Bevan French stunner seals Wigan Warriors' Grand Final and Rob Burrow Award

Aussie ace Bevan French scores superb effort successful 9-2 Old Trafford triumph implicit Hull KR arsenic champions clasp trophy and implicit historical cleanable sweep

Bevan French scored a wonderment effort Rob Burrow would person been arrogant of arsenic champions Wigan defended their Super League crown.

The Aussie ace ducked done the situation of newly-crowned Man of Steel Mikey Lewis connected halfway, sped wide and past stepped past Niall Evalds for a wonderment Old Trafford finish. The 22nd infinitesimal cracker proved the quality arsenic Warriors yet ended immoderate hopes of Hull KR causing a Grand Final shock. There were shades of Burrow’s all-time classical effort for Leeds successful the 2011 rubric decider.

The precocious Leeds legend’s 3 children were connected the Old Trafford transportation earlier kick-off with the newly-named Rob Burrow Award for the game’s man-of-the-match. And, fittingly, dazzling stand-off French claimed that successful beforehand of a assemblage of 68,173, the biggest since the 2017 decider, earlier receiving the trophy from Burrow's begetter Geoff. Rovers were looking to execute what nary of Hull, Warrington, Castleford, Salford oregon Catalans had achieved: winning successful their archetypal Grand Final quality and becoming the archetypal caller sanction connected the trophy since Leeds successful 2004.

But, contempt a valiant effort, they simply could not interruption down the World Club champions who defended superbly. Remarkably, it was a 4th successive crippled wherever they didn't concede a azygous try. Unfortunately, the East Yorkshire outfit inactive haven’t won a large trophy since 1985.

But, successful contrast, Wigan person present claimed an unthinkable 52 successful that clip and they became the archetypal nine successful the summertime epoch to triumph each 4 trophies successful 1 season. Rovers thought they had taken a tenth infinitesimal pb done Lewis but it was chalked disconnected owed to a Tyrone May knock-on. Wigan suffered a stroke soon aft erstwhile Junior Nsemba suffered a caput wounded aft a important tackle from James Batchelor chopped down Super League’s Young Player of the Year successful afloat flight.

He needed lengthy on-field attraction and a HIA but, surprisingly, returned to the action. Wigan did marque the breakthrough with French’s stunner and they Liam Marshall thought he’d added a 2nd successful the adjacent set. But that was ruled retired for an offside. French showed his antiaircraft prime with a singular enveloping try-saving tackle connected Lewis conscionable arsenic the Rovers scrum-half slid over.

And Nsemba shuddered Niall Evalds to a halt arsenic KR pressed adjacent again. But Evalds needed to beryllium connected manus to halt the aforesaid subordinate astatine the different extremity aft Harry Smith’s clever chip. Smith kicked good passim - and slotted a drop-goal connected the interval hooter - but Tyrone May took immoderate mediocre past play decisions.

Stand-off May won the 2021 NRL Grand Final with Penrith and his champion mate - Panthers and Kangaroos superstar Nathan Cleary - was astatine Old Trafford past night. Donning a Rovers shirt, helium mightiness person been getting KR fans excited astir making a daze determination to East Yorkshire. But Cleary was chiefly successful municipality to spot his large pal May and besides his girlfriend, the Manchester City and Australia Matildas prima Mary Fowler.

Rumours had been circulating helium mightiness marque a determination to the UK to beryllium person to Fowler but, astatine half-time, helium firmly refuted immoderate accidental of a Super League transportation immoderate clip soon. Rovers started the 2nd play good and Abbas Miski had to beryllium beardown to contradict Ryan Hall successful the corner. Adam Keighran besides covered brilliantly to contradict Jack Broadbent.

But Luke Thompson deed Elliot Minchella precocious successful the build-up truthful Lewis slotted a 56th infinitesimal punishment arsenic hailstones lashed down. But that was soon cancelled retired by Keighran’s 2nd extremity aft Lewis lifted Liam Farrell successful a tackle.

Ryan Hall past produced a stunning try-saving tackle connected Jake Wardle, forcing the shot wide from the England centre’s grasp aft Jai Field’s superb break. But Wigan made definite their rivals didn't unit a precocious winner.