Manly gun Josh Schuster ruled out of opening-round NRL match following injury blow

NRL 2023: Casualty ward; Josh Schuster injury; Taylan May, Panthers, ACL, Shaun Lane injury, jaw, cheekbone, Parramatta Eels, Matt Doorey, trials, Knights, Matt Doorey, casualty ward, return date, Tevita Pangai Junior, Bulldogs

Report: Manly player has been ruled out due to fresh injury blow and might miss half of the 2024 season.

Gun Manly five-eighth Josh Schuster has been ruled out of the Sea Eagles’ season-opening NRL clash with the Bulldogs, dealing the club a blow early in the reign of new coach Anthony Seibold.

Manly confirmed in a statement on Tuesday night that Schuster wouldn’t play in round one due to a calf injury suffered in the Sea Eagles’ pre-season challenge victory over the Roosters on Friday night.

Schuster is aiming to play his first game of the season against the Eels in round three, with the Sea Eagles set for a second-round bye.

The unavailability of the big-framed playmaker means the No.6 jumper will be worn by new recruit Cooper Johns or 21-year-old Kaeo Weekes.

Johns joined the Sea Eagles during the off-season after starting his career at the Storm, where he only played 11 NRL games across three seasons. The son of former Knights and Sharks star Matthew Johns had to bide his time at Melbourne behind brilliant halves Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes.

Weekes played three NRL games for Manly in 2022 and shone in the Sea Eagles’ 28-16 win over the Roosters on Friday, setting up three tries, making a linebreak and racking up 130 metres in an impressive showing at fullback.

Premiership-winning five-eighth Kieran Foran was squeezed out of Manly because of Schuster’s desire to join Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves.

Foran is on a two-year deal at the Titansollowing two stints with the Sea Eagles, as well as time at the Eels, Warriors and Bulldogs.