The star flyhalf has not only be announced as the leading point scorer in the New Holland Cup for season 2021, but also player of the year.

The player of the year honour is something Cusick said "definitely ranks" as one of his best achievements in the sport.

"It was pretty surreal, I feel pretty humbled to receive it," he said.

"The competition has got some talent, it's a pretty outstanding standard, so I was happy to receive it.

"The standard was really good this year, like there were people I was playing against, a couple of them were [NSW Country] Cockatoos, a couple of them played for Central West."

Though the teenager had initially planned to play colts for Randwick in 2021, his university studies led to him pulling on the number 10 jumper for CSU.

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Cusick conceded age and experience to most of his rivals during the season, but his speed, strong passing game and good decision making made him a natural on-field leader for CSU.

While no official tally of his try assists was kept, it would have been lengthy, but Cusick also enjoyed taking on the line himself. It led to him scoring 13 tries in the regular season and another three during CSU's finals campaign.

For the regular season he finished with a personal tally of 131 points, his highlight coming in round eight against Dubbo Rhinos when crossing for four tries plus booting six conversions and a penalty.

Cusick felt he played some of his best rugby for CSU, but said that had plenty to do with the talented team-mates who played alongside him in the first VX and the guidance of coaches Dave Conyers and Mark Campbell.

"I was really lucky to be a part of the side this year with the quality of players at the club and the expert coaching ... they really helped to facilitate that [form]," he said.

"Also the just the club as a whole, what CSU has done, the club is really good. There's the women's team, second grade and first grade and the overall team environment is really good to be around.

"The club at the moment has got some really good things going, the overall management if it, everyone is doing a really good job. It's good to be a part of."

While Central West Rugby Union's decisions to abandon the remainder of its competitions in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown meant CSU did not play the grand final they'd qualified for and Parkes were declared premiers, Cusick said his individual awards offered some consolation.

"Obviously it was disappointing not to have a grand final, but people's safety has to go first," he said.

"So this is a bitter-sweet feeling, but I'm still humbled to get the award."

As for where he plans to play come next season, Cusick is keen to have another title shot with CSU.

"I'll definitely be back next season if I can, I'm definitely looking forward to it," he said.

CSU finished the season in second with a record of 10 wins from 13 games.

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