Bevan French

[josie andrews]

He’s level with Sean O’Loughlin in my eyes maybe sneaking a little pass Sol

Does Sean know he’s been demoted Josie ?

He’s level with Sean O’Loughlin in my eyes maybe sneaking a little pass Sol

Does Sean know he’s been demoted Josie ?

I asked him for a photo last year I think it was. He saw the screensaver on my phone which was a picture of Bevan. He said ‘is that your favourite player now?’ "I said it was always you, but you don’t play anymore!’

[lucky 13]

Kenny and Ella was great players and both in their prime at Wigan. Kenny at Wembley was one of the most memorable Wigan performances I have seen.
Miles I thought was past his best playing in a great team with the best winger in the game outside him...... I seem to remember Wright at Widnes looking good for the same reason. Miles was a great player but rose tinted glasses for me with his time here.
I loved Hendy, my first sporting hero but he would drop in behind Robinson, Offhia, and also Dallas as wingers, Bevan would be pushing close if he was spending more time out wide. Offhia and Robinson provided memorable performances on the biggest stages it was a pleasure to watch.
Tomkins would probably be the best fullback skill wise, shame Amos Roberts got injured because that one season he was on a different level but didn't get chance to do it long enough, again Bevan could push into that category if he was just a full back. Jai is on the path and a worthy mention.
Hanley as a centre or half was good running the ball but for me his time at 13 was when he was great, combined balanced running, spider sense spacial awareness, great power with a decent offload and I don't remember him missing many tackles ever? Again his performance in the 27-0 Wembley victory was outstanding
I can't not mention Andy Greg in this he was a magician with ball in hand and at Wembley he was the one waving the wand. Andy Farrell was also right up there a standoffs hands in a giants frame with a boot to match and such a dominant leader.
The fact Bevan who very much like Henry Paul could slip anywhere in that backline and improve a team and provide a highlight clip reel to die for is the reason he gets in there for me I wish his disallowed try in the world club challenge had stood because that was the icing on the cake moment in a big game he's yet to achieve. He's still learning that 6 role but what a talent.
MOM in the fore mentioned and Lance Todd win secure his spot. Though I still feel he's got another one or two magic moments in big games to come.
Skillfull entertainment players are what gets you on the edge of your seat and just make you glad you got to see them play especially in your teams colours. I have seen some good ones but Kenny Hanley, Offhia, Robinson and now Bevan would be my top 5 (Tomkins only misses because others are so so good)

[Flash]

My last response is directed to Flash

None taken mate

[Wintergreen]

Kenny and Ella was great players and both in their prime at Wigan. Kenny at Wembley was one of the most memorable Wigan performances I have seen.
Miles I thought was past his best playing in a great team with the best winger in the game outside him...... I seem to remember Wright at Widnes looking good for the same reason. Miles was a great player but rose tinted glasses for me with his time here.
I loved Hendy, my first sporting hero but he would drop in behind Robinson, Offhia, and also Dallas as wingers, Bevan would be pushing close if he was spending more time out wide. Offhia and Robinson provided memorable performances on the biggest stages it was a pleasure to watch.
Tomkins would probably be the best fullback skill wise, shame Amos Roberts got injured because that one season he was on a different level but didn't get chance to do it long enough, again Bevan could push into that category if he was just a full back. Jai is on the path and a worthy mention.
Hanley as a centre or half was good running the ball but for me his time at 13 was when he was great, combined balanced running, spider sense spacial awareness, great power with a decent offload and I don't remember him missing many tackles ever? Again his performance in the 27-0 Wembley victory was outstanding
I can't not mention Andy Greg in this he was a magician with ball in hand and at Wembley he was the one waving the wand. Andy Farrell was also right up there a standoffs hands in a giants frame with a boot to match and such a dominant leader.
The fact Bevan who very much like Henry Paul could slip anywhere in that backline and improve a team and provide a highlight clip reel to die for is the reason he gets in there for me I wish his disallowed try in the world club challenge had stood because that was the icing on the cake moment in a big game he's yet to achieve. He's still learning that 6 role but what a talent.
MOM in the fore mentioned and Lance Todd win secure his spot. Though I still feel he's got another one or two magic moments in big games to come.
Skillfull entertainment players are what gets you on the edge of your seat and just make you glad you got to see them play especially in your teams colours. I have seen some good ones but Kenny Hanley, Offhia, Robinson and now Bevan would be my top 5 (Tomkins only misses because others are so so good)

I find myself agreeing with the vast majority of that.

It's difficult to pick a "best" player as they all had different aspects to their game.

Robinson was exceptional in terms of his ability to break the line, especially early on in his career, Tomkins had a similar ability early on too (though not quite to the same level). Offiah was all about pace and position. Hanley was, well Hanley. As an all round Rugby League footballer, he has to be up there with the very best that has ever played the game. Kenny had skill and pace.

French has, that often overused phrase "the X factor". His ability to create something from nothing separates him from the players above.

There is no doubt we are lucky to have him in a Wigan shirt.

[Johnone]

Bevan French fantastic player how anyone with any rugby knowledge would select a current team without his name being first on the sheet beggars belief . My own favourite all time Wigan star was Billy Boston the very fact of his name being on the team sheet would put thousands on the gate home or away the excitement that he generated was indescribable.

[Johnone]

Ellery Hanley ,Martin Offiah, Jason Robinson, Tom Van Vollenhoven, Alex Murphy the great Brian Bevan all fantastic rugby league players you can go on and on fill pages but what great player's that gave pleasure to thousands. ( got to be careful going off thread again).,,,

[Big Steve]

Henderson Gill was my favourite player when I first started watching wigan, but I think the top players in my lifetime. Those who had something special that no one else could ever do are:

1) Hanley
2) Offiah
3) Tomkins

We've had some GREAT players but these 3 were all capable of doing things no one else could ever achieve - and did so over a period of time. For that reason I've discounted the likes of Kenny and Roberts.

I think Bevan is getting very close to joining those 3 and I think surpasses Jason Robinson, who thought he was most similar to when he first joined Wigan. Bevan now plays 6 and does things in the middle of pitch and creates opportunities as well as finishing them. He's almost the complete player now.

A couple more wins and dominant performances in big games and I think he edges out Sam in my top 3.

[archiekeith]

Add him on Medders.

I’d have Davy Vaeliki but alas I’d be on my own.

Ref. Devon French and would he be spoken about in 20 years time I'd say yes.
If memory serves I can recall an Aussie 5/8 named Mark Cannon who scored a similar type try to Devon's in the 80's. He was brought over by coach Alex Murphy? He played in the 84 final at Wembley I think. He's not spoken about now ,excluding this post. However Devon is in a different class to Mark. And will be!

[morley pie eater]

The problem is that we are comparing different times and type of player. Individual skills or game management, power or guile, for examples.

I think many of us also choose a favourite when we are young and first start watching and developing understanding and appreciation of the game.

I liked Frankie Parr - probably partly for his hair style (I wanted mine to be like it), but also cos he was a little fellow who could tackle the big blokes. I saw Billy B albeit in the last 3 years or so of his career. He was still phenomenal.

A bit later I rated Bill Francis, probably because I was starting to understand the more subtle skills and could see that he had them - a rugby brain if you like. Unfortunately he wasn't part of a great team.

My lads went through the same process in a different era, and would choose Henry and Ellery. I also got them to appreciate Brian Case and Ian Potter to help them understand another side to the game!

Looking back I'd say number 1 Billy Boston. Following him Hanley, French, and maybe Dean Bell for his rock solid personality and determination maybe more than out-and-out silky skills.

[WarriorWinger]

My early recollections of admiring players were George Fairbairn and Green Vigo, then it progressed into the Edwards, Gregory and Hanley era and Gilly, then after that pretty much stuck to wingers and centres as wing was my position growing up