Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet makes Bevan French injury admission

Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet admits it would have ‘foolish’ to risk Bevan French against Hull KR on Friday night. The Warriors missed the creativity and spark the Australian can provide in the halves as they lost 10-6 against a resolute and determined Rovers outfit.

The loss means that with just five games left in the regular Super League season, Wigan are six points adrift of the League Leaders’ Shield race. They face Wakefield Trinity next in what promises to be a key game for both sides, with Wakefield pushing for a spot in the top six, but it remains to be seen if French will be involved.

The stand-off hasn’t played since Wigan’s loss to Wakefield in June, as he continues to struggle with a calf injury and despite naming him in successive 21-man squads, Peet admits French is still short of being ready to make a return.

“He’s not right,” Peet said, per Serious About Rugby League’s sister site Wigan Today, when asked about why French didn’t play against the Robins. “I would if I could, but it would be foolish, yeah, he’s not fit.”

Adam Keighran was the man selected to play at six on Friday night, with Jack Farrimond picking up an injury in the win over Warrington Wolves in round 21.

“He picked a bang up last week in the Warrington game,” the Wigan Warriors head coach added. “If he had played, it would’ve been touch and go; he wouldn’t have been able to train all week, so we made the call early on to put Adam in, but Jack’s pulled up really well, actually.

“It’s his AC joint. He probably could’ve played tonight at a push, but like I said, it was a week’s training that we needed together and knowing that we’d have a settled spine, so we decided to go that way early in the week.”