Wigan boss explains positional change that saw Cade Cust benched

© PA Images Cade-Cust-SWPix

Wigan head coach Matt Peet says that Bevan French needed to get his hands on the ball more in a positional move that saw half-back Cade Cust benched in the second half.

French, 27, scored his side’s first try in the 20-16 victory with an outrageous dummy to score close to the line. 

And having started the game on the wing, the Australian-born player was moved to full-back in the 47th minute as the Warriors found themselves 16-8 down.

The switch saw Cust taken off, with full-back Jai Field moved into the halves. It also saw centre Toby King to the wing and Kai Pearce-Paul to the centres.

Despite the rare interchange for a half-back, Peet insists that Cust will appreciate that the decision saw his side complete a second half comeback, with King scoring the side’s winning try and Harry Smith kicking four from four.

“Cade Cust is alright,” Peet said. 

“He’s team first. 

“He’s probably pleased we got the win. 

“He knows there’s things he needs to do better, but he’s team first. 

“Whatever happens on the night, to get that result, we’ve all got to put our ego to one side sometimes and do what’s best for the team. 

“We’ve got no qualms about making those decisions when they have to be made and players here have to respond in the right way and that’s by working hard to make sure that next time you’re on the field, you nail your role. 

“Cade will have games where he kills it, as he has done in the past. But for whatever reason, we weren’t fluent with the ball and it was plain to see we needed certain people on the ball more.”

Matt Peet praises Bevan French

French’s move to full-back certainly made an impact on the game, and also saw the former NRL man take his tally to six tries in six.

He finished last season as Super League’s top try-scorer with 31, before signing a new two-year extension with the DW Stadium side.

“He’s a talent,” Peet said on French.

“He works hard and the lads love him. 

“I think quite often he’s at his most dangerous when he’s man on man and there doesn’t look much for him.

“In particularly the first try, the shape had fizzled out a little bit and he just expressed himself.

“He’s such a talent and great to watch and if you was a fan, you love to watch him.”

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