NRL Charge Brad Schneider $60.5 Million under suspension for breaking the NRL… See more…
Schneider had no immediate plans to return to Australia for the 2024 season, but the chance to work with Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai was too good to ignore.
“I was just playing football over there and my manager told me that there were a few clubs back home that were looking at me, but we were about to play the Challenge Cup grand final so I was more focused on that,” he said.
“He said that the Panthers were interested, and once they came to the table, I was pretty much sold straight away.
“They’ve been doing so well for the past five years and they’re at the top of the game, so it was a no-brainer to come here.”
Nothing has been promised to him, with Schneider keen to impress during what will be a torturous pre-season out west.
But he knows there are opportunities to work his way into the 17 having seen Sean O’Sullivan and Jack Cogger make the most of their chances to earn contracts elsewhere.
Schneider has signed a two-year-deal and will likely battle with Daine Laurie and Soni Luke for the bench utility spot, while he knows there will be opportunities to start with Cleary and Luai set to feature in rep sides.
“My manager got a call from Hull in July saying they needed a halfback. I was in shock when he told me but a week later I was on the plane to England,” Schneider said, revealing that was the first time he’d been to the UK.
“I didn’t really have any time to think about it. It was pretty much him saying that I’ve got a good opportunity over there, and I thought it would be a good chance for me to go over there and see what happens.”
What happened was a whirlwind few months that featured a Challenge Cup final appearance for Hull KR in just his fourth game and then a semi-final loss to eventual Super League
The stint lasted just 12 games, but Schneider said he learnt plenty and encouraged other young halves to make the move if they’re struggling for opportunities in the NRL.
“I always said I wanted to go over to England and play over there, and to do it so early in my career has been a massive benefit,” he said.
“It’s probably one of the best things I’ve done.
“I definitely recommend it to other players, especially as a halfback and how young I was, to go straight in the team and be a leader helped grow my confidence massively.
“I think my leadership changed more than anything.
“I was straight into a team that needed a halfback, but there were two ways I could have gone about it.
“I could have been really quiet and just been there for the ride, but I said to myself that I’m here to do a job, so I took the opportunity with both hands.”
