This week it was announced that Wigan had acquired the services of Manly halfback Cade Cust ahead of 2022 as they look to fill the void left by the brilliant Jackson Hastings.
Hastings joined the Warriors in 2020 having claimed the Man of Steel at Salford in 2019 guiding the Red Devils to an unlikely Grand Final.
The Australian proved to be a smart signing by the Warriors and the perfect way to replace George Williams as he took on a new challenge down under with the Canberra Raiders.
In his first season with the Warriors he showed his excellence guiding Wigan to the Grand Final. Granted, he suffered a second consecutive Grand Final defeat at the hands of St Helens that night but the Warriors were within touching distance of the trophy thanks to another top notch performance from the halfback.
2021 wasn’t the season he’d have dreamed of however. Wigan struggled slipping to fourth having finished top in 2020 before suffering an 8-0 defeat to Leeds in the opening week of the play-offs ending their season and Hastings’ time in England leading to an emotional goodbye as he heads back to Australia to join the Wests Tigers alongside Wigan teammate Oliver Gildart.
Many wondered who Wigan would turn to as his replacement with Wakefield’s Jacob Miller rumoured to be a target of the Warriors at one stage but ultimately they settled for Cade Cust of Manly signing the versatile halfback on a two-year deal with an option for a third ahead of the 2022 campaign.
The 23-year-old has bags of experience for a young player and should bring vibrancy to the Wigan attack next year and should be a more than capable replacement for Hastings and it seems the man himself thinks so too.
The former Man of Steel took to Twitter to voice his opinion about Cust’s arrival: “Cade Cust is a good signing for Wigan. Tough competitor, can cover multiple positions. Good opportunity for him to have a great couple of years and come back with 50-80 first grade games under his belt. Good luck lad.”
Cade Cust good signing for Wigan.
Tough competitor, can cover multiple positions. Good opportunity for him to have a great couple of years and come back with 50-80 first grade games under his belt. Goodluck lad. 👏🏼— Jackson Hastings (@JackoHastings) November 13, 2021
