The Aussie opens up on Hull’s win over Bradford, his match clinching try, his new role in team, and Wigan.

Hull FC celebrate victory over Bradford. (Image: SW PIX)

Hull FC’s players put themselves through the annual pre-season slog for moments like Saturday night. For Cade Cust, it couldn’t have gotten much sweeter, with the interchange dummy-half on hand to take Liam Knights’ offload and push his way to the try line and seal a 27-20 black and white victory.

And after going under the knife for two hernia surgeries over the autumn months, Cust’s match-clinching play brings all the satisfaction, especially after a hard and ‘edgy’ contest against Bradford Bulls in the club’s Super League opener at the MKM Stadium.

The 27-year-old was on cue to play his part but also conceded Hull were far from their best in a topsy-turvy game that saw the lead change hands again and again. Nonetheless, they still got the job done, and that’s a good habit to have.

“It’s our favourite time of the year now,” Cust, speaking to Hull Live, said. “We’ve done all of the hard work and it’s good to be back out there. The fans were unreal as well. They got us over the line there.

“Whenever you get two points at home and you have all of those fans behind you, it’s an unreal feeling. It’s what you play the game for. We weren’t at our best here, but we still got over the line and got the two points, so that’s the main thing.

“It’s a starting point; we’re a long way off and we’ve got a lot of improvement but it’s a start. It was a really tough game across the board. We hung in there and we fought to the end. Credit to Bradford – they really gave it to us.

“It was very edgy and being out there was edgy. That’s what you expect with these early rounds; you expect those hard-fought battles. I’m just really glad we got the two points.”

Content with his role in the team, Cust, who has experience at hooker from his Manly Sea Eagles days, is aiming to keep doing his bit whether from dummy-half or half-back this year, and so long as he’s in Cartwright’s matchday side, then he’s happy.

“It’s really good,” Cust said of his interchange role. “I and Carty have had some chats through the week, just to get an idea of my role and stuff. My goal is to be in that 17 and make an impact for the boys, come on the field, give some energy, and keep improving.

“I played a bit of nine through my juniors and at Manly. It’s not a position I’m unfamiliar with. I don’t mind getting stuck in to the defence there and taking off out of nine. It’s easy; as long as I’m in the 17, I’m happy. I’ll just keep working hard.”

Working hard is what Cust did against Bradford, following Hull’s big guns and taking advantage of any quick rucks.

“We’ve got plenty of big boppers so as long as I’m pushing around that ruck, there should be some quick play of the balls and a lot of space for me,” Cust said. “The big thing is the ruck at the moment, and we’re trying to get control of that.

“There were certain stages where we were under pressure and we didn’t quite handle it well. We’ll look back at the video and that’s where we’ll improve.”

Next up for Hull is a trip over the Pennines to face Wigan Warriors – an opponent the Black and Whites defeated twice at The Brick Community Stadium last season.

“They’re a quality side and have been for many years now,” Cust added on Saturday’s round two opponents. “We expect a tough challenge. We’ll prepare well this week and we’ll go over there, give it our all, and hopefully get another win.”