Ranked: The five best stand-offs in Super League

With the Challenge Cup Final coming up this weekend, fans are set to be treated to a battle of not just two of the very best teams in Super League but also two of the best stand-offs. Reigning Man of Steel Bevan French and England captain George Williams are undoubtedly two of the best, but who are the top five stand-offs in Super League?

George Williams missed this past weekend’s meeting between the two sides through suspension with his one-game ban somewhat forcing Sam Burgess’ hand into resting many of his stars. As such Warrington fielded four debutants having made nine changes to their 21-man squad.

Matt Peet opted against that and went with a relatively full-strength squad featuring French and despite the 19-18 win, Wigan have lost out for the Challenge Cup Final with Tyler Dupree and Adam Keighran both copping three-game bans.

With two stars missing, the game could come down to a magical moment from one of the side’s number sixes, but how do they rank among Super League’s current crop of stand-offs?

Here are Serious About Rugby League’s top five stand-offs in Super League

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Who is the best stand-off in Super League?

5: Tyrone May (Hull KR)

May arrived at Craven Park from Catalans Dragons ahead of the start of the season and he’s quickly made himself a fan favourite at the club. His effortless approach offers a calming alternative in the halves to the electric Mikey Lewis with the pair forming a top-five partnership of their own.

He brings a kicking ability in short game that forces defences to account for him as well as Lewis whilst he’s also shown a knack for getting on the end of Lewis’ bombs, snatching one from the air against St Helens when he outjumped Jack Welsby to score.

May has now brought another facet to his game in running at the line, something he did on Saturday when he broke through before offloading to Lewis who in turn allowed Niall Evalds to walk in for the Robins’ second try of the game.

4: Jonny Lomax (St Helens)

It will forever be a mystery how players such as Kevin Sinfield and Jonny Lomax have never won the Man of Steel trophy with Lomax being one of the most consistently high-performing players in Super League for a decade now. It’s been said that St Helens’ attack isn’t as potent as it could be this season but the majority of what is good from it comes via Lomax.

Not only is Lomax an attacking threat, he is also a very tough defender and has topped the 30-tackle mark on three occasions this season including his mammoth 37-tackle game against Leeds Rhinos in Round Five. Lomax also added an assist that game, one of his 13 this season in just 12 games.

Now absent with a hand injury that will sideline him for an extended period, it will be revealing how St Helens manage. Moses Mbye has slipped into the halves for the recent game whilst Jack Welsby deputized when Lewis Dodd was injured, but neither can replicate what Lomax does.

3: Brodie Croft (Leeds Rhinos)

Despite the general consensus being that Leeds Rhinos have struggled so far in Super League this year, they are still just one win outside the top six and only six points from the top of the table. Much of that can be attributed to the brilliant Brodie Croft.

Leeds Rhinos made the splash play of signing Croft alongside fellow Salford star Andy Ackers but whilst Ackers has been spelled on and off with Jarad O’Connor, even losing the starting role lately, Croft has been essential to any success that the team has had. Just like Lomax, he has 13 assists in just 12 games and he’s taken a whopping 182 carries.

With two tries coming in his last three as well, it seems the best is yet to come for Croft who is finding his feet in a Leeds side that have been riddled with injuries this year.

2: George Williams (Warrington Wolves)

The top two stand-offs will face off on Saturday but it’s the England captain George Williams who we think is second best, albeit by a marginal amount. The most impressive aspect of Williams’ game is actually his leadership and the way he sets the tone for the rest of his team to follow.

His cover tackle in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals against St Helens epitomised the attitude that he takes to the field and even more telling was how his teammates rallied around to celebrate with him. That intangible quality is arguably Williams’ best but that’s not to say it’s his only one.

He’s a big physical six and his ability to pierce the line has seen him rack up six tries in just nine games with his average number of carries per game being over 21. Pair him with full-back Matt Dufty and you have a devasting one-two punch.

1: Bevan French (Wigan Warriors)

The reigning Man of Steel remains the best stand-off in Super League and if you need any evidence of that, watch the second half of the Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants game from Round 11. French came away with two tries, two assists and 210 metres in a masterful performance.

He’s totalled nine tries and eight assists this season and also starred in the World Club Challenge as well with his cut-out pass to Abbas Miski to open the scoring showing the true class that he boasts. When he is on it, which he often is, he’s the best player in Super League.

All state sourced from the Super League website