Former Super League playmaker Josh Drinkwater is one of three Championship players nominated for the competition’s Player of the Year award.
The winner will be confirmed at Tuesday’s Rugby League Awards Night, at which the Super League Man of Steel and Women of Steel will also be confirmed.
As for the Championship, one of Oldham’s Josh Drinkwater, Doncaster’s Connor Robinson, or London Broncos’ Gairo Voro will be crowned as the division’s player of the year.
All three remain in play-off action with the competition’s semi-finals to take place this weekend as London Broncos host Oldham, whilst Doncaster will travel to take on Newcastle Thunder.
Drinkwater’s Oldham previously knocked out Widnes Vikings, whose head coach Allan Coleman has been confirmed as the competition’s Coach of the Year after a fifth-place finish in a campaign that saw the club make it all the way to the 1895 Cup Final.
Red card stupidity, Willie Peters’ legacy, and Super League Grand Final predictions – Click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show
Championship Player of the Year nominees confirmed
That 1895 Cup Final was won by London, who have lost only once in the Championship this year, and playmaker Voro has been among their best.
The Papua New Guinean international has scored 30 tries across all competitions and been a big part of why the Broncos have been so dominant.
As for Drinkwater, he was involved in handing London their only loss of the Championship campaign, with the ex-Catalans Dragons man showing his class in the Roughyeds’ spine this season.
The other nominee is Doncaster’s Connor Robinson who has had a record-breaking year as he kicked an unprecedented 58 consecutive goal kicks, breaking the previous record by 17 before missing in last week’s win over Barrow.
One of those three men will take home the top prize on Tuesday but the competition’s Young Player of the Year has already been decided, with Midlands Hurricanes’ Sully Medforth taking that accolade after a strong season that’s seen him score 10 tries in 27 from the halves.
The winner of the 2026 Betfred Championship Player of the Year Award will be announced at the Rugby League Awards Night, when Coleman and Medforth will also be presented with their awards.
The nominees for the @Betfred Championship Player of the Year 👉 pic.twitter.com/WUzv8xViiW
— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) September 23, 2026
