Man of Steel Awards

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Steve Prescott Man Of Steel
Awarded forBest player of the Super League season
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byRugby Football League
History
First award1977
First winnerEngland David Ward
Most winsEngland Ellery Hanley (3)
Wigan Warriors (11)
Most recentAustralia Bevan French (Wigan Warriors) (2023)

The Steve Prescott Man of Steel Awards is an end-of-season awards dinner for the Super League rugby league competition. The event's name is taken from the main award presented, the Man of Steel award for the rugby league footballer of the year. In 2014, it was renamed after Steve Prescott.

The Steve Prescott Man of Steel award

Origins

The awards were started in 1977 when David Howes, the Rugby League's public relations officer, organised sponsorship worth £3,000 from Trumanns Steel Limited for awards in six different categories; Trumanns Man of Steel, Division One Player of the Year, Division Two Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Referee of the Year. The awards were voted on by the members of the rugby league press.[1] The first awards were made at the end of the 1976–77 season with the inaugural award winners being:[1]

In 2008, the voting for the award was changed, with the winner being chosen by the players of the Super League instead.[2] In 2019, in response to criticism that some players were not taking the voting seriously,[3] a panel of former rugby league players was chosen to determine the winner of the award. The voting was changed to a system similar to the Australian Dally M Medal, with points being awarded to the best performing players after each game (three points for the man of the match, two points for the runner-up, and one point for the third best player).[4]

Name change

Former England player Steve Prescott died of cancer in 2013, aged 39.[5] Following a short campaign, a petition with over 12,000 signatures was sent to the Rugby Football League, calling for the Man of Steel award to be renamed in Prescott's honour.[6] In March 2014, the RFL officially announced that the award would be called the "Steve Prescott Man of Steel" from the 2014 season onwards.[7]

Men of Steel

Year Nat Winner Club Position
1977 England David Ward Leeds Hooker
1978 England George Nicholls St. Helens Prop
1979 England Doug Laughton Widnes Loose forward
1980 Scotland George Fairbairn Wigan Fullback
1981 England Ken Kelly Warrington Scrum-half
1982 England Mick Morgan Carlisle Second-row
1983 England Allan Agar Featherstone Rovers Coach
1984 England Joe Lydon Widnes Wing, Fullback
1985 England Ellery Hanley Bradford Northern Stand-off
1986 Australia Gavin Miller Hull Kingston Rovers Loose forward
1987 England Ellery Hanley Wigan Stand-off
1988 England Martin Offiah Widnes Wing
1989 England Ellery Hanley Wigan Loose forward
1990 England Shaun Edwards Wigan Stand-off
1991 England Garry Schofield Leeds Stand-off
1992 New Zealand Dean Bell Wigan Centre
1993 England Andy Platt Wigan Prop
1994 Wales Jonathan Davies Warrington Centre
1995 England Denis Betts Wigan Second-row
1996 England Andy Farrell Wigan Loose forward
1997 England James Lowes Bradford Hooker
1998 Wales Iestyn Harris Leeds Fullback
1999 Australia Adrian Vowles Castleford Loose forward
2000 England Sean Long St. Helens Scrum-half
2001 England Paul Sculthorpe St. Helens Stand-off
2002 England Paul Sculthorpe St. Helens Loose forward
2003 England Jamie Peacock Bradford Second-row
2004 England Andy Farrell Wigan Prop, Second-row
2005 Australia Jamie Lyon St. Helens Centre
2006 England Paul Wellens St. Helens Fullback
2007 England James Roby St. Helens Hooker
2008 England James Graham St. Helens Prop
2009 Australia Brett Hodgson[8] Huddersfield Fullback
2010 Ireland Pat Richards Wigan Wing
2011 New Zealand Rangi Chase Castleford Stand-off
2012 England Sam Tomkins Wigan Fullback
2013 Scotland Danny Brough Huddersfield Scrum-half
2014 England Daryl Clark Castleford hooker
2015 England Zak Hardaker Leeds Fullback
2016 England Danny Houghton Hull Hooker
2017 England Luke Gale Castleford Scrum-half
2018 Australia Ben Barba St. Helens Fullback
2019 Australia Jackson Hastings Salford scrum-half, stand-off
2020 England Paul McShane Castleford scrum-half, hooker
2021 England Sam Tomkins Catalans Fullback
2022 Australia Brodie Croft Salford scrum-half
2023 Australia Bevan French Wigan stand-off

Multiple winners

Player Wins Winning Years
1 England Ellery Hanley 3 1985, 1987, 1989
2 England Paul Sculthorpe 2 2001, 2002
3 England Andy Farrell 2 1996, 2004
3 England Sam Tomkins 2 2012, 2021

Winners by club

Club Wins
1 Wigan Warriors 12
2 St. Helens 9
3 Castleford Tigers 5
4 Leeds Rhinos 4
5 Widnes Vikings 3
Bradford Bulls
7 Warrington Wolves 2
Huddersfield Giants
Salford Red Devils
9 Carlisle 1
Catalans Dragons
Featherstone Rovers
Hull F.C.
Hull Kingston Rovers

Winners by country

Nationality Wins
1  England 32
2  Australia 9
3  Scotland 2
4  Wales 2
5  New Zealand 2

Woman of Steel

In 2018 an additional category for the Woman of Steel from the Women's Super League was inaugurated.[9]

Year Winner Club
2018 England Georgia Roche Castleford Tigers
2019 Australia Courtney Hill Leeds Rhinos
2020 No award
2021 England Jodie Cunningham St. Helens
2022 England Tara-Jane Stanley York City Knights
2023 England Sinead Peach York Valkyrie

Wheels of Steel

In 2023 a new category for Wheels of Steel from the RFL Wheelchair Super League was inaugurated.[10]

Year Winner Club
2023 England Lewis King London Roosters

Other awards

Young Player of the Year

Year Winner Club
1996 Wales Keiron Cunningham St. Helens
1997 Wales Lee Briers Warrington Wolves
1998 England Lee Gilmour Wigan Warriors
1999 England Leon Pryce Bradford Bulls
2000 England Stuart Fielden Bradford Bulls
2001 England Rob Burrow Leeds Rhinos
2002 England Richard Horne Hull F.C.
2003 England Gareth Hock Wigan Warriors
2004 England Shaun Briscoe Hull F.C.
2005 England Richard Whiting Hull F.C.
2006 England James Graham St. Helens
2007 England Sam Burgess Bradford Bulls
2008 England Joe Westerman Castleford Tigers
2009 England Sam Tomkins Wigan Warriors
2010 England Sam Tomkins Wigan Warriors
2011 England Jonny Lomax St. Helens
2012 England Zak Hardaker Leeds Rhinos
2013 England Ben Crooks Hull F.C.
2014 England Daryl Clark Castleford Tigers
2015 England George Williams Wigan Warriors
2016 England Tom Johnstone Wakefield Trinity
2017 England Oliver Gildart Wigan Warriors
2018 England Jake Trueman Castleford Tigers
2019 England Matty Lees St. Helens
2020 England Harry Newman Leeds Rhinos
2021 England Jack Welsby St. Helens
2022 England Jack Welsby St. Helens
2023 England Josh Thewlis Warrington Wolves

Coach of the Year

Year Nat Winner Club
2009  Australia Nathan Brown Huddersfield Giants
2010  Australia Michael Maguire Wigan Warriors
2011  Australia Trent Robinson Catalans Dragons
2012  Australia Mick Potter Bradford Bulls
2013  England Paul Anderson Huddersfield Giants
2014  England Daryl Powell Castleford Tigers
2015  England Brian McDermott Leeds Rhinos
2016  England Lee Radford Hull F.C.
2017  England Daryl Powell Castleford Tigers
2018  England Shaun Wane Wigan Warriors
2019  Australia Justin Holbrook St. Helens
2020  Papua New Guinea Adrian Lam Wigan Warriors
2021  England Steve McNamara Catalans Dragons
2022  England Matt Peet Wigan Warriors
2023  Papua New Guinea Adrian Lam Leigh Leopards

Top Try Scorer

Year Winner Club Tries
1996 England Paul Newlove St. Helens 28
1997 New Zealand Nigel Vagana Warrington Wolves 17
1998 England Anthony Sullivan St. Helens 20
1999 Tonga Toa Kohe-Love Warrington Wolves 25
2000 England Sean Long
England Tommy Martyn
St. Helens 22
2001 England Kris Radlinski Wigan Warriors 27
2002 Australia Dennis Moran London Broncos 22
2003 Australia Dennis Moran London Broncos 24
2004 Tonga Lesley Vainikolo Bradford Bulls 36
2005 England Mark Calderwood Leeds Rhinos 27
2006 Australia Justin Murphy Catalans Dragons 25
2007 Samoa Henry Fa'afili Warrington Wolves 21
2008 England Ade Gardner St. Helens 26
2009 England Ryan Hall Leeds Rhinos 29
2010 Republic of Ireland Pat Richards Wigan Warriors 29
2011 England Ryan Hall
England Sam Tomkins
Leeds Rhinos
Wigan Warriors
28
2012 England Josh Charnley Wigan Warriors 31
2013 England Josh Charnley Wigan Warriors 33
2014 Australia Joel Monaghan Warrington Wolves 28
2015 England Jermaine McGillvary Huddersfield Giants 27
2016 New Zealand Denny Solomona Castleford Tigers 40
2017 England Greg Eden Castleford Tigers 38
2018 Australia Ben Barba St. Helens 28
2019 England Tommy Makinson St. Helens 23
2020 England Ash Handley Leeds Rhinos 14
2021 Australia Ken Sio Salford Red Devils 19
2022 Australia Bevan French Wigan Warriors 31
2023 England Tom Johnstone
Lebanon Abbas Miski
Catalans Dragons
Wigan Warriors
27

Top Points Scorer

Year Winner Club Points
1996 England Bobbie Goulding St. Helens 257
1997 England Andrew Farrell Wigan Warriors 243
1998 Wales Iestyn Harris Leeds Rhinos 255
1999 Wales Iestyn Harris Leeds Rhinos 325
2000 England Sean Long St. Helens 390
2001 England Andrew Farrell Wigan Warriors 388
2002 England Paul Deacon Bradford Bulls 301
2003 England Paul Deacon Bradford Bulls 286
2004 England Kevin Sinfield Leeds Rhinos 277
2005 England Paul Deacon Bradford Bulls 322
2006 England Jamie Lyon St. Helens 316
2007 Republic of Ireland Pat Richards Wigan Warriors 248
2008 Republic of Ireland Pat Richards Wigan Warriors 269
2009 Republic of Ireland Pat Richards Wigan Warriors 252
2010 Republic of Ireland Pat Richards Wigan Warriors 288
2011 England Jamie Foster St. Helens 330
2012 Australia Scott Dureau Catalans Dragons 281
2013 Scotland Danny Brough Huddersfield Giants 208
2014 England Marc Sneyd Castleford Tigers 224
2015 England Luke Gale Castleford Tigers 247
2016 England Luke Gale Castleford Tigers 262
2017 England Luke Gale Castleford Tigers 317
2018 England Danny Richardson St Helens 296
2019 Scotland Lachlan Coote St Helens 259
2020 Scotland Lachlan Coote St Helens 152
2021 Australia James Maloney Catalans Dragons 221
2022 England Tommy Makinson & Mark Sneyd St Helens / Salford 242
2023 England Stefan Ratchford Warrington Wolves 200

Top Metre Maker

Year Winner Club Metres
2003 Australia Craig Greenhill Hull F.C. 3,594
2004 Greece Michael Korkidas Wakefield Trinity 4,084
2005 England Terry O'Connor Widnes Vikings 4,104
2006 Australia Danny Nutley Castleford Tigers 3,372
2007 England James Roby St. Helens 3,303
2008 England James Graham St. Helens 3,774
2009 England James Graham St. Helens 4,752
2010 England James Graham St. Helens 4,036
2011 England James Roby St. Helens 5,000
2012 England James Roby St. Helens 3,971
2013 England Jamie Peacock Leeds Rhinos 4,040
2014 England Matty Russell Warrington Wolves 3,546
2015 England Alex Walmsley St. Helens 4,092
2016 England Chris Hill Warrington Wolves 3,983
2017 England Alex Walmsley St. Helens 4,256
2018 Tonga Bill Tupou Wakefield Trinity 4,114
2019 England Tommy Makinson St. Helens 3,803
2020 England Ash Handley Leeds Rhinos 2,541
2021 England Tom Davies Catalans Dragons 3,332
2022 England Ash Handley Leeds Rhinos 3,646
2023 Australia Tom Amone Leigh Leopards 3,467

Hit Man

The player making most tackles in the regular season.

Year Winner Club Tackles
2009 England Malcolm Alker Salford Red Devils 981
2010 Australia Dallas Johnson Catalans Dragons 1,106
2011 England Danny Houghton Hull F.C. 1,060
2012 England Danny Washbrook Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 991
2013 England Danny Houghton Hull F.C. 1,179
2015 England James Roby St. Helens 1,054
2016 England Danny Houghton Hull F.C. 1,359
2017 England Danny Houghton Hull F.C. 1,123
2018 England Paul McShane Castleford Tigers 1,160
2019 England Danny Houghton Hull F.C. 1,259
2020 England Michael Lawrence Huddersfield Giants 749
2021 England Joe Shorrocks Wigan Warriors 833
2022 England Danny Houghton Hull F.C. 1,031
2023 Australia Luke Yates Huddersfield Giants 1,027

Club of the Year

Year Club
2009 Huddersfield Giants
2010 Wigan Warriors
2011 Huddersfield Giants
2012 Wigan Warriors
2013 St. Helens
2014 Widnes Vikings
2015 Leeds Rhinos
2016 Hull F.C.
2017 Castleford Tigers
2018 Warrington Wolves
  • The Mike Gregory Spirit of Rugby League Award - Both players and non-players are eligible to receive the award, which will be judged by a panel from the governing body.
  • Fairplay Index Award for Super League
  • The Community Player of the year

Special awards

  • The ‘200 Club’ - retiring players who have played in over 200 games.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "The birth of Rugby League's 'Man of Steel'". Rugby League Journal. No. 62. Spring 2018. p. 7.
  2. ^ Wilson, Andy (8 August 2008). "Players not necessarily best judge of Steel". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Some players mock of Man of Steel voting with bizarre votes". Total Rugby League. League Publications. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Man of Steel Panel Announced". Rugby Football League. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  5. ^ BBC Sport, "Rugby League star Steve Prescott dies of stomach cancer, aged 39", 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013
  6. ^ Campbell, James (19 February 2014). "'Man of Steel Steve Prescott Award' petition handed into Rugby League HQ in honour of Hull FC legend". Hull Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 29 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Man of Steel award to be re-named in memory of the late Steve Prescott". Sky Sports. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Man of Steel on SLTV". Super League. 2009-10-06. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  9. ^ "Woman of Steel: Lois Forsell, Tara-Jane Stanley and Georgia Roche on shortlist". BBC Sport. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Bevan French: Wigan Warriors stand-off wins 2023 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award". BBC Sport. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.

External links