Wigan Warriors sign NRL halfback

Wigan Warriors have signed NRL half back Cade Cust on a two-year deal with the option of a third year.  

Cust, 23, will join Wigan from Manly Warringah Sea Eagles where he played 27 games in the NRL, scoring nine tries.

Born in Scone, New South Wales, Cust started playing Rugby League for his local junior side Scone Thoroughbreds. After then being scouted by Manly, he and his family travelled to Sydney each week to allow Cust to train and play for Manly’s junior teams.

Cust impressed and 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, before playing in the Canterbury Cup NSW for Manly’s feeder club side, Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.

Cust, who is of Aboriginal descent and recently represented the Indigenous All Stars this year, will arrive in Wigan as soon as possible to start pre-season training with his new teammates.

On joining the Warriors, Cust said: “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and I am really looking forward to what the next few years will bring. I can’t wait to get to work and play at such a prestige club like Wigan.”

Executive Director, Kris Radlinski, added: “We have been working on his deal for a few weeks now. Once Matt Peet, Shaun Wane and I had spoken to Cade, we were all confident that he was a great fit for Wigan.

“We contacted people whose opinion we trust in Australia including Trent Barrett and Blake Green who both gave positive appraisals of Cade. Our aim now is to get him to the UK as soon as possible to link up with his new teammates. We expect this to be before Christmas.

“We would like to thank the Manly Sea Eagles Club for releasing Cade from his contract and we promise to look after one of their own.”

Head Coach, Matt Peet, said: “We knew we had to work our hardest to make this signing happen.

“He fits the criteria that we had decided on as a player and as a person. We feel that our fans will enjoy watching him and his teammates will love playing with him. We also feel that our system will develop him on and off the field.”

“Cade is a wonderful young man who developed into a fine NRL player at the Sea Eagles after coming through our successful U20s team,’’ said Manly Head Coach Des Hasler.

“He has worked hard on his game in recent seasons and his ability to cover positions in the halves and hooker is very valuable.

“As part of the release agreement, the Sea Eagles will hold an option to re-contract Cade should he decide to return to the NRL.

“We wish Cade well in the next exciting chapter of his Rugby League career.”