Cade Cust has gone back to school to fully understand what it means to pull on the Wigan no.6 shirt worn by club icons Brett Kenny and Shaun Edwards.
The 23-year-old Australian has been charged with re-igniting a Warriors attack that failed to fire in 2021.
New coach Matt Peet and directors Shaun Wane and Kris Radlinksi have made sure Cust and the rest of the Wigan squad know exactly what it means to play for Wigan.
Cust explained: “I didn’t know a lot about it but I had a Zoom call with Matty, Shaun and Kris Rads and they were speaking about the previous people that had played here.
“There’s a massive emphasis on the culture here. We have lessons every week about the success they’ve had, and even for the boys that grew up here it’s beneficial to go over.
“We’re watching stuff that we want to achieve this year - winning comps. It puts a fire in the belly and makes you want to be successful for this club.
“I want to make my own name, make an impression and win comps - that’s a childhood dream, to win trophies.”
Cust’s arrival at the club was endorsed by another former Wigan fans favourite stand-off, his old Manly coach Trent Barrett.
Cust said: “Matty and Shaun rang Trent to ask about me, how I go as a player and more importantly as a bloke.
“They wanted a decent bloke that gets on with people, and I pride myself on being respectful and a genuine person.
“Trent was someone that helped me through my footy career and if I need anything he’s there to help.”
Now another maverick playmaker is inspiring Cust’s development - new Warriors assistant coach Lee Briers.
Cust added: “With Briersy there he’s got a lot of trick plays for us. It’ll be a fun year and a very attacking year.
“I knew of him but didn't know how successful he was to be honest. He’s very smart, he covers all bases. We have a lot of meetings as a spine and I sit there and think ‘I didn’t think about this, or that’.
“I think he wants to be back out there when we’re training - he’s still calling plays. You could still chuck a number on his back.
“We’ve got a lot of attacking strike in the team and it’s been coming together on the training paddock. It’s exciting times now, there’s a big buzz around the whole team.
“I want to win a trophy and we’ve got the team to do it. Anything other than that won’t be good enough.”
