The Sea Eagles are reportedly set to terminate forward Josh Schuster’s contract as early as this week with a payout plan in place for the next three years.
According to the SMH, the 22-year-old is reportedly set to earn $200,000 across the next three seasons, with Schuster’s manager Mario Tartak negotiating a deal with Manly bosses.
Sea Eagles powerbrokers have also reportedly sat down with the NRL’s salary cap team, brokering a deal that will see $200,000 come off their cap over three years.
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Schuster’s Manly exit is set to be formalised within days, which will see his deal worth around $800,000 per-season terminated.
The Manly club reportedly won’t have to carry the remaining $600,000 of his contract on their salary cap.
They’ve also already reportedly paid him around $400,000 this contractual year, but Schuster won’t receive any more funds this season.
The Sea Eagles have also reportedly organised for the Rugby League Players’ Association to be involved in meetings with Schuster.
Manly bosses reportedly want to act in a manner sensitive to the player’s personal issues, despite breaches of clauses in his contract.
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The Sea Eagles reportedly believe they have enough contract breaches that they could terminate him immediately, however they have made it clear they don’t want to do so.
Schuster signed a contract extension with the Sea Eagles worth a reported $2.4 million last year, which included pre-season weight clauses.
He reportedly reached a career-low 112 kilograms over the summer before his fitness once again slumped after a bout of chickenpox before Christmas.
Schuster then also battled a broken finger and a calf injury which saw him miss the start of the season and end up in reserve grade.
Source Agencies
