Jamie Jones-Buchanan says there is “pressure” on Super League star

In last night’s enthralling encounter between Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils a key decision from coach Matt Peet changed the game.

He elected to take Cade Cust, who was one of the signings of the 2022 Super League season, off the field and move star fullback Jai Field into the halves with Bevan French moving to fullback.

At fullback, French scored the try that got Wigan back into the game and from there Wigan went on to win with Field providing the game winning assist for Toby King who was now playing on the wing vacated by French.

Speaking after the game, Jamie Jones-Buchanan was asked if there was now pressure on Cade Cust to keep the halfback role at Wigan and he said:

“I think there is a little pressure on him. Like I said before, there doesn’t seem to be rhyme or reason on some of their big plays, some of the lines that are being run there they look like they don’t know which holes they are trying to hit. There was a lot of ball on the floor. They were compounding errors.

“Bevan French just wants the ball in his hands as long as they get the ball in their hands in space.”

Later Barrie McDermott would add that he felt that it was key that Field and French be the ones alongside Harry Smith: “I think having those two Australian pivot players in there what ever position they play is the best way.”

That said Buchanan questioned Wigan’s kicking department as they Sky pundits highlighted Wigan’s last tackle plays: “I don’t think they have many options in the kicking department, it all seems to go through Harry Smith.”