The final 12-player shortlist from which the 2026 Super League Man of Steel will be selected has been confirmed, after the top five for the final third of the season was locked in.
Super League have changed the Man of Steel process for 2026 with a five-person panel, all of whom were former winners, picking their top five players after rounds 9, 18 and 27. Anyone who features in the top five at those intervals is then put onto a shortlist, which is then whittled down to three candidates.
That three-man shortlist will be announced in the coming days before the official Man of Steel is confirmed at the Rugby League Awards Night on Tuesday, September 29th, but we now know which players could feature following the third and final round of voting.
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Adam Keighran tops latest Man of Steel voting
The Man of Steel panel have confirmed that Adam Keighran topped the most recent round of voting, accompanied by three of his Wigan Warriors’ teammates, as well as Leigh’s Umyla Hanley after his strong end to the season.
Brad O’Neill, Bevan French and Brad O’Neill were the other Wigan candidates but it was Keighran who came out on top, with panel member Sam Tomkins leading the praise for him.
Tomkins said: “Adam Keighran has had an outstanding year. He’s just got better throughout the season and especially in this last set of games.
“It’s sometimes difficult for Wigan players to get much praise because they’re always playing in a team with Jai Field or Bevan French who very often get the headlines.
“But Keighran has just gone about his business: defensively he’s very, very strong, has showed skill in attack and he’s been superb from the kicking tee as well.
“He’s certainly been someone who slipped through the radar early on but has got better as the season’s developed and I imagine he will have a big finish to the end of the season, too.”
Unbelievably, Keighran did not get selected to the Super League Dream Team but his inclusion atop this Man of Steel voting for the final third of the season highlights just how good he has been.
Which 12 players can be voted Super League Man of Steel 2026?
With the final third of the season Man of Steel nominees confirmed, it means we now know who the players in with a chance at winning the overall award are.
For Leeds Rhinos, there are four players in with a shot; Lachie Miller, Brodie Croft, Jake Connor and Ash Handley, all of whom have featured in the top five at some point this season.
The aforementioned Wigan quartet of Keighran, O’Neill, French and Field are also nominated. As are Hull KR pair Tyrone May and Jez Litten, both who were named in the top five for the first third of the season along with St Helens’ Daryl Clark. Leigh’s Umyla Hanley, voted into the top five at the most recent voting, completes the list.
Three of those 12 men will now be placed onto the official Man of Steel shortlist before one is crowned at next week’s end-of-season awards night.
