Sir Alex Ferguson's role in Wigan's Super League Grand Final win after Bevan French secret

Head coach, 40, invited family members of matchwinner over from Australia ahead of 'epic' team talk with Sir Alex Ferguson

It says plenty about Bevan French that Wigan flew his family halfway around the world to witness history being made.

Almost 70,000 people watched the Aussie ace score one of the most memorable tries in Super League Grand Final history. It was worthy of settling a title decider. And French’s stunning 50m solo effort did prove the big difference, Hull KR’s hopes of a first major trophy in 39 years disappearing in his rear view mirror after a trademark, dazzling, rapier thrust. But how fitting the brilliant stand-off had his brother Dion and uncle Shannon among that crowd to share it as relentless Wigan became the first club in the summer era to win all four major trophies in one season.

French’s boss Matty Peet had kept their arrival secret and the 28 year-old revealed: “At the jersey presentation on Friday night, it goes in number order and mine skipped. I didn’t know what was going on. Then, at the end, Matty said we’ve a special guest to present you with your jersey - so in came the boys. I was pretty emotional.

“Being away all year from family is tough; I miss them all year, so I was quite emotional. Tonight I was, too, because I was glad that they got to experience this.”

Peet, who has remarkably now won seven trophies in just three years since taking the helm of his hometown club, explained: “We had a film made for the semi-final to show the players the journey of the season, with family messages. The guys were on that. Shannon also sends Bevan these inspirational videos, where he pulls his game to pieces and gives him a few tips on his play.

“We quite often put them on in team meetings and they are hilarious. As we were walking out of the cinema when we watched the film, our CEO Kris Radlinski pulled me to one side and said he thought we should bring him over. Keeping it from Bevan was obviously a challenge. But real credit goes to Rads. He gets what motivates players and inspires teams.”

But all-conquering Wigan have so many other motivations, not least iconic former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson who presented those shirts ahead of their latest date at the Theatre of Dreams. Peet, 40, said: “We reached out through a mutual friend. We just thought we were on the verge of something similar to when United won the Treble [in 1999]. Our challenge at the moment is continuing some decent success. Obviously playing at Old Trafford, the fact Sir Alex led his career developing homegrown talent and all his mentality really, we thought he’d be the perfect person. Fortunately we could make that happen.

“He was epic, as you could imagine. We hung on every word but it was more his presence: I have never seen the lads so quiet. A leader like that and a humble man like he was, you could hear the pin drop. I can never thank him enough for that.”

For all of French’s individual brilliance - which fittingly won him the inaugural Rob Burrow Award as man-of-the-match and bore remarkable similarities to the late Leeds legend's iconic 2011 Grand Final score - it was Wigan’s defensive resilience that saw them retain the title. Remarkably, they end an epic campaign having not conceded a try in their last FOUR games.

After their maiden Grand Final, Rovers boss Willie Peters conceded: “We just couldn’t get over the line. Wigan were outstanding. They defended their line extremely well and are champions for a reason. But this is just the start for us.”