in August of 2023.
But Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has been fully invested in unlocking Schuster’s immense potential and has been having one-on-one meetings with the 23-year old in bid to keep his NRL comeback on track.

Injured Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray told this masthead Bennett, who is known for his mentorship of troubled players, can turn Schuster’s career around.

“He’s under the right coach to unlock his potential,” Murray said.

“The calf injury he picked up is unfortunate but he’s at a really good club. We pride ourselves with embracing everyone and empowering them to be the best version of themselves and be comfortable to be true to who they are.

“That brings out the best that they can offer.”

Bennett isn’t the only high-profile figure backing Schuster to prove his detractors wrong.

Last Friday night, former NSW coach Brad Fittler went out of his way to give Schuster a personal pep talk after the Rabbitohs’ win over the Dolphins at CommBank Stadium.


Fittler’s message was simple, he, and all NRL fans, wanted to see Schuster back out on the field living up to his lofty potential and backed him to do so.

Schuster, who took time away from the gameafter being released by Manly, has spoken about his mental health battle and the impact it had on his performances.

Questions about his desire to play rugby league professionally, even since joining South Sydney, have also dogged Schuster for years.

But Murray said Schuster had proven those suggestions wrong by his actions since arriving at Heffron Park.

“He turns up every day, he sits on the assault bike and the watt bike and does all his rehab specific training. None of it looks like a lot of fun to be honest but he has turned up and done it without complaining,” Murray said.

“He’s proven to everyone around him that he is ripping in and that he wants to show everyone that he can train hard. He’s a competitor, regardless of the type of training he is doing.

“We can all see he’s putting in the work. We are all noticing it.”

Schuster’s best position has also been a point of contention.

It’s understood he’s viewed as a backrower at the Bunnies despite suggestions he could be better suited at lock or even in the no.6 jumper, where he made his NRL debut in 2020 – in performance Benji Marshall labelled the best he’d ever seen from a rookie.
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You know what? Credit to him if he's gonna get himself in a fit state to play in four weeks time, possibly even sooner. Happy as for him if that's the case, and I hope he absolutely kills it in time.
 
jackrabbit said:
Surely he'd have to have a few games in NSW Cup first?
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What may happen when both Schuster and Aitken are available is Arrow moves to prop to replace either Keppiechino or Moale so Aikten takes a second row spot as he can play both 2nd row and centre. Schuster then takes Sullivan's spot on the bench after a game or so in reserves.
 
Phil said:
What may happen when both Schuster and Aitken are available is Arrow moves to prop to replace either Keppiechino or Moale so Aikten takes a second row spot as he can play both 2nd row and centre. Schuster then takes Sullivan's spot on the bench after a game or so in reserves.
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Yeah, people will say I’m biased against Keppie, but I see it as being…

Moale
Mamouzeos
Arrow
Koloamatangi
Aitken
Hubner

Tatola
Havili
Duncan
Schuster/Dodd/Sullivan/Meyers, whoever.

With Murray out and based on what we saw in round 1, I think ‘Duncan the edge’ might get a stay of execution.
 
Expfcwintergreen said:
Too my eye Keppie outshone Moale in round 1. Keppie seems to be a big improver under Wayne. Hopefully Moale can step up as well.
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Important to factor that Keppie got an extra 20 minutes game time into the eye test.

With thaf time he made an extra 33 metres off 4 extra runs and 11 tackles.

I hope it’s just a case that the Munro injury messed our interchange for Davvy.

Or Wayne went with age and experience first up.

And the only reason I hope he soon starts to favour Moale for minutes is that of the two, if one is going to have a legit break out year where they get talk about as a fringe rep player (something we could use up front), I assume it’s Moale.

If he isn’t that player, well then we’re a little short.
 
Pplspoet said:
Important to factor that Keppie got an extra 20 minutes game time into the eye test.

With thaf time he made an extra 33 metres off 4 extra runs and 11 tackles.

I hope it’s just a case that the Munro injury messed our interchange for Davvy.

Or Wayne went with age and experience first up.

And the only reason I hope he soon starts to favour Moale for minutes is that of the two, if one is going to have a legit break out year where they get talk about as a fringe rep player (something we could use up front), I assume it’s Moale.

If he isn’t that player, well then we’re a little short.
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Keppie is the type of prop Wayne likes. Takes his hitups, hits the ground and has a somewhat quick play the ball. He is solid in defence, and hits pretty hard most times.
 
Nifty said:
Keppie is the type of prop Wayne likes. Takes his hitups, hits the ground and has a somewhat quick play the ball. He is solid in defence, and hits pretty hard most times.
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That’s the one I disagree with. If he was, I’d be a fan.

He’s actually a typical modern Manly prop. Looks good in patches, but has shitty attention to detail.

But if he fixes that, power to him.

Nichols had a few lapses in his game early doors under Wayne to be fair. So hopefully he gets there.

Extra difficult with he an Mamouzelos defending next to each other. It’s a spot in the defensive line teams will throw back to back runs at and look for momentum prior to spreading the ball.
 
I believe both Keppie and Mouale will both improve immeasurably under WB and both will be mainstays. It’s early days at present however their impact will increase incrementally, and hopefully this begins in earnest today.
Also Tatola will be much better for last week run.
That said for south’s to be a top two team we require 1 or 2 more intimidating middles to join the squad.
I still have high hopes of TPJ joining us mid to late in 2025.
 
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