HUDDERSFIELD Giants rugby league star Jason Chan is backing his good mate Gareth Thomas to win tonight’s Celebrity Big Brother final.

Wales rugby legend Thomas is up against Denise Welch, Michael Madsen, Frankie Cocozza and Hollywood Playmate twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon to win Channel Five’s popular reality TV programme.

Thomas has been a big hit with all of his fellow housemates and survived a public vote on Wednesday night.

His pal Chan joined the Giants at the end of last season after spending the previous two years as a teammate of Thomas at Wrexham-based Crusaders RL.

And Chan, who will make his Giants Super League debut at Wigan Warriors next Sunday, is not surprised that Thomas is making such a positive impression.

“As soon as I heard Alfie (as he is known throughout the rugby world) was going into the Big Brother house, I knew he’d do well,” said Papua New Guinea international Chan.

“In fact, I was really tempted to put some money on him to win, because I know he can.

“Alfie’s done really well from the start. He’s just being himself and comes across as the genuine man which all his mates know he is.

“Over the two seasons I was at Crusaders, I got to know him very well and we still keep in touch.

“We regularly had coffees together at the gym and went to the movies and, as well as being a good talker, he always listens to what you have to say, and that’s because he always treats everyone with the utmost respect.

“All in all, he’s just an all-round good bloke, who I’m backing all the way to win tonight.”

Thomas, the most capped player in Wales rugby union history, who admitted he was gay in 2008, is famous for his unusual celebration technique: he slaps his head when he scores a try.

And Chan knows a Thomas victory would be good for rugby league.

“Alfie’s an official ambassador for next year’s Rugby League World Cup over here, and just think how much good a win for him tonight would be for the competition.

“He would have been a good ambassador anyway, but with his profile even bigger, it would be a fantastic way to spread the rugby league word throughout the UK.

“So tonight’s not just important for Alfie, but for our game in general.”

Twelve celebrities entered the Big Brother house on January 5 this year.

During his time on the show Big Brother sent Gareth on a secret mission to motivate each housemate with a one-on-one pep talk. He was successful and, as a reward, received a letter from home.