Man of Steel: Surprise name rockets up the rankings

The Man of Steel points for both Round Six and Round Seven of Super League have been confirmed with one man scooping up a huge five out of six points.

Named in honour of Steve Prescott, the Man of Steel award is handed to the best player in the competition with the reigning Man of Steel being Wigan Warriors’ Bevan French.

French is one of several winners still playing in Super League with fellow winners Daryl Clark, Zak Hardaker, Danny Houghton, Paul McShane and Brodie Croft all still aiming to earn their second.

Only four players have ever been crowed Man of Steel on more than one occasion with Sam Tomkins (2012, 2021), Andy Farrell (1996, 2004), Paul Sculthorpe (2001,2002) and the only ever three-time winner Ellery Hanely (1983,1987,1989) being in an elite category.

Danny Houghton is currently best-placed among previous winners with four points but both Croft and Clark sit a point behind the veteran whilst Marc Sneyd leads the way on 12.

The awarding of points from Rounds Six and Seven have seen one shock name jump from zero points to five and put him fairly in the mix at the top end of the leaderboard.

Super League Round Six Man of Steel Points

Round Six was Rivals Round and saw some epic games including the Good Friday Derby that was won by St Helens and it was prop Alex Walmsley who took home max points there, with try-scorer Tommy Makinson and playmaker Lewis Dodd picking up two and one respectively.

The other derby that day saw Niall Evalds take home three, Tyrone May two and Mikey Lewis one as Hull KR romped their rivals Hull FC. The night prior Leeds Rhinos had defeated Castleford  with dynamic full-back Lachie Miller taking max points for his Man of the Match performance ahead of Ash Handley and Sam Wood.

Saturday saw Catalans defeat Warrington once again with Jordan Abdull’s kicking game running the show and as such he claimed all three points. George Williams took two points despite defeat whilst Tom Johnstone’s try-scoring antics earned him a sole point.

Salford Red Devils vs Leigh Leopards saw Ryan Brierley bag a brace on his 300th appearance and that landed him max points ahead of centre Tim Lafai and Leigh’s hattrick hero Umyla Hanley who scored just one.

London were routed by Huddersfield with Tui Lolohea starring for a maximum three points with try-scorers Esan Marsters and Adam Swift sweeping up the remaining points.

Super League Round Seven Man of Steel Points

As for the games that concluded this past week it was the Battle of the Borough first up as Wigan ran in eight tries from eight different scorers. Junior Nsemba (three), Jai Field (two) and Bevan French (one) took home the points.

Warrington showed their credentials as contenders when beating Leeds Rhinos and it was a game won up front with James Harrisons setting the tone and earning three points, ahead of George Willliams (two) and Ben Currie (one).

Innes Seniors’ four-try haul earned him three points whilst hooker Cain Robb (two) and Tim Lafai (one) claimed remaining spoils, whilst at Craven Park Mikey Lewis bagged another three points with hattrick hero Matt Parcell taking two and James Batchelor just one.

Adam Swift’s hattrick earned him three points, whilst Tui Lolohea followed his max points in Round Six with two more in Round Seven. Jake Connor’s 14-point haul saw him bag a single point.

The battle in Perpignan saw England prop Mike McMeeken rewarded with max points for his try ahead of try-saver Arthur Mourgue and Alrix Da Costa.

Leaderboard Round-Up

Despite not earning a point in either round it’s still Marc Sneyd who tops the chart but his lead has shortened to just three points with Ash Handley gaining ground, now sitting on eight points for the year.

Meanwhile, Mikey Lewis’ four points have taken the England international onto a total of nine and second place. Tui Lolohea’s five-point haul breaks his duck and puts him well into the top bunch of names.

The full Man of Steel rankings can be seen here.