Josh Schuster, the only member of the Manly pride rebels to have spoken publicly on the saga, has defended his decision to not wear the jersey.
The rising playmaker has spoken exclusively to 9News’ Danny Weidler about the controversy that plunged the Sea Eagles’ season into freefall.
When Manly bosses failed to consult the players in introducing a rainbow jersey for round 20, and seven members of the squad rejected the initiative due to cultural and religious beliefs, the club found itself engulfed in a public relations crisis.
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The Sea Eagles sat in ninth on the ladder ahead of their clash with the Roosters at Brookvale Oval, but did not win a single match following the explosion of the pride jersey fiasco, destroying any hope of playing finals footy.
The dramas at Manly continued to mount when Des Hasler was sacked as coach last week — a development that stemmed from the veteran mentor distancing himself from the decisions of higher-ups regarding the pride chaos, and the Sea Eagles’ on-field capitulation.
“It was a difficult period, but I put my faith and personal beliefs first,” Schuster said almost three months on.
When Weidler asked Schuster if he had “no regrets”, the 21-year-old said: “Yeah, definitely”.
“Like I said before, my personal beliefs and faith come first.”
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Hasler was axed with a year to run on his Manly contract.
Former Rabbitohs and Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is poised to replace the Manly icon, with Shane Flanagan and Jim Dymock expected to join him as assistants.
Hasler’s dumping last week came 11 years after the first bitter break-up, which saw the “Mad Professor” depart the Sea Eagles for the Bulldogs in the weeks following Manly’s 2011 premiership triumph.
“It actually shocked me a bit,” Schuster said of the latest split.
“He still talks to me here and there just to make sure I’m still training … but the main focus is he wants me to get ready for pre-season (training). I think throughout his whole coaching (career) his main aspect was player welfare; he cares about the person.”
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Schuster, Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley were the seven Manly players who objected against wearing the pride jersey.
Whispers of a rift between the rainbow rebels and the rest of the squad have lingered since, and Hasler’s ugly exit has intensified talk of general fractures in the playing group.
But Schuster dismissed that talk.
“We are a tight bunch, believe it or not,” he said.
“(Despite) everything that’s happened this year, we’re still close, we still keep in touch.”
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