Man of Steel Awards

Annual award for Super League's player of the season in rugby league

Steve Prescott Man Of Steel

Awarded for| Best player of the Super League season
Country| United Kingdom
Presented by| Rugby Football League
History
First award| 1977
First winner|  David Ward
Most wins|  Ellery Hanley (3)
Wigan Warriors (11)
Most recent|  Mikey Lewis (Hull KR) (2024)

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

[edit]

### Origins

[edit]

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]

* Trumanns Man of Steel \- David Ward, Leeds
* Division One Player of the Year \- Malcolm Reilly, Castleford
* Division Two Player of the Year \- Ged Marsh, Blackpool Borough
* Young Player of the Year \- David Ward, Leeds
* Coach of the Year \- Eric Ashton, St Helens
* Referee of the Year \- Billy Thompson

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

[edit]

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]

## Man of Steel

[edit]

Year | Nat | Winner | Club | Position

|
|
|
|

1977 |  | David Ward |  Leeds | Hooker
1978 |  | George Nicholls |  St. Helens | Prop
1979 |  | Doug Laughton |  Widnes | Loose forward
1980 |  | George Fairbairn |  Wigan | Fullback
1981 |  | Ken Kelly |  Warrington | Scrum-half
1982 |  | Mick Morgan | Carlisle | Second-row
1983 |  | Allan Agar |  Featherstone Rovers | Coach
1984 |  | Joe Lydon |  Widnes | Wing, Fullback
1985 |  | Ellery Hanley |  Bradford Northern | Stand-off
1986 |  | Gavin Miller | Hull Kingston Rovers | Loose forward
1987 |  | Ellery Hanley |  Wigan | Stand-off
1988 |  | Martin Offiah |  Widnes | Wing
1989 |  | Ellery Hanley |  Wigan | Loose forward
1990 |  | Shaun Edwards |  Wigan | Stand-off
1991 |  | Garry Schofield |  Leeds | Stand-off
1992 |  | Dean Bell |  Wigan | Centre
1993 |  | Andy Platt |  Wigan | Prop
1994 |  | Jonathan Davies |  Warrington | Centre
1995 |  | Denis Betts |  Wigan | Second-row
1996 |  | Andy Farrell |  Wigan | Loose forward
1997 |  | James Lowes |  Bradford | Hooker
1998 |  | Iestyn Harris |  Leeds | Fullback
1999 |  | Adrian Vowles |  Castleford | Loose forward
2000 |  | Sean Long |  St. Helens | Scrum-half
2001 |  | Paul Sculthorpe |  St. Helens | Stand-off
2002 |  | Paul Sculthorpe |  St. Helens | Loose forward
2003 |  | Jamie Peacock |  Bradford | Second-row
2004 |  | Andy Farrell |  Wigan | Prop, Second-row
2005 |  | Jamie Lyon |  St. Helens | Centre
2006 |  | Paul Wellens |  St. Helens | Fullback
2007 |  | James Roby |  St. Helens | Hooker
2008 |  | James Graham |  St. Helens | Prop
2009 |  | Brett Hodgson[8] |  Huddersfield | Fullback
2010 |  | Pat Richards |  Wigan | Wing
2011 |  | Rangi Chase |  Castleford | Stand-off
2012 |  | Sam Tomkins |  Wigan | Fullback
2013 |  | Danny Brough |  Huddersfield | Scrum-half
2014 |  | Daryl Clark |  Castleford | hooker
2015 |  | Zak Hardaker |  Leeds | Fullback
2016 |  | Danny Houghton |  Hull | Hooker
2017 |  | Luke Gale |  Castleford | Scrum-half
2018 |  | Ben Barba |  St. Helens | Fullback
2019 |  | Jackson Hastings |  Salford | scrum-half, stand-off
2020 |  | Paul McShane |  Castleford | scrum-half, hooker
2021 |  | Sam Tomkins |  Catalans | Fullback
2022 |  | Brodie Croft |  Salford | scrum-half
2023 |  | Bevan French |  Wigan | stand-off
2024 |  | Mikey Lewis |  Hull KR | scrum-half

### Multiple winners

[edit]

| Player  | Wins  | Winning Years

|
|
|

1 |  Ellery Hanley | 3 | 1985, 1987, 1989
2 |  Paul Sculthorpe | 2 | 2001, 2002
3 |  Andy Farrell | 2 | 1996, 2004
3  |  Sam Tomkins | 2  | 2012, 2021

### Winners by club

[edit]

| 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
Hull Kingston Rovers
Salford Red Devils
9 | Carlisle | 1
Catalans Dragons
Featherstone Rovers
Hull F.C.

### Winners by country

[edit]

| Nationality  | Wins

|
|

1 |  England | 33
2 |  Australia | 9
3 |  Scotland | 2
4 |  Wales | 2
5 |  New Zealand | 2

## Woman of Steel

[edit]

Main article: 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  |  Georgia Roche |  Castleford Tigers
2019  |  Courtney Hill |  Leeds Rhinos
2020  | No award
2021  |  Jodie Cunningham |  St. Helens
2022  |  Tara-Jane Stanley |  York City Knights
2023  |  Sinead Peach |  York Valkyrie
2024  |  Georgie Hetherington |  York Valkyrie

## Wheels of Steel

[edit]

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

Year | Winner | Club

|
|

2023  |  Lewis King | London Roosters
2024  |  Joshua Butler  | Leeds Rhinos

## Other awards

[edit]

### Young Player of the Year

[edit]

Year | Winner | Club

|
|

1996  |  Keiron Cunningham |  St. Helens
1997  |  Lee Briers |  Warrington Wolves
1998  |  Lee Gilmour |  Wigan Warriors
1999  |  Leon Pryce |  Bradford Bulls
2000  |  Stuart Fielden |  Bradford Bulls
2001  |  Rob Burrow |  Leeds Rhinos
2002  |  Richard Horne |  Hull F.C.
2003  |  Gareth Hock |  Wigan Warriors
2004  |  Shaun Briscoe |  Hull F.C.
2005  |  Richard Whiting |  Hull F.C.
2006  |  James Graham |  St. Helens
2007  |  Sam Burgess |  Bradford Bulls
2008  |  Joe Westerman |  Castleford Tigers
2009  |  Sam Tomkins |  Wigan Warriors
2010  |  Sam Tomkins |  Wigan Warriors
2011  |  Jonny Lomax |  St. Helens
2012  |  Zak Hardaker |  Leeds Rhinos
2013  |  Ben Crooks |  Hull F.C.
2014  |  Daryl Clark |  Castleford Tigers
2015  |  George Williams |  Wigan Warriors
2016  |  Tom Johnstone |  Wakefield Trinity
2017  |  Oliver Gildart |  Wigan Warriors
2018  |  Jake Trueman |  Castleford Tigers
2019  |  Matty Lees |  St. Helens
2020  |  Harry Newman |  Leeds Rhinos
2021  |  Jack Welsby |  St. Helens
2022  |  Jack Welsby |  St. Helens
2023  |  Josh Thewlis |  Warrington Wolves
2024  | / Junior Nsemba |  Wigan Warriors

### Coach of the Year

[edit]

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
2024  |  Australia | Willie Peters |  Hull KR

### Top Try Scorer

[edit]

Year | Winner | Club | Tries

|
|
|

1996  |  Paul Newlove |  St. Helens | 28
1997  |  Nigel Vagana |  Warrington Wolves | 17
1998  |  Anthony Sullivan |  St. Helens | 20
1999  |  Toa Kohe-Love |  Warrington Wolves | 25
2000  |  Sean Long
Tommy Martyn |  St. Helens | 22
2001  |  Kris Radlinski |  Wigan Warriors | 27
2002  |  Dennis Moran |  London Broncos | 22
2003  |  Dennis Moran |  London Broncos | 24
2004  |  Lesley Vainikolo |  Bradford Bulls | 36
2005  |  Mark Calderwood |  Leeds Rhinos | 27
2006  |  Justin Murphy |  Catalans Dragons | 25
2007  |  Henry Fa'afili |  Warrington Wolves | 21
2008  |  Ade Gardner |  St. Helens | 26
2009  |  Ryan Hall |  Leeds Rhinos | 29
2010  |  Pat Richards |  Wigan Warriors | 29
2011  |  Ryan Hall
Sam Tomkins |  Leeds Rhinos
Wigan Warriors | 28
2012  |  Josh Charnley |  Wigan Warriors | 31
2013  |  Josh Charnley |  Wigan Warriors | 33
2014  |  Joel Monaghan |  Warrington Wolves | 28
2015  |  Jermaine McGillvary |  Huddersfield Giants | 27
2016  |  Denny Solomona |  Castleford Tigers | 40
2017  |  Greg Eden |  Castleford Tigers | 38
2018  |  Ben Barba |  St. Helens | 28
2019  |  Tommy Makinson |  St. Helens | 23
2020  |  Ash Handley |  Leeds Rhinos | 14
2021  |  Ken Sio |  Salford Red Devils | 19
2022  |  Bevan French |  Wigan Warriors | 31
2023  |  Tom Johnstone
Abbas Miski |  Catalans Dragons
Wigan Warriors | 27
2024  |  Liam Marshall |  Wigan Warriors | 27

### Top Points Scorer

[edit]

Year | Winner | Club | Points

|
|
|

1996  |  Bobbie Goulding |  St. Helens | 257
1997  |  Andrew Farrell |  Wigan Warriors | 243
1998  |  Iestyn Harris |  Leeds Rhinos | 255
1999  |  Iestyn Harris |  Leeds Rhinos | 325
2000  |  Sean Long |  St. Helens | 390
2001  |  Andrew Farrell |  Wigan Warriors | 388
2002  |  Paul Deacon |  Bradford Bulls | 301
2003  |  Paul Deacon |  Bradford Bulls | 286
2004  |  Kevin Sinfield |  Leeds Rhinos | 277
2005  |  Paul Deacon |  Bradford Bulls | 322
2006  |  Jamie Lyon |  St. Helens | 316
2007  |  Pat Richards |  Wigan Warriors | 248
2008  |  Pat Richards |  Wigan Warriors | 269
2009  |  Pat Richards |  Wigan Warriors | 252
2010  |  Pat Richards |  Wigan Warriors | 288
2011  |  Jamie Foster |  St. Helens | 330
2012  |  Scott Dureau |  Catalans Dragons | 281
2013  |  Danny Brough |  Huddersfield Giants | 208
2014  |  Marc Sneyd |  Castleford Tigers | 224
2015  |  Luke Gale |  Castleford Tigers | 247
2016  |  Luke Gale |  Castleford Tigers | 262
2017  |  Luke Gale |  Castleford Tigers | 317
2018  |  Danny Richardson |  St Helens | 296
2019  |  Lachlan Coote |  St Helens | 259
2020  |  Lachlan Coote |  St Helens | 152
2021  |  James Maloney |  Catalans Dragons | 221
2022  |  Tommy Makinson & Mark Sneyd |  St Helens /  Salford | 242
2023  |  Stefan Ratchford |  Warrington Wolves | 200
2024  |  Mikey Lewis |  Hull KR | 216

### Top Metre Maker

[edit]

Year | Winner | Club | Metres

|
|
|

2003  |  Craig Greenhill |  Hull F.C. | 3,594
2004  |  Michael Korkidas |  Wakefield Trinity | 4,084
2005  |  Terry O'Connor |  Widnes Vikings | 4,104
2006  |  Danny Nutley |  Castleford Tigers | 3,372
2007  |  James Roby |  St. Helens | 3,303
2008  |  James Graham |  St. Helens | 3,774
2009  |  James Graham |  St. Helens | 4,752
2010  |  James Graham |  St. Helens | 4,036
2011  |  James Roby |  St. Helens | 5,000
2012  |  James Roby |  St. Helens | 3,971
2013  |  Jamie Peacock |  Leeds Rhinos | 4,040
2014  |  Matty Russell |  Warrington Wolves | 3,546
2015  |  Alex Walmsley |  St. Helens | 4,092
2016  |  Chris Hill |  Warrington Wolves | 3,983
2017  |  Alex Walmsley |  St. Helens | 4,256
2018  |  Bill Tupou |  Wakefield Trinity | 4,114
2019  |  Tommy Makinson |  St. Helens | 3,803
2020  |  Ash Handley |  Leeds Rhinos | 2,541
2021  |  Tom Davies |  Catalans Dragons | 3,332
2022  |  Ash Handley |  Leeds Rhinos | 3,646
2023  |  Tom Amone |  Leigh Leopards | 3,467
2024  |  Matthew Dufty |  Warrington Wolves | 4,234

### Hit Man

[edit]

The player making most tackles in the regular season.

Year | Winner | Club | Tackles

|
|
|

2009  |  Malcolm Alker |  Salford Red Devils | 981
2010  |  Dallas Johnson |  Catalans Dragons | 1,106
2011  |  Danny Houghton |  Hull F.C. | 1,060
2012  |  Danny Washbrook |  Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 991
2013  |  Danny Houghton |  Hull F.C. | 1,179
2015  |  James Roby |  St. Helens | 1,054
2016  |  Danny Houghton |  Hull F.C. | 1,359
2017  |  Danny Houghton |  Hull F.C. | 1,123
2018  |  Paul McShane |  Castleford Tigers | 1,160
2019  |  Danny Houghton |  Hull F.C. | 1,259
2020  |  Michael Lawrence |  Huddersfield Giants | 749
2021  |  Joe Shorrocks |  Wigan Warriors | 833
2022  |  Danny Houghton |  Hull F.C. | 1,031
2023  |  Luke Yates |  Huddersfield Giants | 1,027
2024  |  Cameron Smith |  Leeds Rhinos | 992

### Club of the Year

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

## See also

[edit]

* Sports portal

* Dally M Medal
* Lance Todd Trophy
* Harry Sunderland Trophy
* Albert Goldthorpe Medal
* Woman of Steel

## References

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Man of Steel Award at rlhalloffame.org.uk
* Man of Steel Award at superleague.co.uk

* v
* t
* e

Man of Steel Award

* 1977 David Ward
* 1978 George Nicholls
* 1979 Doug Laughton
* 1980 George Fairbairn
* 1981 Ken Kelly
* 1982 Mick Morgan
* 1983 Allan Agar
* 1984 Joe Lydon
* 1985 Ellery Hanley
* 1986 Gavin Miller
* 1987 Ellery Hanley
* 1988 Martin Offiah
* 1989 Ellery Hanley
* 1990 Shaun Edwards
* 1991 Garry Schofield
* 1992 Dean Bell
* 1993 Andy Platt
* 1994 Jonathan Davies
* 1995 Denis Betts
* 1996 Andy Farrell
* 1997 James Lowes
* 1998 Iestyn Harris
* 1999 Adrian Vowles
* 2000 Sean Long
* 2001 Paul Sculthorpe
* 2002 Paul Sculthorpe
* 2003 Jamie Peacock
* 2004 Andy Farrell
* 2005 Jamie Lyon
* 2006 Paul Wellens
* 2007 James Roby
* 2008 James Graham
* 2009 Brett Hodgson
* 2010 Pat Richards
* 2011 Rangi Chase
* 2012 Sam Tomkins
* 2013 Danny Brough
* 2014 Daryl Clark
* 2015 Zak Hardaker
* 2016 Danny Houghton
* 2017 Luke Gale
* 2018 Ben Barba
* 2019 Jackson Hastings
* 2020 Paul McShane
* 2021 Sam Tomkins
* 2022 Brodie Croft
* 2023 Bevan French
* 2024 Mikey Lewis

* v
* t
* e

Super League

Current teams|

* Castleford Tigers
* Catalans Dragons
* Huddersfield Giants
* Hull F.C.
* Hull Kingston Rovers
* Leeds Rhinos
* Leigh Leopards
* Salford Red Devils
* St Helens
* Wakefield Trinity
* Warrington Wolves
* Wigan Warriors

Former teams|

* Bradford Bulls
* Crusaders
* Gateshead Thunder
* Halifax Panthers
* London Broncos
* Oldham Bears
* Paris Saint Germain
* Sheffield Eagles
* Toronto Wolfpack
* Toulouse Olympique
* Widnes Vikings
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Seasons|

* 1996
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* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Season results|

* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
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* 2001
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* 2003
* 2004
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* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Grand Finals|

* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Major events|

* World Club Challenge
* Magic Weekend
* Play-offs
* Grand Final
* IMG Grading
* Rugby League Las Vegas

Awards|

* Albert Goldthorpe Medal
* League Leaders' Shield
* Man of Steel Awards
* Harry Sunderland Trophy
* Rob Burrow Award
* Super League Dream Team
* Fair Play Index

Related articles|

* Rugby Football League Championship
* Super League war
* Super League Show
* Licensing
* 2009–11
* 2012–14
* Super 8s
* Million Pound Game
* International Origin
* Quota players
* Dual registration
* Super League records
* Players with 100+ tries
* Players with 1,000+ points
* List of venues
* List of club owners
* Women's Super League

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