Man of Steel Contenders: Bevan French

Bevan French is a superstar. He's a player capable of executing game-changing pieces of skill that others cannot replicate. 

There has been some debate around what French's best position is - and he's shown immense versatility during his four-year stint in Betfred Super League. 

He starred at full-back for the Warriors in 2020, helping them secure the League Leaders' Shield and a Grand Final appearance, whilst earning a place in the Dream Team as well as featuring on the Man of Steel shortlist.

And it's a similar story this year, albeit in a new role. After stints on the wing and at full-back, he's found a permanent home in the stand-off position.

French has been hugely influential in the Warriors' pursuit of the League Leaders' Shield and was a worthy inclusion into the 2023 Dream Team. 

This year, French will be hoping to go one better than his 2020 escapades on both a personal and club level, with his sights set on the Super League trophy and the coveted Man of Steel award.

French has had a substantial impact for the Warriors since his move to the halves. His ability to create and score tries make him a constant threat in attack and saw him finish the regular season with more try contributions than any other player in the competition. 

The Warriors playmaker ended the regular season with 17 tries along with a colossal 30 assists, contributing to more than a third of Wigan's 2023 tries. He also made 21 line breaks, 28 line break assists, 126 tackle busts and ran for 2586 metres from a huge 385 runs.

But it isn't just French's skill set that sets him apart. His most impressive stat this season lies in his appearance record - French has been an ever present for the Warriors in 2023.

An outrageous offload from Bevan French ?@WiganWarriorsRL are on fire this afternoon ?#SLWigLei pic.twitter.com/pmmp2l6VSr
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 29, 2023

French's Wigan teammate and fellow Dream Team inductee Jake Wardle has loved playing outside French for the first time this year.

"To play alongside a player such as Bev is an absolute honour," Wardle admitted. 

"It gives me a lot of confidence going into games playing with the likes of Bevan - and it makes my job a lot easier.

"I've played against Bev several times and he's capable of incredible stuff on the pitch - he's a freak! I'm glad I now get to play with him now."

If French is successful and wins the Man of Steel award next week, he will be the first Wigan player in 11 years to do so, after Sam Tomkins took home the award in 2012. French would also be just the fifth Warriors player to be crowned Man of Steel since Super League's inception in 1996, joining an elite group of players in the process.

The winner of the 2023 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel will be announced on Tuesday 10 October at Emirates Old Trafford, at Rugby League's biggest and most inclusive Awards Night - when the winners of more than a dozen other awards will also be celebrated, including the 2023 Woman of Steel, and the first winner of the Wheels of Steel as the year's outstanding player in Wheelchair Rugby League.