Bevan French
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WarriorRoss11
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2016 1:08 am
Bevan French
Is he up there for the best Australian we’ve ever brought over to the club and possibly the best to ever play in super league? Seems to get better every single season and can play 3 positions and still be the best in the league in every single one
Re: Bevan French
He's a superstar, and as I've said before, he's twice the player than left Parramatta. He'd improve many NRL sides, never mind SL.
Re: Bevan French
Hard to think hes been here 5 years already what a player
The artist formally known as fozziekskem
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Charriots Offiah
- Posts: 5109
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Re: Bevan French
Very good player but not in the class of Kenny and Miles in my view.
Re: Bevan French
We didn't have them for five years, though!
Re: Bevan French
Although, "not as good as Brett Kenny" is hardly a slagging-off! 
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josie andrews
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Re: Bevan French
Bevan French double gives Wigan victory in dazzling derby against Leigh
Wigan 24-6 Leigh
Liam Marshall’s superb try sets up grandstand finish
It is testament to the rise of Leigh Leopards in recent years that their derby with Wigan Warriors has been given an official strapline. But in general election week, perhaps it was only right that the Battle of the Borough went the way of the team wearing red on a pivotal evening for both of these teams.
Leigh and Wigan play in the same postcode. And while the geographical gap has always been close – seven miles to be precise – the Leopards have narrowed the on-field gap since returning to Super League at the beginning of last season. But this was a night that underlined why Wigan are world champions.
This was a wonderful derby. Everything you would expect from two sides playing for local pride, as well as two Super League points. It was tempestuous, bruising and fairly gripping throughout. That Leigh recovered from an 8-0 half-time deficit to set up a thrilling final quarter by narrowing the gap to two is a credit to them.
But then, Wigan do what Wigan have become renowned for under Matt Peet: strike at exactly the right time to swing things decisively in their favour. You will do well to find a better two-minute passage of play all season, with the two tries the Warriors scored of the highest quality.
Ten minutes earlier, Liam Marshall had denied Umyla Hanley a stunning acrobatic finish with a wonderful piece of last-ditch defending. Then, with the gap only two points and things firmly in the balance, Marshall produced a ludicrous finish, diving over the top of Hanley and putting the ball down with one hand while his body was in mid-air.
It is a try we have become used to seeing in recent years as the athleticism of Super League’s stars has somehow got even better, but this was on another level. Two minutes later the imperious Bevan French broke free in midfield and kicked ahead of Matt Moylan, winning a foot race to the line and giving Adam Keighran a simple conversion.
Suddenly, 8-6 was 18-6 and in truth, that was that. The side who hold all four major trophies delivered when it mattered most once again, and this was a night that could go a long way towards them retaining one of those pieces of silverware: the League Leader’s Shield, with St Helens losing on Friday at home to Castleford.
It means Peet’s side are four points clear at the summit with a game in hand and given how relentless this rugby league machine is, they are now odds-on to finish top, even with so many games remaining. “I’m made up with my team tonight, I’m really proud of them,” Peet said. “Leigh are a fantastic team. We had to match their desire and I thought we did exactly that.”
This was a big night for Leigh, too. They have not won at Wigan in the league since 1983 and needed to end that drought here to stay in touch with the top six. Defeat means they could now end the weekend nine points adrift of the playoff places and, while they have improved immeasurably in recent weeks, their slow start to 2024 looks as though it could be decisive.
After an evenly matched opening quarter here, Robbie Mulhern’s sin-bin for the visitors proved significant. It enabled Wigan to go ahead through a Keighran penalty before Jake Wardle’s magnificent break enabled French to score his first of the evening, with Keighran converting to make it 8-0.
Wigan haven’t quite been at their best since winning the Challenge Cup last month but their defence is what has enabled their form to be maintained. That was on show here but when they were finally breached through Brad Dwyer’s instinctive finish early in the second half, you wondered if the momentum was suddenly with Leigh.
But in the blink of an eye, it all changed when Marshall did the improbable before French took matters into his own hands. The hosts finished with a flourish when Wardle broke again to allow Liam Farrell to score but by then, the result had been decided.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/artic ... tch-report
Wigan 24-6 Leigh
Liam Marshall’s superb try sets up grandstand finish
It is testament to the rise of Leigh Leopards in recent years that their derby with Wigan Warriors has been given an official strapline. But in general election week, perhaps it was only right that the Battle of the Borough went the way of the team wearing red on a pivotal evening for both of these teams.
Leigh and Wigan play in the same postcode. And while the geographical gap has always been close – seven miles to be precise – the Leopards have narrowed the on-field gap since returning to Super League at the beginning of last season. But this was a night that underlined why Wigan are world champions.
This was a wonderful derby. Everything you would expect from two sides playing for local pride, as well as two Super League points. It was tempestuous, bruising and fairly gripping throughout. That Leigh recovered from an 8-0 half-time deficit to set up a thrilling final quarter by narrowing the gap to two is a credit to them.
But then, Wigan do what Wigan have become renowned for under Matt Peet: strike at exactly the right time to swing things decisively in their favour. You will do well to find a better two-minute passage of play all season, with the two tries the Warriors scored of the highest quality.
Ten minutes earlier, Liam Marshall had denied Umyla Hanley a stunning acrobatic finish with a wonderful piece of last-ditch defending. Then, with the gap only two points and things firmly in the balance, Marshall produced a ludicrous finish, diving over the top of Hanley and putting the ball down with one hand while his body was in mid-air.
It is a try we have become used to seeing in recent years as the athleticism of Super League’s stars has somehow got even better, but this was on another level. Two minutes later the imperious Bevan French broke free in midfield and kicked ahead of Matt Moylan, winning a foot race to the line and giving Adam Keighran a simple conversion.
Suddenly, 8-6 was 18-6 and in truth, that was that. The side who hold all four major trophies delivered when it mattered most once again, and this was a night that could go a long way towards them retaining one of those pieces of silverware: the League Leader’s Shield, with St Helens losing on Friday at home to Castleford.
It means Peet’s side are four points clear at the summit with a game in hand and given how relentless this rugby league machine is, they are now odds-on to finish top, even with so many games remaining. “I’m made up with my team tonight, I’m really proud of them,” Peet said. “Leigh are a fantastic team. We had to match their desire and I thought we did exactly that.”
This was a big night for Leigh, too. They have not won at Wigan in the league since 1983 and needed to end that drought here to stay in touch with the top six. Defeat means they could now end the weekend nine points adrift of the playoff places and, while they have improved immeasurably in recent weeks, their slow start to 2024 looks as though it could be decisive.
After an evenly matched opening quarter here, Robbie Mulhern’s sin-bin for the visitors proved significant. It enabled Wigan to go ahead through a Keighran penalty before Jake Wardle’s magnificent break enabled French to score his first of the evening, with Keighran converting to make it 8-0.
Wigan haven’t quite been at their best since winning the Challenge Cup last month but their defence is what has enabled their form to be maintained. That was on show here but when they were finally breached through Brad Dwyer’s instinctive finish early in the second half, you wondered if the momentum was suddenly with Leigh.
But in the blink of an eye, it all changed when Marshall did the improbable before French took matters into his own hands. The hosts finished with a flourish when Wardle broke again to allow Liam Farrell to score but by then, the result had been decided.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/artic ... tch-report
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
Re: Bevan French
Agreed Kenny was and still for me the best player I’ve seen in a Wigan shirt,just a shame it wasn’t for longer.Charriots Offiah wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 12:43 am Very good player but not in the class of Kenny and Miles in my view.
But Bevan though…I mean cmon what a player
The artist formally known as fozziekskem
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Exiled Wiganer
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- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:18 pm
Re: Bevan French
I think French is the finest overseas back we have had since the 80s in terms of his top end brilliance, all round excellence and extraordinary consistency. I also think Wardle is the best centre we have had since Connolly, and that Marshall is the finest winger week in and week out for a very long time. Oh, and on his day I think Field is the most exciting 1 we have had since young Sam, Smith the best 7 since Lam and Thompson the highest quality prop for a very long time.
What is extraordinary about these players is that, Thompson aside, none of them came to us as 100% world class players. Their levels of performance are down to the club, and Peet in particular. In a funny sort of way it makes our current genius levels of brilliance even more satisfying than when we used to buy in ready made world class stars.
What is extraordinary about these players is that, Thompson aside, none of them came to us as 100% world class players. Their levels of performance are down to the club, and Peet in particular. In a funny sort of way it makes our current genius levels of brilliance even more satisfying than when we used to buy in ready made world class stars.
Re: Bevan French
Trent Barrett was an outstanding player.
But as long term signing Bevan is one of the greatest, his ability to influence games is phenomenal, as is his speed.
Some stains fans believe we are a one man team and without him we would be no good, they underestimate the rest of our team. But I do see their way of thinking, not too sure how we would be as effective if he was injured.
But as long term signing Bevan is one of the greatest, his ability to influence games is phenomenal, as is his speed.
Some stains fans believe we are a one man team and without him we would be no good, they underestimate the rest of our team. But I do see their way of thinking, not too sure how we would be as effective if he was injured.