Josh Schuster has been spotted in a secret meeting with Dragons powerbrokers, suggesting the exiled Sea Eagle may have found his way back into the NRL after being ousted by Manly.
Schuster, 23, has been looking for his way back into rugby league’s top-flight comp since Manly released him from his $800-a-year contract earlier this season.
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While early reactions from across the NRL world suggested the Samoan international would have a tricky time finding his way into first grade again after his run at Manly, it appears St George Illawarra is now holding talks.
The Sporting Base understands Schuster’s team met with the Titans too, making it a two-horse race.
The biggest sticking point on the Dragons side will be that Shane Flanagan has already turned him down the first time he was offered around by his agents.
“We’re not interested,” the Dragons coach head said when asked about Schuster. “We’ve only got one spot left… [he’s] probably not the position we’re looking for. Josh is a good kid. He has got some things to tidy up off the field. I just wish him well. Hopefully he gets that done immediately because he has got talent, that’s for sure.”
How Schuster would be used by the Red V coach is not quite clear. The 23-year-old can play five-eighth, but Flanagan’s son has been solid in that role already this year, or second row, where the Dragons already have Jaydn Su’A, Luciano Leilua, Tom Eisenhuth, and Raymond Faitala-Mariner. Other Illawarra juniors are also coming through the pipelines.
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The meeting, which was held with Dragons signings guru Norm Black, does point to interest though, so it should be a waiting game to see if any formal offer does eventually materialise.
