French began his career playing for amateur club Tingha Tigers, playing first team rugby at age 15. In 2013, he signed for Parramatta Eels in the NRL making his first team debut the year after. In 2019, he left Parramatta for Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW Cup where he played for six months before joining Wigan. Internationally, he has represented the Indigenous All Stars.
With Wigan, French has won three Super League Grand Finals 2023, and 2024, two Challenge Cup finals in 2022 and 2024, in addition to the World Club Challenge in 2024. The 2024 campaign saw him become the first player in British rugby league history to win Man of the Match in all three finals.
In 2015 and 2016, he played for the Eels' NYC team.[4] In 2015, he began the season at five-eighth, before moving back to fullback for the remainder of the year, finishing the season with 16 tries in 22 games.[5] On 11 July 2015, he re-signed with the Parramatta club on a three-year contract to the end of the 2018 season.[6]
On 10 February 2017, French represented the Indigenous All Stars against the World All Stars in the 2017 All Stars match, playing off the interchange bench in the 34-8 win at Hunter Stadium.[15] French played 16 games for Parramatta in the 2017 season scoring 9 tries but missed most of the season with a troubling hamstring injury. French injured himself just before the start of the finals series, Parramatta's first in eight seasons and missed both finals games against Melbourne and North Queensland.[16][17][18]
2018
French started the 2018 season at fullback ahead of Clint Gutherson who was still out with an injury and the returning Jarryd Hayne. In round 3 of the season, French injured his shoulder in the 14-4 loss to Cronulla and missed the following two games. He was then recalled to the side to face Canberra but was slammed by fans and the media after the match due to the fact that he only made one run for the whole game making 15 metres. French was dropped by coach Brad Arthur for the following week. French spoke of his demotion saying "We spoke about how my shoulder was going to be in pain going into the game and getting a needle before the game that was supposedly meant to numb it for six hours or something, But 15 minutes in I felt it. Because of that I didn't really get into the game and it was playing in the back of my mind, Injury did play a part in my poor performance but it was form as well. Brad pulled me into his office at training and sort of explained why I was dropped and I couldn't blame him, it was the right thing to do."[19]
On 2 June 2018, French was named at fullback for Parramatta's round 13 clash against Newcastle but was taken from the field only two minutes into the match due to a nasty head collision involving Newcastle player Kalyn Ponga.[20]
On 13 July 2018, Parramatta who were in last place on the ladder played against Newcastle and with 34 seconds remaining French crossed over to score the match winning try only for the decision to be overturned due to video replays showing French had put a foot into touch while grounding the ball. Newcastle held on to win the game 18-16.[21] On 7 August, French was demoted to reserve grade by coach Brad Arthur after a number of mixed performances. It came in the wake of French speaking to the media a week earlier declaring he was open to the idea of leaving Parramatta if he was not given a chance to play fullback.[22][23]
Wentworthville Magpies
2019
French playing for the Wentworthville Magpies in 2019
French was left out of the Parramatta's 2019 NRL squad, with head coach Brad Arthur selecting Blake Ferguson and Maika Sivo for wing and Clint Gutherson for fullback. This saw French play for Wentworthville Magpies, one of Parramatta's feeder clubs, during the first half on the 2019 season.
French made his debut appearance for Wigan against Hull KR coming off the bench in a 36-18 victory.[27]
2020
French played in the 2020 Super League Grand Final for Wigan which the club lost 8-4 against St Helens. With the scores at 4-4 and less than ten seconds on the clock, St Helens attempted a long range field goal which hit the right hand upright. The ball bounced past French and came into the hands of Jack Welsby who scored the winning try of the game.[28]
2021
After missing the opening three rounds of the 2021 Super League season, French returned for Wigan's round 4 match and scored two tries in a 22-12 victory over Castleford.[29]
French injured his hamstring in the round 7 match against Salford. French was initially ruled out for twelve weeks with a torn hamstring.[30]Wigan later put out a statement, on 28 June, clarifying that French’s injury was worse than first expected. He was ruled out for the 2021 Super League season and would return to Australia, to be with family during his rehabilitation. At the same time, French triggered a clause in his contract meaning that he would remain at the club for the 2022 season.[31]
In round 15 of the 2022 Super League season, French scored a hat-trick in Wigan's 30-12 victory over Salford.[33]
In round 18, French scored two tries for Wigan in a 20-18 loss against St Helens at Magic Weekend.[34]
The following week, French scored a Super League record seven tries in Wigan's 60-0 victory over Hull F.C. to overtake the six tries that Lesley Vainikolo scored against coincidentally Hull F.C. in 2005.[35]
In round 24, French scored another hat-trick in Wigan's 52-6 victory over Toulouse Olympique.[37] On 4 September, French made the Super League dream team.[38] French finished the regular season with 33 tries in 23 appearances for Wigan.
On 20 September 2022, Wigan confirmed that French had signed a new two-year contract with the club, keeping him at the club until 2024.
2023
In round 2 of the 2023 Super League season, French scored two tries for Wigan in a 60-0 victory over Wakefield Trinity.[39]
In round 5, French scored two tries as Wigan won a narrow game against Huddersfield 14-12.[40]
In Round 6, Wigan again had a French double to thank as they left it late to beat Salford at home.
French scored for Wigan in games against Leigh and Wakefield over the Easter period. In the Challenge Cup Last 16 away to Leeds the following week, French scored twice and crucially denied Harry Newman a certain try as Wigan came back to win 18-14.
On 24 February, French played in Wigan's 2024 World Club Challenge final victory over Penrith, and was awarded Man of the Match.[44] French scored Wigan's only try in their 12–4 Good Friday Derby defeat against St Helens.[45] On 3 April, French signed a new four-year deal with the club.[46]
On 8 June, French started for Wigan in 2024 Challenge Cup final. He scored one try in thr game (plus another ruled out by VR) in the 18–8 victory over Warrington, and was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match.[47] French finish the season with Wigan retaining both the League Leaders' Shield and Super League title, winning the Rob Burrow Award in the Grand Final, having scored the only try of the match.[48][49]Sky Sports praised French at the end of the season for consistent ability to change the course of a game with individual skill.[50]
The 2024 season saw French become the first player in British rugby league history to win both the Lance Todd Trophy and Harry Sunderland / Rob Burrow Award in the same season,[51] having done so also winning the Bill Ashurst medal in the 2024 World Club Challenge.[52]
Personal life
During his absence due to injury being midway through 2021 season, French returned home to Australia for his rehabilitation due to his mother's Motor Neurone Disease worsening. She died during this time. French was granted compassionate leave by Wigan, returning to the UK two months into the 2022 season.[53]
