Leeds Rhinos news: Jake Connor named Man of Steel after outstanding debut season
Leeds Rhinos’ Jake Connor has won Super League’s top individual honour.
The scrum-half, who joined Rhinos from Huddersfield Giants in pre-season, was tonight (Tuesday) named Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel. He is only the fifth Leeds player to win the award in its 48-year history, after David Ward (1977), Garry Schofield (1991), Iestyn Harris (1998) and Zak Hardaker (2015).
The Man of Steel trophy is determined by a panel of former players who award points after every match in the regular season, Connor was one of three Leeds players honoured at rugby league’s awards night at Deansgate Hilton in Manchester.
Hooker Jarrod O’Connor was recognised as Super League’s top tackler, with 1,047 in 26 regular-season appearances. Outside-back Jack Smith received the Betfred Championship young player of the year trophy for his performances on loan at London Broncos.
Willie Peters, of Hull KR, retained the Super League coach of the year award, chosen by a poll of the 12 top-flight team bosses. St Helens centre Harry Robertson, 20, was chosen by the RFL’s performance and talent department as Super League young player of 2025.
Wigan completed a clean sweep of Women’s Super League honours with Denis Betts named coach of the year, Eva Hunter winning Woman of Steel and Isabel Rowe receiving the young player award.
Wheelchair Super League’s Wheels of Steel award went to Joe Coyd of London Roosters. His older brother Tom received the coach of the year prize and Halifax Panthers’ Finlay O’Neill, 20, was young player of the year.
York Knights’ 35-year-old hooker Paul McShane won the Championship player of the year award, five years after being named Man of Steel during his time at Castleford Tigers. York’s former Wakefield Trinity boss Mark Applegarth was voted the Championship’s top coach.
The Betfred League One player of the year accolade was shared between Lewis Else, of Rochdale Hornets and Workington Town’s Zarrin Galea; the young player prize went to Louie Roberts, of Swinton Lions and North Wales Crusaders’ Carl Forster was named the third tier’s top coach. All six awards in Betfred Championship and League One are decided by a poll of the head coaches in each competition.
Tributes were paid to a number of players who have announced their retirement after making more than 200 Super League appearances: Leroy Cudjoe, Chris Hill, Oliver Holmes, Craig Kopczak, Michael Lawrence, Michael McIlorum, Stefan Ratchford, Sam Tomkins, Jordan Turner and Kris Welham, alongside coaches John Kear and Brian Noble.
Hull FC’s Lewis Martin and Dani McGifford, of St Helens, were the men’s and women’s Super League top try scorers.