Josh Schuster opens up on Manly Sea Eagles departure and plans for the future

“It was a pretty annoying pre-season,” he said. “It was pretty unlucky.”

And then he had to publicly relive the death of his closest friend, Keith Titmuss, in the witness box during a coronial inquest in February. The coroner, having concluded that Titmuss probably died of exertional heatstroke, recommended a graduated 14-day return-to-training program for players.

“It was a hard time, but it was good for his family that they got all the questions they needed answered,” he said. “That was good, we can finally move on and, hopefully, it doesn’t happen to anyone moving forward.

“It has already started [to make a difference]. All the clubs at the beginning of pre-season have a two-week window to slowly ease into it. We had some meetings at Manly about heatstroke and what not; it’s definitely heading in the right direction.”

There has also been another, deeply personal issue that has weighed heavily on Schuster during the past two years. Only those closest to him truly understand the devastating impact it has had.

“I’ve been battling with some stuff over the past two years,” he said. “That was the main reason I was inconsistent in my performance. The last year I wasn’t really there mentally. I was battling with some stuff off the field that wasn’t making me happy going on the field.

“I’ve got it off my chest now, so I’m a lot better mentally. I’m a lot happier, mentally I’m in a better headspace. When I’m at my fittest and happiest, that’s when I start playing my best footy. If anything, I can’t wait to be back and prove to myself I can do it.”

“I’ve been battling with some stuff over the past two years. That was the main reason I was inconsistent in my performance.”

Josh Schuster

There is no rush to do so. Several clubs have been in touch with Schuster’s manager in the hope that they can pick up a bargain before the June 30 transfer window. They will have to wait. “I’ll take the rest of the year off to get my body right, my mind right,” he said. “I’ll get ready for the pre-season, that’s pretty much it.”

Instead, the 23-year-old has been working out daily, a regime that often consists of two boxing sessions. The aim is to get his weight down for the next pre-season – “anything under 110kg would be really good” – with a view to reigniting his career. He intends to do so as a half rather than the back-rower Manly had tried to convert him into.

“Definitely, that’s 100 per cent the plan: to come back as a five-eighth and nothing else,” he said. “The plan is to use this time so that when I head into pre-season I start well.”

Schuster grew up as the latest member of an already famous footballing family. Uncle John Schuster was an All Black who also played for the Newcastle Knights; uncle Peter was an Australian rugby sevens star; great uncle Fred represented New Zealand in union; and grandfather David, who he considers his father and even calls “Dad”, represented Samoa.

Schuster has fueled the expectation, adding bold predictions to a smattering of eye-catching early NRL performances.

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“I always believed that one day I would be the best player in the game,” Schuster said last May.

He is more circumspect now.

“I’m a confidence kind of guy, but I definitely could have worded that better,” Schuster said when reminded of those comments. “Moving forward, I’m just taking it day by day, bettering myself each day.

“I want to earn my teammates’ respect, putting my head down and working hard. That’s as simple as it gets. No Origin, nothing like that. I just want to earn my teammates’ trust and respect … that’s it.”