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Man of Steel Awards
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
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.
Key Information
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 in 2013 aged just 39, clear of cancer after multi visceral transplant complications. He raised many thousands of pounds for charity,.[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]
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]Winners by country
[edit]| Nationality | Wins | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | England |
34 |
| 2 |  Australia |
9 |
| 3 |  Scotland |
2 |
| 4 |  Wales |
2 |
| 5 |  New Zealand |
2 |
Woman of Steel
[edit]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 Valkyrie
|
| 2023 | Sinead Peach
| |
| 2024 | Georgie Hetherington
| |
| 2025 | Eva Hunter
|
 Wigan Warriors
|
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 |
| 2025 | Joe Coyd
|
London Roosters |
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
|
| 2025 | Australia
|
Willie Peters | Hull KR
|
Women's Coach of the Year
[edit]| Year | Nat | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | England
|
Denis Betts | Wigan Warriors
|
Top Try Scorer
[edit]
Top Points Scorer
[edit]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]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "The birth of Rugby League's 'Man of Steel'". Rugby League Journal. No. 62. Spring 2018. p. 7.
- ^ Wilson, Andy (8 August 2008). "Players not necessarily best judge of Steel". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- ^ "Some players mock of Man of Steel voting with bizarre votes". Total Rugby League. League Publications. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- ^ "Man of Steel Panel Announced". Rugby Football League. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- ^ BBC Sport, "Rugby League star Steve Prescott dies of stomach cancer, aged 39", 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Man of Steel award to be re-named in memory of the late Steve Prescott". Sky Sports. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ "Man of Steel on SLTV". Super League. 2009-10-06. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
- ^ "Woman of Steel: Lois Forsell, Tara-Jane Stanley and Georgia Roche on shortlist". BBC Sport. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "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 Awards
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Awards are a series of annual accolades presented at the Rugby League Awards ceremony to honor outstanding performers in the Betfred Super League, the premier professional rugby league competition in the United Kingdom. The headline Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Award recognizes the most outstanding player across the regular season.[1] Inaugurated in 1977, it is determined by a panel of 21 former players who award points after each match: 3 points for their man of the match, 2 for the runner-up, and 1 for the third-placed player.[2] The winner is announced at the Rugby League Awards ceremony in October, following the regular season, with the top three shortlisted players revealed beforehand.[1]
Originally sponsored by Trumanns Steel Limited and simply known as the Man of Steel Award, it was renamed in 2014 posthumously to honor Steve Prescott MBE, a former England international winger who played for clubs including St Helens and Hull FC and who died from pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare form of abdominal cancer, in 2013; the change reflected his inspirational legacy in the sport.[3] The award's selection process was revamped in 2019 to its current format, emphasizing peer recognition among rugby league veterans, with points tallied publicly until Round 15 before being concealed to heighten anticipation.[1] Eligibility is limited to players in the Betfred Super League, making it a marquee honor that often highlights rising stars and established leaders in the British game.[4]
Since its inception, the award has been won by 44 different players, with Wigan Warriors securing the most victories at 12 and St Helens following with 9; Ellery Hanley holds the individual record with three wins (1985, 1987, and 1989).[3][5] Recent recipients include Mikey Lewis of Hull KR in 2024 and Jake Connor of Leeds Rhinos in 2025, underscoring the award's role in celebrating versatility and impact in positions like half-back and full-back.[6] The ceremony also features the Woman of Steel Award for the top female player and the Wheels of Steel Award for the leading wheelchair rugby league performer, along with other honors such as the Super League Young Player of the Year.[7]
Club representation among winners reflects the historical dominance of certain teams in British rugby league, particularly those with strong Super League pedigrees. Wigan Warriors lead with 12 awards, spanning from the inaugural era to recent years, often coinciding with their championship successes. St Helens follows closely with 9, emphasizing their consistent production of standout performers. The top clubs by total wins as of 2025 are:
Nationality breakdowns reveal the award's strong ties to English talent, with 34 of the 49 winners (as of 2025) hailing from England, underscoring the competition's domestic focus. Australian players account for 9 wins, including imports like Gavin Miller (1986, Hull Kingston Rovers) and Dean Bell (1992, Wigan Warriors), while other nations contribute fewer: Scotland (2), New Zealand (2), Wales (2), Papua New Guinea (1), France (1), and Samoa (1). This distribution highlights limited international diversity, though standout overseas performers like Rangi Chase (2011, Castleford Tigers, New Zealand) have broken through.[8]
Positional trends show a predominance of creative and leadership roles, with half-backs (stand-offs and scrum-halves) securing 18 wins, reflecting their influence on game strategy and scoring. Forwards, including loose forwards and props, follow with 15, often recognized for physical dominance and work rate, as seen with winners like James Graham (2008, St Helens). Full-backs (10 wins) and hookers (6) round out the key positions, while wingers and centres are rarer recipients. This pattern emphasizes the award's bias toward pivotal on-field decision-makers.[10]
Beyond these aggregates, additional statistics provide context on winner profiles. The average age at the time of winning is approximately 28, with James Roby claiming the award at 21 in 2007 as the youngest in the modern era. There is also a notable correlation with postseason success: over 70% of winners since 1996 have played in the Grand Final that season, such as Bevan French (2023, Wigan Warriors) and Mikey Lewis (2024, Hull KR), illustrating how the award often honors players from title-contending sides.[24][25]
[27][29][30][31]
History and Overview
Origins
The Man of Steel Award was established in 1977 as the premier individual honor in British rugby league, recognizing the outstanding player of the season across all competitions.[8] Originated by the rugby league press, the award was initially sponsored by Manchester and Leeds-based Trumanns Steel, which inspired its distinctive name to highlight strength and excellence in the professional men's game.[9] The inaugural recipient was Leeds hooker David Ward, who earned the honor for his performances in the 1976-77 season.[8] In its early years, the award focused exclusively on players from British professional clubs, with selections made through voting by journalists and a panel of officials to identify the top performer based on overall impact and consistency.[9] This process emphasized holistic excellence rather than single-game heroics, setting it apart as a comprehensive accolade for the sport's elite talents.[8] The award's scope remained centered on the domestic professional scene until the launch of Super League in 1996, which broadened its prominence within the restructured elite competition.[7]Evolution and Dedications
Following its establishment in 1977, the Man of Steel Awards program underwent significant evolution to reflect changes in rugby league's structure and inclusivity. With the advent of the Super League in 1996, the awards became exclusively focused on recognizing excellence within this professional elite competition, aligning the Man of Steel accolade with the season's top performers in the revamped league format.[10] This Super League-centric orientation continued to develop alongside major sponsorships, particularly Betfred's involvement as title sponsor of the competition from 2017 onward, which extended to supporting the awards ceremony and elevating its profile within the sport's calendar.[11] The renaming of the primary award in 2014 to the Steve Prescott Man of Steel marked a poignant dedication to Steve Prescott, a 2006 winner who died from pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare abdominal cancer, in 2013 at age 39.[12] Prescott, a St Helens native, began his professional career with his hometown club in 1993, making 117 appearances and scoring 52 tries over five seasons as an explosive full-back known for his pace and kicking ability; he later played for Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity until a knee injury ended his career in 2003, during which he earned 2 caps for England in 1996, toured with Great Britain that year, and earned 8 caps for Ireland between 1998 and 2000, including at the 2000 World Cup.[13][14][15] The tribute underscored Prescott's resilience, as he founded the Steve Prescott Foundation in 2007 to support cancer research and young athletes, amassing over £500,000 in donations and inspiring the rugby league community through his public battle with the disease diagnosed in 2006.[13][16] The program's expansion in the late 2010s further broadened its scope to honor diverse contributions to rugby league. The Woman of Steel category was introduced in 2018 to celebrate the player of the year in the Women's Super League, voted on by peers to highlight impact on the field amid the women's game's rapid growth.[17] Complementing this, the Wheels of Steel award debuted in 2023 for the outstanding player in the Betfred Wheelchair Super League, recognizing the sport's increasing inclusivity for wheelchair athletes and integrating it into the main honors.[18][19] The annual ceremony itself has transformed into a more comprehensive event, rebranded as the Rugby League Awards Night since 2023 and hosted at prestigious venues like Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, where it now encompasses winners from all categories—including the Steve Prescott Man of Steel, Woman of Steel, and Wheels of Steel—alongside other accolades to celebrate the sport's breadth ahead of the Grand Final weekend.[20][21] This unified format, which drew widespread acclaim for its inclusivity in its inaugural year, has solidified the awards as a cornerstone of rugby league's end-of-season festivities, continuing in 2024 and 2025.[22][4]Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award
Selection Process
The selection process for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award determines the top performer in the Betfred Super League through a cumulative points system based on weekly evaluations of player performances. Since 2019, a panel of 21 distinguished former players, chaired by Ellery Hanley MBE, reviews every regular-season match and awards points to the three standout performers: 3 points for the man of the match, 2 points for the runner-up, and 1 point for the third-ranked player.[8][1] This approach emphasizes consistent excellence across the season, which typically consists of 27 rounds, rewarding players for their overall contributions to team success and individual impact on the field.[8] The panel's votes are tallied weekly, with public leaderboards released after each round until round 15, after which scores are kept private until the season's end. No formal shortlist exists prior to the final round; instead, the top three players on the leaderboard are announced in late September, immediately following the conclusion of the regular season.[1] The winner is then ratified by a subcommittee of three panel members and officially revealed at the Rugby League Awards Dinner, held in early October—after the regular season but before the Super League Grand Final.[4][8] Historically, the voting methodology has evolved to refine the award's focus on elite performance. Prior to 1996, the Man of Steel was determined by votes from rugby league journalists covering the entire professional division, encompassing players from all top-tier clubs.[8] Following the launch of Super League in 1996, eligibility narrowed to top-flight players only, maintaining the press-based system until 2008, when voting shifted to end-of-season ballots from active Super League players.[8] The 2019 overhaul to the former players' panel addressed concerns over the reliability and seriousness of peer voting, aiming to ensure more objective and expert assessments.[23] Similar panel-based processes, adapted for gender-specific considerations, are used for the Woman of Steel and Wheels of Steel Awards.[8]List of Winners
The following table lists all winners of the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award to date (as of 2025):[2][6]Records and Statistics
Several players have achieved the distinction of winning the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award multiple times, highlighting sustained excellence in the sport. Ellery Hanley holds the record with three wins, all during a dominant period in the late 1980s. Other multiple recipients include players who excelled across different eras and clubs. The full list of multiple winners is as follows:| Player | Wins | Years and Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Ellery Hanley | 3 | 1985 (Bradford Northern), 1987 (Wigan Warriors), 1989 (Wigan Warriors) |
| Andy Farrell | 2 | 1996 (Wigan Warriors), 2004 (Wigan Warriors) |
| Paul Sculthorpe | 2 | 2001 (St Helens), 2002 (St Helens) |
| Sam Tomkins | 2 | 2012 (Wigan Warriors), 2021 (Catalans Dragons) |
| Club | Total Wins |
|---|---|
| Wigan Warriors | 12 |
| St Helens | 9 |
| Leeds Rhinos | 5 |
| Castleford Tigers | 5 |
| Bradford Bulls | 3 |
| Widnes Vikings | 3 |
Woman of Steel Award
Introduction and History
The Woman of Steel Award is an annual accolade presented to the most outstanding player in the Betfred Women's Super League, the premier professional women's rugby league competition in the United Kingdom.[26] Introduced in 2018 alongside the launch of the fully professional Women's Super League, it parallels the Man of Steel Award for the men's game and recognizes exceptional performance throughout the regular season.[27] The award highlights the growth of women's rugby league, which transitioned from semi-professional structures to a professional league backed by the Rugby Football League (RFL), increasing participation and visibility. The winner is determined by a poll of all players in the Betfred Women's Super League, emphasizing peer recognition of skill, leadership, and impact on the field.[26] The recipient is announced at the annual Rugby League Awards Night in October, following the season's conclusion, often coinciding with the Women's Super League Grand Final.[28] This integration into the broader awards ceremony underscores the award's role in promoting gender equity and professionalism in the sport. As of 2025, the Women's Super League features 12 teams, including Wigan Warriors, St Helens, and York Valkyrie, with the award spotlighting talents across positions like forwards, halves, and backs.[29] Key milestones include the inaugural award in 2018, no award in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic disruption, and continued recognition amid league expansions, such as increased broadcasting on platforms like Sky Sports, which has boosted audience engagement.[27] The award has celebrated diverse winners, often from dominant clubs like York Valkyrie, who have secured multiple honors in recent years.List of Winners
The Woman of Steel Award was introduced in 2018 to honor the top performer in the Betfred Women's Super League each season. There was no award in 2020 due to the COVID-19 disruption. The league has grown significantly since its professional inception, with enhanced competition and media coverage. The following table lists all winners to date as of November 2025:| Year | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Georgia Roche | Castleford Tigers |
| 2019 | Courtney Winfield-Hill | Leeds Rhinos |
| 2021 | Jodie Cunningham | St Helens |
| 2022 | Tara Stanley | York Valkyrie |
| 2023 | Sinéad Peach | York Valkyrie |
| 2024 | Georgie Hetherington | York Valkyrie |
| 2025 | Eva Hunter | Wigan Warriors |
Wheels of Steel Award
Introduction and History
The Wheels of Steel Award was introduced in 2023 by the Rugby Football League (RFL) to honor outstanding performance in the Betfred Wheelchair Super League, mirroring the prestige of the Man of Steel and Woman of Steel awards for able-bodied players.[32] This addition marked a significant step in integrating wheelchair rugby league into the sport's premier recognition ceremony, reflecting the growing professionalism and visibility of the discipline since its formal Super League structure began in 2019.[33] The inaugural recipient was Lewis King of the London Roosters, who was celebrated for his exceptional contributions during the 2023 season.[18] The award is determined through a nomination and voting process involving players, coaches, and media representatives, similar to other RFL honors, with emphasis placed on adaptive skills such as precise wheelchair maneuvering, tactical awareness, and overall influence on match outcomes in a fast-paced, contact-heavy environment.[19] This recognition underscores the evolution of wheelchair rugby league from grassroots community initiatives to a competitive professional league, supported by increased investment and participation.[34] Key milestones include its debut integration into the annual Rugby League Awards Night in 2023, which enhanced its profile alongside the broader Man of Steel program expansions.[20] The award has further promoted inclusivity through expanded television coverage, with the Wheelchair Super League Grand Final broadcast live on Sky Sports starting that year, broadening audience reach and inspiring greater engagement with adaptive sports.[35] As of 2025, the Betfred Wheelchair Super League features seven teams—Edinburgh Giants, Halifax Panthers, Hull FC, Leeds Rhinos, London Roosters, Sheffield Eagles, and Wigan Warriors—highlighting emerging talents like 2023 winner Lewis King, whose success exemplified the award's role in spotlighting elite performers in this dynamic format. The league is set to expand to eight teams in 2026 with the addition of Bradford Bulls.[36][37]List of Winners
The Wheels of Steel Award was inaugurated in 2023 to honor the outstanding player in the Betfred Wheelchair Super League each season, with the league itself having launched in 2019 and demonstrated notable expansion through increased participation and broadcasting, including a 20-month hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic that saw the 2020 season canceled before resuming in 2021.[38][39] The following table lists all winners to date:| Year | Winner | Position | Club | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lewis King | Middle | London Roosters | Delivered dominant performances as the Roosters' key middle, earning the inaugural award ahead of teammate Joe Coyd and Halifax Panthers' Sebastian Bechara.[18] |
| 2024 | Joshua Butler | Forward | Leeds Rhinos | Provided exceptional impact in both attack and defense, instrumental in Leeds Rhinos' comeback Grand Final victory for their second title (first since 2021).[40][41] |
| 2025 | Joe Coyd | Loose Forward | London Roosters | Excelled with crucial scoring plays, including the Grand Final opener and a decisive try to secure England's 2-0 Ashes series win over Australia.[42][43][44] |