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Manly has been whacked on the eve of this season through an injury to rising five-eighth Josh Schuster.
It just could signal the elevation of Cooper Johns, son of former Test player, Matthew Johns, and nephew of Immortal, Andrew.
The injury to Schuster comes when just everything seemed to be rolling along nicely at Brookvale.
Schuster, the five-eighth who will replace Kieran Foran this season, has a calf injury and will miss Manly’s massive round one game against Canterbury at 4 Pines Park.
It is understood Schuster sustained the injury during last Friday night’s win over the Sydney Roosters in the Pre-Season Challenge.
A Manly media statement read: “MRI scans on Tuesday afternoon confirmed the calf injury that will see him miss Manly’s match against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at 4 Pines Park on Saturday, March 4.
“With the Sea Eagles having a bye in round two, Schuster should be available for the round three match against Parramatta Eels at 4 Pines Park.”
Schuster is currently the most popular player in KFC SuperCoach NRL, at 62% ownership, and his absence will be a massive blow. Given Manly have the bye in Round 2, it means SuperCoaches will now be without one of the games best cheapie options for at least the first two weeks of the season.
Johns would be the logical replacement option after his stellar form in the NRL’s pre-season challenge, which Manly claimed along with $100,000 in prizemoney.
SHOCK SEASON-ENDING BLOW FOR STAR PANTHER
Penrith’s hopes of a premiership three-peat have copped a serious blow with star winger Taylan May ruled out for the season.
May, 21, suffered an ACL injury during the first half of the Panthers’ 13-12 golden-point World Club Challenge loss against St Helens.
“Scans revealed May will require surgery on the ACL injury, ruling him out for the entire season,” the Panthers confirmed in a statement on Monday afternoon.
May was due to miss the opening two rounds of the season through a delayed suspension stemming from an assault charge in the wake Penrith’s 2021 grand final win in Queensland.
Exciting young outside back Sunia Turuva is the front runner to replace May.
Turuva, 20, was promoted into Penrith’s top-30 squad this year, and played in the centres against St Helens as Stephen Crichton deputised for injured fullback Dylan Edwards.
Boorowa product Tom Jenkins is another option for coach Ivan Cleary, whose outside backs have also been diminished with Charlie Staines’ departure to the Wests Tigers in the off-season.
EELS V STORM
Thursday 2 March, CommBank Stadium, 7:50pm
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Will Penisini 4. Haze Dunster/Zac Cini 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Murchie 12. Matt Doorey 13. J’maine Hopgood
Bench: 14. Mitch Rein/Jake Arthur 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. Ofahiki Ogden/Wiremu Greig 17. Jirah Momoisea
Early Mail: The Eels have numerous injury concerns to start the season, with backline members Bailey Simonsson and Waqa Blake both unavailable early on.
Maika Sivo and Sean Russell are expected to start on the wings, with Will Penisini in one centre position.
