If he's been signed as a hooker he's hardly played there. According to RL project in SL he's only started one game at 9 with a few games off the bench. Strange signing if true. I wouldn't be surprised though.

Yeah a strange signing if true, not a bad one, but seems a bit of a pointless one.

Although we have had a few rumoured signings like Laifa, Whitehead, Sullivan, Rimba etc.

Hope Pearson is telling the truth and the other two are decent NRL players.

Think he will be more likely to play 6, think we need one. I was hoping that we’d bring in someone a bit quicker to play either 1 or 6 with the quota place, but he’s a handy player. Can’t see him being a ‘money ball system’ stats based signing like Pearson alluded to so maybe he’s just someone Cartwright trusts.

Surely Trueman will be 6?

If fit and needs to show a bit more than this season, which i think he will, of he can have a pre season.

Having Abdul will help too, big season for him next season, with him bring OOC, got to justify that new contract.

It's deja vu all over again........

Cust, Kebab and Trueman will likely have regular injuries. It makes sense not to bet on their fitness. Charles and other will still get their chances even with those players ahead of them

Surely cust would play 9 , then move into the half’s if abdull or trueman had long term injuries, then we’d still have options at 9 with our other hookers . Also he’s only taking rimbu”s spot who was also overseas.

Personally think we would be better keeping Reynolds, going with the two young hookers (plus Hodgson if he stays). And using the quota spot on another forward, with the other two spots on a full back and centre.

Good post I wish some on here would give our recruitment a chance. Adam does tend to over hype stuff but his comments do seem positive and are linked to our new coaches day to day involvement in what is happening and what he wants. these are cartwright's signings not Clarkys Adams or anyone elses. Salford have proved that it's not necessarily the big money signings that make for a good team. Cartwright is getting his own men and players he knows and that has to be a plus particularly because he is a very well respected operator in the NRL and has tons of experience at the business end of what players are like 'on the ground' their skills and application etc. we have to trust that and his judgement.

No doubt unless we have won the challenge cup next year at this time some will want him out but for now I think after what has gone before and indeed what is happening now this season its pretty exciting to have something to hope for and something that is based on a new and respected coach building what he wants and getting rid of what he doesn't.

I'll be as always happier when the investment is settled but for now everyone at the club I speak to says that Myler is fair but ruthless when he needs to be that too has to be a plus, particularly when he is in day to day contact with our new coach and trying to sign the players he wants. Lets wait and see what happens.

At the minute but things change. Reading between the lines I always thought they were still in the market for an Aussie half back even with Abdull signing, wasn’t expecting Cust but thought they’d have gone for a fringe Aussie player.

Purely speculation but I wonder if Trueman has had an offer or at least interest from elsewhere. It’s well documented by the owner himself that he’s a huge earner and 2025 will be the last year of his deal. As things stand I’d say it’s unlikely he’ll be offered the same deal, and we have form for letting players in this situation look for a longer term deal elsewhere, like we did with Sneyd and Connor.

Possibly the most logical explanation though is still that they just want cover because of the injury records of Trueman and Abdull, which let’s be honest would be very sensible.

Only problem I've got with Cust is the quota spot. He's a committed player who gives his all but I'd prefer to sign a British 9/6.

Weird signing better off using a quota spot elsewhere. FB, centre and another starting forward should be priority for me. Would have preferred to keep Reynolds, go with Bourouh, Balmforth, Smith and Hodgson/Hutchinson at hooker.

I see your point but to have a player as cover is a complete waste of a valuable spot.

If Cartwright has signed Cust, so be it. I’ll trust him and his expertise. We have to.