The Sea Eagles are adamant Josh Schuster is still in contention for their game against the Rabbitohs in Las Vegas even though the back-rower won’t fly out with his teammates next week.
Schuster missed Saturday’s 36-22 pre-season challenge loss to the Roosters, with the club announcing that he had been “saved” for next Saturday’s match against Brisbane.
The problem is, Manly players and officials are set to fly out on Wednesday for their historic trip to the States.
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Schuster would need to play against the Broncos, get through that unscathed and then fly out the following day which would leave him a week to get ready for the season opener.
It’s been a hectic few months for the man who was tipped to start on the left edge alongside Luke Brooks, with Schuster dealing with chickenpox, a broken finger and a calf strain ahead of the biggest year of his young career.
“He’s going to play next weekend against the Broncos on Saturday afternoon,” coach Anthony Seibold told Fox League before the game, with Ben Trbojevic set to start on the back of his hat-trick against Souths last week.
“He’ll fly to Vegas on the Sunday and then we’ll make a decision whether he is in the 17 or not for the round zero game. It’s a long season and this is quite a unique preparation for us.
“The physio decided to pull him out and give him a good prep for the Broncos trial.”
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THE YOUNG AND THE RECKLESS
Schuster isn’t the only Sea Eagle in doubt for Vegas with prop Toff Sipley facing a nervous wait for the match review committee charges to drop.
Sipley was placed on report in the 53rd minute for a crusher tackle on Roosters recruit Dom Young who was in discomfort as he hobbled up the tunnel.
The Sea Eagles don’t have much depth in the middle and can’t afford to lose Sipley who was lucky to avoid being sent to the sin bin.
The foul play ended Young’s first game for the Roosters which featured a customary try on the right wing thanks to a lovely no-look pass from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
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CENTRE STAGE
It’s a position most coaches would love to be in, but Trent Robinson has two weeks to choose between a couple of quality players for the left centre spot.
Assuming everyone is fit, James Tedesco will play fullback against Brisbane in Vegas, with Young and Daniel Tupou on the wings.
Joseph Manu will play right centre which leaves rugby-bound Suaalii and recently-resigned Billy Smith battling for the other spot in the backline.
Both had some nice touches with Smith reeling in a Luke Keary bomb and then offloading to Tupou who scored the first of his two second-half tries.
Interestingly, Suaalii was the man to make way when Manu came off the bench to start the second half but returned to the field when Young came off.
TRY OF THE YEAR
We’re only a few days into the pre-season but we may have already found the try of 2024 after the Sea Eagles combined for one of the most amazing four-pointers you will ever see.
Down 24-18 with 10 minutes to go, Brandon Wakeham chipped across field from inside his own half for Ray Vaega who ducked under a tackle and flicked a pass to Cameron Brown.
From there, the winger put a banana kick back infield for Jaxson Paulo who let the ball bounce off his knee and chest before he regathered it and scored, only for Wakeham to miss the kick which would have tied things up.
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