PLAYING TO THE END
Jack Welsby and James Bentley celebrate as Thomas Leuluai looks on
80 MINUTES, 80 minutes, 80 minutes.
Down the years, coaches have drummed into players the need to keep going right until the bitter end, and just how relevant the old adage remains was highlighted by that amazing Grand Final finish.
Matchwinner Jack Welsby will never have to buy a drink in St Helens again – when the pubs reopen that is – but what on earth was Bevan French doing? The Wigan fullback could have had a picnic and still dealt with the bouncing ball in the aftermath of the Tommy Makinson field-goal attempt which hit the bar.
Bevan is a brilliant player, but he switched off at a crucial moment, and I’m surprised none of the Sky pundits mentioned it. I’m sure it won’t have gone unnoticed by Wigan fans.
Fair play to Saints and Jack though, because he spotted an opportunity and went for it.
At that stage of the match, like all the players, he must have been creamcrackered, but he had the energy and spirit to give chase and put Wigan under pressure, and it paid off with a crucial try.