TheSteve Prescott Man of Steel Awards is an end-of-season awards dinner for theSuper League rugby league competition. The event's name is taken from the main award presented, the Man of Steel award for therugby league footballer of the year. In 2014, it was renamed afterSteve Prescott.
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 the1976–77 season with the inaugural award winners being:[1]
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 AustralianDally 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]
FormerEngland playerSteve 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 theRugby 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]
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.
David Ward
Wigan Warriors(11)
Australia
Scotland
Wales
New Zealand
Castleford Tigers
Leeds Rhinos
St. Helens
York Valkyrie
Bradford Bulls
Pat Richards
Catalans Dragons
Huddersfield Giants
Salford
Warrington Wolves
Hull KR
Hull F.C.
Michael Korkidas
Wakefield Trinity
Widnes Vikings
Bill Tupou
Leigh Leopards
