Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors & St Helens legends to choose 2026 Man of Steel
Former Leeds player Ellery Hanley is on a new panel to choose the next Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel.
Rhinos scrum-half Jake Connor received the award in 2025, but this year’s honour will be decided by a new process involving former winners Hanley, Joe Lydon, Paul Sculthorpe, James Roby and Sam Tomkins. Over the past six seasons former players awarded points to the three best performers in every men’s Betfred Super League game and totals were tallied up over the campaign, with a weekly leaderboard published up until round 15. A shortlist was announced at the end of the regular season with the eventual being confirmed at the sport’s annual awards dinner during Grand Final week.
Under the new format, the five-man panel will meet after rounds nine, 18 and 27, to evaluate the competition’s leading performers. A shortlist of the leading performers will be announced following each meeting.
Hanley is the only three-time Man of Steel, having won it as a Wigan player in 1985, 1987 and 1989, while Sculthorpe took the trophy back-to-back in 2001 and 2002. Lydon won the award in 1984, when he was at Widnes; ex-St Helens hero Roby was the 2007 Man of Steel and Tomkins was chosen in 2012 when he was with Wigan and nine years later, as a Catalans Dragons player.
An RFL statement said: “The panel will have scope to adopt a holistic approach to ascertaining who is the best player of the Super League season, taking into account not just individual performance data such as assists, tries scored and metres made, but leadership, consistency and game-defining moments in both defence and attack.” RL Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones added: “I would like to put on record my personal thanks to the long list of ex-players who have provided their expertise and time over the last six seasons to determine the sport’s most prestigious individual award.
“A refreshed approach to determine the Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award demonstrates the need to refine our processes from time to time. I am looking forward to hearing the five panellists discuss their thoughts on the outstanding performers throughout the season.”