Favourite for Rob Burrow Award in Super League Grand Final reveals secret to success

He's the man with the dancing feet who can sell Super League on his own.

But insists he never knows he’s going to do the magic things he does. The Aussie ace scored a brilliant solo try in their semi-final rout of Leigh with a staggering kick and chase effort. Warriors boss Matt Peet says it can inspire new fans to the sport - ‘nobody is watching kick-pressure on ’ - but the big question is whether French will deliver something similar in Saturday's Old Trafford title decider.

He is 5/2 favourite to win the inaugural Rob Burrow Award as man of the match, closely followed by Hull KR’s own maverick Mikey Lewis. However, the dazzling stand-off, 28, insisted: “Those sorts of things just happen. I keep referencing back to my childhood and how I grew up playing rugby league.

“I wasn’t in a [professional] system until I was 18. So, from when I was five to 18, that’s the sort of rugby league I played. It was just instinctive, off-the-cuff stuff. It’s not something I’m trying to do: it’s just all instinct. It is crazy and an honour to have people talk about it like they have.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

“But we also have to realise that is the of how things are going to grow: Instagram, TikTok and things like that with all these little highlight moments. It’s the reason I probably picked up a ball at five years old, seeing people like Preston Campbell doing the same thing. And the fans are lucky on Saturday that they’ve got Mikey [Lewis] on the other side doing his amazing things, too.”

Their half-back battle will be fascinating tomorrow evening as both clubs bid to make history. Rovers are looking to achieve what none of Hull, Warrington, Castleford, Salford or Catalans have achieved: winning in their first Grand Final appearance and becoming the first new name on the trophy since Leeds in 2004. But World Club champions Wigan have the potential to become the first club in the summer era to win all four trophies in one season.

They are also aiming for back-to-back Grand Finals for the first time and French, with 22 tries in just 24 games this term, conceded: “It’s a big motivation factor for us. As an athlete and as a kid you want to play in Grand Finals at the big stadiums. You want to create a legacy, make history and if we can do that it will be a real achievement.

“I think everyone is aware of the position we’re in and how lucky we are, especially at Wigan. They’ve created a lot of legends of the sport. When you look at the calibre of players who have come out of there, they have won a lot of things. But they’ve not been able to do this. We realise this opportunity will probably not come around again.”

French added: “We don’t under-estimate Rovers. They’ve been great not only this year but the last couple and have been growing and growing. They are a very tough outfit and when you look from one to 17, all are great players; they are very skilful, experienced, have and a good forward pack. We’re very aware of what they’re capable of doing. We're excited by that. We were very driven in wining the first one [title]. Going back to back is harder. But we're looking forward to it."

Just as a large chunk of the 65,000 plus fans will be in anticipation for just what he might do next in the 80 minutes ahead.