Wigan Warriors have signed the half-back they were searching for to replace Jackson Hastings after he jumped ship for Wests Tigers.
Cade Cust will arrive from Manly Sea Eagles on a two-year deal with the option of a third year.
Rugby League Live assesses the 23-year-old’s pedigree:
Who is Cust and where did rugby league journey begin?
Born in Scone, New South Wales, Cust is of Aboriginal descent and started playing for his local junior side Scone Thoroughbreds at a young age.
After being scouted by Manly, Cust and his family travelled to Sydney each week to allow him to train and play for the club’s junior teams.
He resided with league personality Matthew Johns on the Northern Beaches for three months before finding his own permanent place to live.
Cust went on to progress through the ranks at the Sea Eagles, playing a major role in helping the side win the final Holden Cup Premiership in 2017.
He then played in the Canterbury Cup NSW for Manly’s feeder club side, Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.
How much of a name was he in the NRL?
In Round 10 of the 2019 campaign, Cust made his NRL debut against Cronulla Sharks and scored his first try for the Sea Eagles two games later against Penrith Panthers.
Learning from and playing with experienced halves in Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran, Cust has developed his game in his three years playing in the NRL with Manly.
Noted for his speed, skill and creativity, Cust is said to be a dangerous attacking force and possess a solid kicking game.
Although ostensibly a half, Cust has also slotted in at hooker during his fledgling career.
In the past three seasons, he has played 27 times for Manly in the NRL, scoring nine tries.
During the 2021 campaign he made 10 appearances, scoring two tries.
He also represented the Indigenous All Stars earlier this year.
How will he fit in at Wigan Warriors?
Cust is expected to line up in the halves alongside Thomas Leuluai.
Leuluai recently signed a new one-year deal to stat at Wigan in 2022 for what looks set to be the final season of his career before retirement.
Bevan French could also be deployed in the halves if Wigan opt to stick with Zak Hardaker at full-back.
There is also Jai Field, who endured an injury-disrupted debut campaign in 2021 and will hope for better fortune this time around.
Wigan spoke to former half-backs Trent Barrett and Blake Green about Cust before signing him and were given favourable references.
Manly agreed to release Cust from his contract but, as part of the release agreement, the Sea Eagles hold an option to re-sign him should he decide to return to the NRL.
