SEA EAGLES UTILITY SCHOUPP LOCKS IN 2026 RETURN DATE, POSITIONAL SWITCH & CONTRACT EXTENSION
Manly Sea Eagles utility Aaron Schoupp has revealed he will return from a season-ending ACL injury within the first two months of the 2026 campaign, while confirming a positional switch and detailing his much-anticipated contract extension that ends fears of a recovery without a club.
The 24-year-old’s 2025 season came to a devastating halt in July when he suffered the nasty knee injury during a home clash against the Penrith Panthers. With his contract set to expire at the end of the year, Schoupp was staring down the barrel of a daunting rehabilitation process without secured tenure – a prospect that weighed heavily on the versatile centre and second-rower as extension talks dragged on through the final months of the season.
In a major relief for both player and club, the Sea Eagles delivered on their promise to stand by Schoupp, inking a one-year deal for the 2026 season that ensures he will complete his recovery in Manly colours. Speaking exclusively to Zero Tackle, the former Brisbane Bronco shared positive updates on his rehabilitation progress, revealing he is ahead of schedule in his comeback journey.
“Rehab is going good,” Schoupp said. “Just did my first run in the last week of pre-season [before the Christmas break].”
The early milestone means Manly fans can expect to see him back on the park far sooner than initial projections, with the utility targeting a return window within the opening eight rounds of the 2026 NRL season. In a further twist, Schoupp confirmed he will make a permanent switch to the second-row next year, moving away from the centres where he featured in 15 of his 17 appearances in 2025.
Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold welcomed the news, noting Schoupp’s size and work rate make him an ideal fit for the forward pack. “Aaron’s physicality and ball-playing skills will add real value to our edge,” Seibold said in a statement. “His commitment to recovery while facing contract uncertainty shows the character we want in our squad.”
The extension and positional shift mark a fresh start for Schoupp, who joined Manly from Brisbane in 2024 and has since played 31 games for the northern beaches club.
