- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Josh Schuster has opened up on the frank conversation between him and Daly Cherry-Evans late last year that started his transformation into Manly’s long-term option in the halves.
The five eighth, who excelled in the Sea Eagles’ win over Parramatta last Thursday night, revealed that DCE had showed him some tough love and challenged him to get his body and his head right to turn his undoubted talent into a long career.
“Chez had a word for me at the end of last year, and said to me, the way you’re going, you’re going to have a short career,” said Schuster.
“It’s up to you. You can’t depend on anyone else but you. If you want a long career, you have to own it with two hands and stand on your own two feet.
“I think I took it personally, which is a good thing. I definitely want to be the six for the next 10, 12, 15 years.
“It’ll be stupid if you don’t listen to a guy like Chez. He captained Australia, played Origin, captain of Queensland, captain of his club. It’d be stupid enough not to listen to him.
“If he says something like that, you have to take it seriously and take it on board. We’re very lucky to have him as our captain.”
DCE honed in his huge potential and how, on the trajectory that he had been on for the last few years, it was set to be squandered, pointing to guys like Tom Trbojevic who are able to wring every last drop out of their talent.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“I think he knows what I’m capable of and my potential in the game,” said Schuster. “I think it was just a little kick up the bum. I’m still new to the NRL, he’s obviously very experienced so to get advice like that from him, it’d be stupid not to pick his brain and take it on board, which I’m doing right now.
“It’s my first game. I can play bad next week and the whole world’s coming down. My main focus is next week.
“I’m so sick of that word, talent. I don’t want to be known as a guy with so much talent but just a waste. I want to be six for the next 10, 12, 15 years. Hard work beats talent. I gotta keep working hard and building for next week.
“I’m very fortunate to play with players like Turbo and Chez. They play a big part for my role. I’m happy that I had a performance like that. But my main thing is next week and it’s going to be a tough game against the Rabbitohs.”