 In Round 12 of the 2016 NRL season, French made his NRL debut against the Newcastle Knights, scoring a try in the 20-18 win at Hunter Stadium.In Round 15, against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, French scored his first double in the Eels 30-12 win at ANZ Stadium.In Round 17, against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, French scored his first hat trick of tries in the Eels 34-24 loss at Shark Park.