Contenders for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award

Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers)

Heavily backed for the award, Gale has enjoyed the best season of his career and has been the architect of Castleford’s exceptional campaign. Scoring 12 tries and assisting 17, the 29-year-old has been almost unplayable for most of 2017 and would be a deserving winner of the Steve Prescott Man of Steel trophy.

Zak Hardaker (Castleford Tigers)

The England international full-back has reinvented himself at Castleford and has reproduced the form of 2015 that saw him crowned Man of Steel. The Tigers can now score from anywhere and much of that is down to the way Hardaker returns the ball. Quick, evasive and with great vision, Zak is back to his best and could win the award for a second time.

Albert Kelly (Hull FC)

Eyebrows were raised when Hull FC announced they would sign Kelly from city rivals KR, but the mercurial half-back has been a revelation for the Airlie Birds. With his complete focus on the pitch, Lee Radford has been able to get the best out of the 26-year-old who has an impressive 17 tries and 8 assists so far. He is quite possibly the signing of the season.

Matt Parcell (Leeds Rhinos)

The departure of James Segeyaro has hardly been noticeable because of Parcell’s impact. He is Super League’s top tackler with 773 and has a superb all-round game, contributing 12 tries and 11 assists in an excellent first season at Headingley. The 24-year-old former Brisbane and Manly hooker has a great future ahead of him.

George Williams (Wigan Warriors)

In a season of disruption and injuries for Wigan, Williams has stood-out by a long distance for Shaun Wane’s side. His form was rewarded earlier in the season with a bumper new deal, becoming the Warriors’ second marquee player. The 22-year-old has the most assists in Super League (25) and is the competition’s most dangerous running half-back.

Ben Murdoch-Masila (Salford Red Devils)

What a season Murdoch-Masila has had with the man-mountain second-rower proving almost unstoppable with ball in hand. The Tongan international is the Red Devils top scorer with 13 tries and with a superb offloading game too, he is arguably the best forward in the competition at present.

Robert Lui (Salford Red Devils) 

Spontaneous stand-off Lui played alongside Johnathan Thurston during his time in the NRL and he’s produced some moments this season that JT would have been proud of. Never afraid to take on the defensive line, the 27-year-old has 1,671 metres and 19 try assists this campaign and is arguably Salford’s key man.

Alex Walmsley (St Helens)

A nomination for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel in 2015, Walmsley has been back to his best this season for St Helens. The former Batley prop is an outsider to win the award but deserves a mention because of his sheer running power, which sees him lead the competition’s metre-maker standings with 2,910 to his name.

Pictures: SWpix.com