Nearly eighteen months since his last match, former rugby league prodigy Josh Schuster has made his long-awaited return to the field.
Initially set to play at the beginning of August, his return to the field was delayed after he suffered a minor setback during an opposed session at training.
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He copped a blow to the throat from teammate Alex Twal but was cleared of major damage after spending time in hospital.
Despite the delay, he was able to make it back in time for the final match of the NSW Cup regular season.
Taking on his former team, the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Lidcombe Oval, Schuster ran for 29 metres, had 12 tackles and produced one line-break assist and a try assist to help put Starford To’a over the line.
The performance comes after he was handed a lifeline by the Wests Tigers in June, which saw him sign with the club on an NSWRL (NSW Cup) contract.
“I wasn’t mentally right and wasn’t in a good place. If your life is not good outside of footy, then it doesn’t work out on the field,” Schuster told James Graham’s The Bye Round in May.
“One of the factors [to return to the NRL] is to prove it to myself. The last couple of years, I was doing it for other people, trying to make other people happy, and putting other people before me.
”I can honestly say this is the happiest I’ve been in my own life, and just having a purpose in my life.“
Long touted as one of the most naturally gifted footballers for his age to lace up the boots, Schuster signed an $800,000 per season contract extension with the Manly Sea Eagles in June 2023.
But was released less than 12 months later.
After focusing on his mental health and overcoming weight issues during his career, Schuster’s main goal now is to return to first grade.
“I sat down with him and just said ‘if it’s about the money, don’t come’ and he said, ‘no, it’s not about the money, it’s about the opportunity’,” coach Benji Marshall said.
“He’s proven that. He’s taken the NSW Cup contract, which means he will train with us (NRL squad) one day a week.
