Four Leeds Rhinos players are in contention to be nominated for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award, but none features on a shortlist from the final third of the season.

Wigan Warriors’ Adam Keighran took top spot in the latest round of voting, based on performances in Betfred Super League rounds 19 to 27. His teammates Bevan French and Brad O’Neill were second and third and another Wigan man, Jai Field, shared fourth place with Umyla Hanley of Leigh Leopards.

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The shortlist was drawn up by a panel of former Man of Steel winners comprising Ellery Hanley, Sam Tomkins, James Roby, Joe Lydon and Paul Sculthorpe. Umyla Hanley and O’Neill also both featured when panellists made their calls for rounds 10-18. Rhinos’ Lachie Miller was top in the first phase of voting while clubmates Jake Connor and Ash Handley shared pole position based on the middle third of the campaign.

Ash Handley is one of four Leeds Rhinos players in contention to become 2026 Man of Steel. Picture by Paul Currie/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Ash Handley is one of four Leeds Rhinos players in contention to become 2026 Man of Steel. Picture by Paul Currie/SWpix.com.

Players who have been on any of the three shortlists go into the mix for the award. They are Miller, Brodie Croft, Connor, Handley (all Rhinos), O’Neill, French, Field, Keighran (all Wigan), Jez Litten, Tyrone May (both Hull KR), Hanley (Leigh) and Daryl Clark (St Helens).

The panel will now decide on a final trio to encompass the whole season before the overall winner is announced at rugby league’s awards night in Manchester on Tuesday, September 29.