Josh Schuster’s availability to play for Manly in Las Vegas is increasingly uncertain after being withdrawn from their NRL pre-season trial against the Sydney Roosters. Initially named on the bench for Saturday’s game, Manly later decided to rest him, citing his need to be “saved” for the following Saturday’s pre-season match against Brisbane.
Manly is set to depart for Las Vegas on Wednesday, ahead of the Broncos trial. While there is still a possibility for Schuster to join the team in Las Vegas the following Sunday, allowing him a week in the US before the season opener against South Sydney on March 2, Manly officials have not confirmed this.
Schuster has faced challenges during the off-season, including battling chickenpox before Christmas and more recently dealing with a calf injury that has limited his training. Despite successfully completing the last week of training without incident, Manly chose to err on the side of caution and keep him sidelined in Gosford.
Considered one of the NRL’s most talented players, Schuster is transitioning back to the second-row this year after a season marked by injuries while playing at five-eighth. However, he faces tough competition for a starting position, particularly from Ben Trbojevic, who is vying for the left second-row spot at Manly.
