Wigan head coach Matt Peet has insisted that star half-back Bevan French will not automatically return to the starting line-up despite scoring a try in his comeback from injury during the 40-10 Betfred Challenge Cup final victory over Hull KR. French returned from a hamstring injury six weeks earlier than planned, entering the match on the hour mark and scoring within two minutes.
The 20-year-old Jack Farrimond, who started in French's absence, scored two first-half tries and was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match. Peet stressed that Farrimond remains the incumbent for the shirt as the Super League season continues.
“Jack is the incumbent, he got us here, and we have every confidence in him,” Peet said. “Bevan’s a very good player to be able to carry on the bench, and I would have been comfortable with him playing for the full 90 minutes.”
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters admitted his side were not up for the fight after a poor performance. Rovers lost forward Dean Hadley to a head injury early on and playmaker Mikey Lewis played through an ankle injury, but Peters offered no excuses.
“Wigan were outstanding today so I don’t want to take that away from them, but there were periods in that game that just wasn’t us,” said Peters. “The hungrier side certainly won.”
Peters confirmed Hadley failed his head injury assessment and will miss Saturday's Super League trip to Wakefield, while Lewis sustained an ankle injury but felt capable of playing on.
