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Luke Brooks' shock Manly development raises big Josh Schuster question

Questions about the future of Manly young gun Josh Schuster are likely to grow louder after the bombshell news.

andrew reid
·5-min read
Pictured right is Manly's Josh Schuster and Wests Tigers half Luke Brooks on the left.
Manly's move for Luke Brooks could see Sea Eagles five-eighth Josh Schuster shifted back to the second row. Pic: Getty

Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks is reportedly set to join the Manly Sea Eagles in a stunning four-year deal from 2024, understood to be worth around $650,000-a-season. News Corp and Nine league reporter Danny Weidler both claimed on Monday that the Sea Eagles were all but certain to sign Brooks in a move set to raise questions over the future of young Manly playmaker, Josh Schuster.

The 28-year-old Brooks recently turned down a two-year contract extension with the Tigers worth more than $1 million dollars - which would have represented a big downgrade on his current deal, worth around $1.15 million per season. Brooks had been linked to a number of other NRL clubs including the Cowboys and Bulldogs but it appears as though Manly have pounced to secure the player.

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Brooks' move could see him link up with Manly No.7 and captain Daly Cherry-Evans in a dangerous-looking halves combination but it throws up inevitable questions around the future of current No.6 Schuster. The 22-year-old's patchy form has been constantly questioned this season and Schuster's name was recently linked with a potentially big-money move to the Tigers.

Wests Tigers assistant coach Benji Marshall has already reportedly ended speculation about a move for Schuster, after claiming he is not part of the club's plans. "He (Marshall) doesn't believe he (Schuster) will be the answer to the club's halves problems and they will look in a different direction ," Nine's Michael Chammas said on the weekend.

"Now, it comes as Manly have offered Schuster a three-year extension, so it looks even more likely that Schuster will remain on the northern beaches." Schuster's apparent extension at Manly adds an even more curious element to the Brooks deal, with suggestions Manly may be considering moving their young No.6 back to the second row where he played in 2022.

Manly star Josh Schuster is seen here playing against the Dolphins in the NRL. Pic: Getty
Manly star Josh Schuster is seen here playing against the Dolphins in the NRL. Pic: Getty

Schuster was named Manly's first choice five-eighth this season after veteran playmaker Kieran Foran's move to the Titans and the 22-year-old is reportedly on a whopping $800,000-a-season deal with the Sea Eagles. That already represents a whopping contract for a rookie playmaker and would be an an eye-watering sum for a second-rower if that's the direction Manly go in next season with the acquisition of Brooks.

NRL fans react to Manly's Luke Brooks move

There is a sense from many in the NRL world that Brooks would benefit from playing alongside an experienced and classy general such as Cherry-Evans, who would take the organisational burden off Brooks and allow him greater freedom to showcase his running game strengths. The Brooks development has certainly taken fans by surprise though, with many wondering what it means for Schuster.

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