Male captain Daly Cherry-Evans berates own teammate for being LAZY: Star tells Josh Schuster ‘if you’re not willing to work hard enough, you won’t last long’
- Schuster is out for Saturday’s clash with Titans
- Missed several games with a thigh injury
- Need to work on his fitness now
Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has shown teammate Josh Schuster some tough love by destroying the rising star for not working hard enough to realize his massive potential.
The powerful five-eighth has been left out of coach Anthony Seibold’s team to face the Gold Coast on Saturday as he works on fitness after a thigh injury.
Schuster worked hard on his fitness during the off-season, even refusing to stop training while his teammates enjoyed their downtime after the 2022 season ended.
However, Cherry-Evans believes the 21-year-old is at a turning point in his NRL career and is not doing enough to ensure he makes the most of his physical and footballing abilities.
The Sea Eagles veteran is desperate for Schuster not to waste his amazing potential by not working hard enough
At 185cm and at least 106kg, the 21-year-old is one of the tallest five-eights in the NRL – but he’s only played back-to-back once this season
“I’ve been playing long enough to see so many people at this club not taking their chances,” he said.
‘That’s rugby league, mate – if you’re not willing to work hard enough, if you’re not willing to sacrifice, you just won’t last long.
“He is at a crossroads early in his career, but it can be very positive.
“This doesn’t have to be a negative for him. Spending some time getting his body right could be a defining moment where he rises to that level that we all know he can do.” [reach].
“I played footy with him and trained with him enough to see so much talent. So I definitely want him to do well.
“This should cheer him up.”
At 6 feet 11 inches (185 cm) and at least 250 pounds (106 kg), Schuster is one of the tallest five-eighths in the league, combining the running and tackling prowess of a backrower with silky-smooth passing and kicking skills.
When he’s at his best, Schuster (pictured playing Wests last weekend) combines the size and power of a back-rower with skills many halves would envy
The Manly skipper (pictured playing the Storm in round four this year) says his team-mate is at a crossroads in his career
Since making his debut in 2020, he has shown enough flashes of brilliance to earn the number 6 jersey vacated by club great Kieran Foran at the end of last season after spending most of his time in the second row.
It is believed he earns around $800,000 a season – making him one of the club’s highest paid players – Schuster could be one of the keys to propel Manly to the finals if he can get his body right.
However, he has made only one appearance in two games in a row this season and the recurring problem with his quadriceps is worrying the team.
“It won’t be easy for him to get back to first class as he’s been quite inconsistent getting in and out,” added Cherry-Evans.
“There’s work to be done, of course, but I hope he knows he’s getting a lot of support here.”