Re: FRENCH : Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:51 am  

Has any other player taken the MOM in the WCC, the Lance Todd and the Harry Sunderland (Rob Burrows in Bev's case) in a single season before? Can't be too many.

Re: FRENCH : Sun Oct 13, 2024 2:14 pm  

French is one those players who seems to see things other players do not, his rugby sense is a step above many players - allied with lightning pace off the mark and step make him a threat from nothing. Plus he works so hard in defense as well, we are lucky to have a player like that.

I think the club bringing over his brother and uncle for the game really hit him emotionally (in a good way) - such a classy move by the club.

Re: FRENCH : Sun Oct 13, 2024 3:53 pm  

exiled Warrior wrote:

French is one those players who seems to see things other players do not, his rugby sense is a step above many players - allied with lightning pace off the mark and step make him a threat from nothing. Plus he works so hard in defense as well, we are lucky to have a player like that.

I think the club bringing over his brother and uncle for the game really hit him emotionally (in a good way) - such a classy move by the club.

Our club is all class.

Re: FRENCH : Sun Oct 13, 2024 5:48 pm  

Zig wrote:

Our club is all class.

It sure is

Re: FRENCH : Sun Oct 13, 2024 6:03 pm  

For me, the greatest overseas signing we've made in the Super League era. The most naturally gifted rugby league player ive seen (I was born in 92 for context).

Nathan Cleary giving him big wraps at half time too.

Enjoy him while we can. We won't see another for several decades.

Re: FRENCH : Sun Oct 13, 2024 9:49 pm  

I'd be nervous if I were an opposition fan, player or coach as well because I think he can get even better as a stand off. He's been better this season as a stand off then he was in his spell there in 2023 and I think he can kick on again. He looks like he can break the line at will if he wants to and is looking more comfortable with being a little more selfish. I mean that in a good way because I thought he was too pass happy in his early months as a stand off and that is what the opposition will always want.

Scary stuff!

Re: FRENCH : Mon Oct 14, 2024 1:26 am  

I reckon Nathan Cleary thinks, as I do, that on current form, far from being at best a squad player, as we might have thought a few years ago, Bevan would walk into most NRL sides now.

Re: FRENCH : Mon Oct 14, 2024 6:59 am  

Important to recognise the approach the club took with Bevan, which was a little contentious at the time where they would allow him a longer off season break, pre-season training back in Australia, time off to be with his family, involving his Uncle and brother - and not just for this years GF.

It's that longer term view the club now have on how to treat players and invest in both them and their families that create this special group. The role of Rads in this shouldn't go unnoticed - he's had his critics in the past but I can't see a better run club and I haven't seen Wigan run this well since i've been watching them in the 80's.

Re: FRENCH : Tue Oct 15, 2024 4:49 pm  

Big Steve wrote:

The role of Rads in this shouldn't go unnoticed - he's had his critics in the past but I can't see a better run club and I haven't seen Wigan run this well since i've been watching them in the 80's.

I agree, and dare say the club is currently being run at its best ever. When we look back at our dominance of the 80's/90's the answer seemed to be to chuck more money at those who shouted the loudest (remember when both Hanley and Gregory effectively went on strike). Great times for us but definitely not a blueprint of how to run a business.

Re: FRENCH : Tue Oct 15, 2024 11:49 pm  

Big Steve wrote:

Important to recognise the approach the club took with Bevan, which was a little contentious at the time where they would allow him a longer off season break, pre-season training back in Australia, time off to be with his family, involving his Uncle and brother - and not just for this years GF.

It's that longer term view the club now have on how to treat players and invest in both them and their families that create this special group. The role of Rads in this shouldn't go unnoticed - he's had his critics in the past but I can't see a better run club and I haven't seen Wigan run this well since i've been watching them in the 80's.

100% agree, at times we have criticised Rads but he has stuck at it, learned and applied that knowledge - now its paying dividends.

On Bevan, top 3 best for sure after this weekend. Before, my son and I were saying that he hadn't delivered a killer performance in a final and now he has. He has done everything else and with a casual genius that makes us take him for granted, no more!!!