This is the full interview with Bevan French
Bevan French unfazed by Wigan Warriors uncertainty as he discusses wing role
French's future has been a topic of uncertainty for months and no announcement has yet been made.
Bevan French hasn’t minded playing second fiddle to Wigan’s Jai Field as he’s always known how good his team-mate can be. Challenge Cup holders Warriors host Leeds in Friday’s Super League semi-final for a place at Old Trafford.
Much of their success so far has been down to the Dream Team duo’s stunning double act. Full-back Field has been shortlisted for Man of Steel while fellow Aussie French has amassed a whopping 31 tries from the wing.
But electric French ripped up defences himself from No1 when he first joined Wigan in 2020. He then missed ten months of action through injury, though, and has needed to switch positions since his return in April given Field’s astounding form.
Read more:Predicted Leeds Rhinos line-up for play-off semi-final against Wigan Warriors
But French said: “I knew what Jai was capable of and had played quite a bit of footy with him and against him when growing up. And I sort of realised along the way (about switching) seeing the start he had! I knew I had to make a shirt somewhere and try to figure something else out.
"I definitely knew what he was capable of so it definitely wasn;t a surprise for me. But for me it wasn’t really about that. When you are out for such a long period of time, like I was, it wasn’t really my focus (playing full-back). It was more just getting on there and competing. Just to be on the field competing has been such a big high for me.”
And French has been similarly dynamic on the wing where he’s enjoyed arguably the best campaign of his career. He said: “It’d be up there. I have crossed for a lot of tries but a lot of that comes from a lot of work done inside - mostly off Jai! It’s very exciting playing with him. You’ve just got to be ready for those moments and most of the time it is instinct and reaction.
“Some of the time it is just his individual brilliance but there’s also a lot of detail we go into in our attack with our attack coach Lee Briers. We’ve scored a lot of points all across the board and a lot of it does come down to the little details he’s narrowed down on us. And hopefully we can now get to another Grand Final.”
French says the whole Wigan side, especially the backline, has benefitted from the input of legendary former Warrington stand-off Briers this term. He has helped spark their attacking play after leaving his position as Wolves assistant but will be off to Brisbane Broncos at the end of this season. French, who scored a Super League record seven tries in Wigan's win over Hull earlier this season, admitted: “He’ll be a big loss. He definitely deserves it.
“It’s something he’s always wanted to do (go to the NRL) and we’re really happy for him as a club and as mates. Tommy (Leuluai) will go into that role now. He’ll have learned a lot and is very knowledgeable as well. He’s got a high game IQ. I’m sure Briersy will have been helping him along the way this year. “As much as it’ll be a loss with Briersy, it’s exciting times ahead for Tommy.”
Having finished second, Wigan had the benefit of a weekend off while Leeds had to head to Perpignan on Friday for a bruising elimination win against Catalans Dragons. French, who hopes to right the wrongs of Wigan’s 2020 Grand Final loss against St Helens, said: “It’s been nice to rest up. It’s been a long year and there’s been some short turnarounds. Everyone’s got little niggles so it’s helped and hopefully it helps get us into the Grand Final.”
And obviously French’s future is still up in the air with NRL clubs keen on his services for 2023 but Wigan desperate to keep him at DW Stadium.
“I still haven't made a decision yet,” he insisted, with his current deal soon set to expire. “I know it’s been a very long process. I’ve been happy with myself and how I’ve been playing and that’s coming down to just being chilled and relaxed about everything. I really don’t want to rush into anything. I’ve been honest with Matty (Peet) and the coaching staff and things going on in Australia.
“I really haven’t come to a conclusion yet and really just want to be chilled and focused on every game. My manager’s taken control of things and it’s going back and forth: Wigan here and teams back in Oz.” Asked when he thinks the final decision could be, French said: “It could be after the Grand Final or I could get a call tomorrow saying ‘this has happened.’ I’m not in a rush. My form is coming down to being so relaxed."
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