After travelling 24 and 30 hours respectively to see Bevan French, the Wigan superstar’s uncle and brother were given strict instructions to hide from him.
The scene was the Cottons Hotel in Knutsford on the eve of the Super League grand final at Old Trafford, where Wigan would attempt to become the first team of the Super League era to clinch four trophies in a calendar year.
“We were hiding,” French’s Perth-domiciled brother Dion - in the Northern Hemisphere for just four nights before returning on Monday - told NRL.com.
“We landed a day before they got (to the hotel), obviously spent a day there. The next day they had their presentation there. We had to hide in the room."
For 28-year-old Tingha-raised Bevan, it would already be an extraordinary night with Sir Alex Ferguson addressing the team - until, curiously, his club seemed to have forgotten him.
“It goes in number order and mine was skipped,” said the man who sliced between two defenders and then skinned the cover defence to snatch the only try of Wigan’s 9-2 win.
“I thought my number got rearranged or something. I didn’t know what was going on, really.
”And then at the end the coach said ‘we’ve got a special guest to present your jersey’ so in came the boys.”
French was on the verge of tears on television at full-time in an intense, brutal clash played out in front of 68,173 in which he became the first recipient of the newly renamed Rob Burrow Medal as player of the match, also making him the first to be named best-on-ground in both the Challenge Cup final and Super League grand final in the same year.
“Shannon sends Bevan these inspirational videos - he pulls Bevan’s game to pieces and gives him a few tips on his play,” said Peet.
“And we quite often put them on in team meetings. They’re hilarious. I don’t know if they’re meant to be... it’s a real highlight of the week when we all have a giggle at the messages.
“Kris Radlinksi, the CEO, pulled me to one said and said, ‘I think we should bring them over’.”
French again struggled to contain his emotions at the post-match media conference which Dion and Shannon attended, the latter even tossing up a question: ‘who is your favourite uncle’ (“Not you!” French responded with a grin.)
“Obviously being away all year from your family is tough, all the sacrifices. I miss them all year.
“I was glad they got to experience this. Last time my uncle came over, he said it was the trip of a lifetime for him so just opening up doors and getting to share these experiences with my family is something that I’ll remember forever.
“It’s something we’ll talk about for years to come. Winning big games and finals, this one is extra special with them being here.”
Re-signed with Wigan in April to extend his exile from his family in Australia for a further four years had been a wrench, French admitted.
“That’s why I got quite emotional about it,” he explained.
“Obviously I wouldn’t have made that decision if I wasn’t happy with the progress I’ve been making here … not only on the pitch but as a person.
“Being surrounded by great people every day, you start to become … all the people we’ve got around the club … all lovely people. It’s an honour to work there every day.”
French’s brother said of his decision to stay: “It comes down to what makes him happy and we know he’s happy here. It’s not hard to tell.”
Wigan's achievement was labelled a Grand Slam, evoking the feats of Hunslet in 1907-08, Huddersfield in 1914-15, Swinton in 1927-28 and the cherry-and-whites themselves in 1994-95.
In the first three of these, of course, there was no World Club Challenge with county trophies accounting for the fourth piece of silverware.
Discussing the involvement of Ferguson - one of the most famous sports coaches of all time - Peet explained: “We reached out through a mutual friend.
“We just thought we were on the verge of something similar to when (Manchester United) won the treble.
“Obviously Sir Alex … well, it’s Old Trafford, the fact he’s based his career on developing home grown talent; all his mentality, we thought he’d be the perfect person.
“It was epic. As you can imagine, they hung on every word but it was mainly his presence. I’ve never seen the lads so quiet.
“A humble man like he is as well. You could hear a pin drop.”
Peet then asked Uncle Shannon if he’d managed to meet Ferguson and “give him a few tips”.
At the end of formalities, Bevan walked to the back of the media conference room Ferguson had once inhabited and embraced his kin. French’s try might have been a surprise to Hull KR and their coach Willie Peters but not to Uncle Shannon.
“We knew he was building something. He was just picking his time and his place and then ‘bang’. Knowing how he plays….” Shannon said.
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“We come from a small community of 800 people and he’s put us on the map.”
Dion French - like Bevan once on Parramatta’s books - summed up his brother’s essence when he lamented they had never played organised rugby league together - but plenty of times in the backyard.
“He takes the backyard footy to be big stage.”
And as he returns home on Monday, the moment he walked into that function room to present Bevan’s jersey will be replayed in Uncle Shannon’s head during his 24-hour commute.
“He was shocked. He didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t run, anyway.
“He could tonight.”
