BEVAN who?
The build-up to this year’s Challenge Cup final had been dominated by the mystery of whether Wigan Warriors’ star man would make a shock return from injury against Hull KR, but in the end it barely mattered that he did.
By the time former Man of Steel French entered the fray from the interchange bench on 61 minutes, the final was as good as won – and his try three minutes later only served to add a little extra gloss.
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Instead, it was the Australian’s 20-year-old understudy who set Wigan on course for victory over the Robins as Jack Farrimond again showed maturity beyond his years in a Lance Todd Trophy-winning performance in the 40-10 triumph.
“We’re pretty fortunate, me and Jack, to be behind a pack that does a lot of work for us and lays a platform,” French, who earned the Lance Todd accolade in the Wembley win over Warrington two years ago, said.
“You have someone like Harry Smith who manages the game the way he does and puts you exactly where you want to be, and people like me and Jack don’t really have to do a lot.
“Maybe if Jack or myself were in another team it wouldn’t work out that way and that’s why I don’t really have much to say to Jack.
“You don’t want to try to coach him into doing things, just go out and do what you want to do because everything else around for you is made for you to do that.”
Former Leigh Miners Rangers junior Farrimond was certainly doing that from the early minutes of the match, finishing off an attack from a scrum after four minutes to put Wigan into a lead they would not relinquish.
His second four minutes before the break came from some individual magic and he was also on hand to provide the kick which Junior Nsemba plucked out of the air to finish from in the 44th minute.
Peta Hiku’s unconverted score just before the break had given cup holders Hull KR a glimmer of hope, but the Robins came unstuck after the break as Adam Keighran, who also kicked six goals, added two tries to help take the game away from them.
French and Luke Thompson’s finishes made certain of a record-extending 22nd Challenge Cup triumph, even with Sam Walters becoming the first player since Widnes’ Richard Eyres in 1993 to be sent off in this final after a dangerous tackle late on.
Hiku’s second made little difference late on and it was not long before talk turned to just how Wigan head coach Matt Peet will keep both Farrimond and French involved in the coming weeks.
“I wouldn’t like to pick because I thought Jack has been outstanding these last few weeks,” fellow halfback Smith said.
“It’s not my decision, but to have two lads like that either side of you is brilliant for my game.”
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