Manly are set to end the Josh Schuster five-eighth experiment this weekend after a rollercoaster season in the halves for the enigmatic 22-year-old.
Sea Eagles sources confirmed to this masthead that coach Anthony Seibold is expected to move Schuster to the forwards for this weekend’s clash against the Warriors in Auckland on Friday night.
While it’s unclear where Schuster will officially be named when team lists are submitted on Tuesday afternoon, mid-season recruit Jake Arthur is poised to play in the halves alongside skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.
It has been a turbulent season for Schuster, who made it clear to Manly officials last year that he wanted to make a permanent move into the halves — a declaration that ultimately forced veteran Kieran Foran out the door to the Titans.
While Schuster has shown patches of brilliance, he has failed to make the impression required to hold on to the club’s No.6 jersey.
While he has recently inked an $800,000-a-season extension with Manly until the end of 2027, Schuster has already been told by coach Seibold that he will move into the back row next year to accommodate the arrival of Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks.
Manu not interested in bidding war
Joseph Manu’s agent has declared he has no interest in testing the open market when his client becomes a free agent on November 1.
This masthead spoke to Manu’s agent Peter Brown on Monday and asked him if there was an appetite to enter a bidding war for the superstar centre’s services.
Brown indicated there was no desire to do so and the Roosters are confident of getting a deal done with him in the coming months.
Manu is entrenched at the Roosters. His younger brother is in the club’s junior system and his father has a close relationship with key figures at the Roosters.
Roosters star Joseph Manu is tackled by Scott Drinkwater.Credit: Getty
There will be plenty of speculation over what Manu’s best position is in the future.
But the Roosters are confident he won’t be wearing another team’s jersey despite reports on the weekend from Sun Herald columnist Danny Weidler that incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan had earmarked him as a priority target on November 1.
NRL chasing Eden Park semi
The NRL has made inquiries with Eden Park officials about the prospect of playing a blockbuster Warriors semi-final at the venue next month.
The Warriors are entrenched in the top four and are all but guaranteed to get a home play-off at some stage in the finals series.
Warriors fans are expected to pack out Eden Park if they play a home final at the venue.Credit: Getty
It’s unlikely they will finish in the top two but could still finish fifth or six and play a home final in week one. If that was the case the match would be played at their home ground at Mt Smart Stadium.
It remains undecided where the NRL would play a week two home final for the Warriors, whose preference is to play games at Mt Smart Stadium.
However, it is extremely likely that if the Warriors get a home preliminary final the match would be played in front of 50,000 people at Eden Park. It will be during a period when no rugby union is being played in New Zealand with the All Blacks to be competing at the World Cup in France. There will be no clash in fixtures given the time difference.
Parish declares Holdsworth the man for Samoa
Departing Samoan coach Matt Parish has implored the Samoan Rugby League to appoint Cronulla assistant coach Daniel Holdsworth as his successor despite interest from rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns.
While Matthew Johns has ruled himself out of contention for the vacant position, Andrew has left the door open to take over at the helm of the World Cup finalists and there is strong support for arguably the greatest player of his era to lead the Samoans.
Parish last week resigned from his post after 11 years in charge but put forward a recommendation to Samoan Rugby League officials for Holdsworth to take over the football team after impressing as his assistant at the World Cup last year.
Holdsworth, who played NRL for the Dragons and Bulldogs before finishing his career in the Super League, was parachuted into the Samoan set-up last year after former assistant coach Andrew Webster agreed to take on the job at the New Zealand Warriors.
Andrew Johns and Daniel Holdsworth have been linked to the Samoan job.Credit: Getty
Multiple sources said that Samoa had been in contact with Dolphins mentor Wayne Bennett, but the veteran coach told this masthead that he wasn’t interested in the job when contacted on Monday.
While Parish said he had a lot of respect for what the Johns brothers achieved as players, he believes a coach with experience at club level is needed to take the job as head coach of Samoa.
“No one can doubt the footy IQ of the Johns boys but coaching is different,” he said.
“I don’t think appointing someone without club experience has any merit. I think it should be Daniel Holdsworth. He’s young and driven. He’s in a very good coaching system at Cronulla under Craig Fitzgibbon working with Steve Price and Josh Hannay.
“But the most important thing is that he’s been with Samoa at the World Cup and understands the culture. The boys love him and respect him.”
Andrew Johns last week told Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour that he was interested in exploring the opportunity.
“I think maybe let the dust settle for a little while, have a really good think about it,” Johns said.
“I’m a big advocate and big supporter of the Polynesian islands ... we need more international footy and we need more footy for the island nations. I’d have to have a good think about it.
“Moving forward, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, even Papua New Guinea — them in the next five or 10 years are going to be so strong. I’d have to have a think about it.”
Samoa’s giant-killing run to the World Cup final was celebrated across the game.Credit: Getty
Parish’s resignation last week came as a shock given what he accomplished with Jarome Luai, Joseph Suaalii and Stephen Crichton at last year’s World Cup in the United Kingdom.
He insists there was no bad blood.
“It couldn’t be further from the truth. I leave on great terms,” Parish said. “The thing I’m most proud of is the way this team has been able to unite Samoans all over the world. It was unbelievable. Our team was inspired by all the parties and ceremonies in the middle of the night supporting our team. I think the players drew a lot of strength from that.
“I just think it’s time. I’ve had an unbelievable run. I made so many friendships and memories over 11 years but it’s time for someone else to get ready for the next World Cup.”
Dragons bring presentation night forward
The Dragons appear to have learned lessons from last year when the club was criticised for only having three NRL players turn up to the end-of-season presentation night.
Last year the Dragons held the event during the finals series, weeks after the players had been allowed to depart for their holidays.
This year the presentation night will be held in Wollongong on the Tuesday after their final game of the season.
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