Breust has returned to Group Nine after two years with Cowra.

A childhood touch star, the 25-year-old dabbled with Australian rules in Sydney before coming back to rugby league four years ago.

However he linked with the border team and was part of their third straight premiership and had a second season there before the move west.

He’s excited to be back in Group Nine.

“I haven’t played in Wagga since I was about 17 years old,” Breust said. “It is very exciting to come back and play in the town of Wagga.”

While Kangaroos were his junior club, and he could have been reunited with former teammate Ben Jeffery there, he elected to join their rivals.

Breust said he was impressed by Brothers approach led by coach Terry Westblade and president Craig Stewart.

“Brothers were the most professional in the meetings and professional in the way they went about things,” Breust said. “They were very good to deal with and that was what got me over the line in the end.”

He added rejoining the Thunder wasn’t feasible due to work commitments.

Westblade was more than happy to have the classy halfback on board.

“It is really good news for us,” Westblade said.

“He should be a great fit for our squad so it is really pleasing.

“One of the reasons he wanted to come was he’d heard a lot about the kids, knows quite a few of them and was really looking forward to playing with them.”

Despite a horror start before the sacking of Ben Black, Brothers were transformed under Westblade and just missed the finals.

With a full pre-season under Westblade to come, Breust is confident of further improvement in 2018.

The 25-year-old is expected to slot into his preferred number seven.

With last season’s halves, Peter Little and Liam Carey, verbally agreeing to play on, Westblade believes his addition adds good depth.