Revealed: Harry Sunderland Award odds

As Wigan Warriors and Catalans prepare for the Super League Grand Final, the Harry Sunderland Award odds are in with Betfred with Sam Tomkins and Bevan French leading the way.

25 times the Harry Sunderland Award has been awarded in Super League Grand Finals to 21 different players.

This is because four men have won the Award for Man of the Match in a Grand Final more than once.

Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow was the first doing so in 2007 and 2011. A year later in 2012 teammate Kevin Sinfield followed suit after winning the award in 2009 as well. Danny McGuire became the third Leeds player to do so in 2015 and 2017. James Roby of St Helens joined the club in 2020 having won the award in 2014 as well.

Only two men have won the award with 100% of the votes in the shape of Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow in 2017 and 2011 respectively.

This year’s favourite is Man of Steel Bevan French who is closely followed by teammate Jai Field and the retiring Sam Tomkins.

Here is a full list of odds:

French, Bevan 4/1
Tomkins, Sam 5/1
Field, Jai 5/1
Smith, Harry 6/1
Pearce, Mitchell 7/1
Farrell, Liam 8/1
O’Neill, Brad 12/1
Marshall, Liam 12/1
Miski, Abbas 12/1
King, Toby 14/1
Hampshire, Ryan 14/1
Wardle, Jake 14/1
Powell, Sam 16/1
Johnstone, Tom 16/1
McIlorum, Michael 16/1
May, Tyrone 18/1
Ikuvalu, Matt 18/1
Pearce-Paul, Kai 20/1
McMeeken, Mike 22/1
Whitley, Matt 25/1
Smithies, Morgan 25/1
Davies, Tom 25/1
Keighran, Adam 25/1
Mourgue, Arthur 25/1
Dezaria, Jordan 33/1
Bousquet, Julian 33/1
Dupree, Tyler 33/1
Shorrocks, Joe 33/1
Ellis, Kaide 33/1
Isa, Willie 33/1
Garcia, Benjamin 33/1
Havard, Ethan 33/1
Taukeiaho, Siua 33/1
Seguier, Paul 33/1
Romano, Arthur 33/1
Navarrete, Romain 50/1
Hill, Harvie 50/1
Nsemba, Junior 50/1
Chan, Tiaki 50/1
Da Costa, Alrix 50/1
Mago, Patrick 50/1
Ma’u, Manu 50/1

Tomkins showed his match winning ability in the semi-final.

The play-off atmosphere was evident from the get go, as was the physicality, with both LMS and Taukeiaho starting showing the intent for a physical start. Neither side truly threatened in the early stages with a Matt Whitley knock-on on halfway ending the most exciting attack.

Micky McIlorum made a mistake to provide Saints with territory and were it not for a brilliant defensive read by centre Ikuvalu then Bennison would have been in, the closest chance in a nervy opening 15 minutes.

The home side looked to have scored first in the corner when Tom Johnstone capitalised on a Jonny Lomax error, however Chris Kendall’s no try call wasn’t overturned by Jack Smith – seemingly for a shove from Johnstone on Lomax, albeit a harsh one.

The nerves were on show as Tom Johnstone knocked on from a simple pick up of the ball within his 20 metres however Saints couldn’t capitalise with Alex Walmsley dropping a carry on the resulting set.

Catalans took the lead just ahead of the half hour mark following a Sione Mata’utia high shot on Sam Tomkins. The Dragons opted for two with Keighran kicking over from 30 yards out to make it 2-0, the score remaining the same till the half time whistle.

Jack Welsby was at his very best once again, dragging the defenders wide to the left hand flank before playing a clever pass to allow centre Will Hopoate to dance through on the 50 minute mark to make it 6-2 to the reigning champions.

When a Moses Mbye high tackle offered the home side a penalty in front of the sticks from 30 metres then Adam Keighran opted to take the two, bringing the game back to 6-4, with the Dragons receiving the ball once again from the restart.

A Mitchell Pearce kick was knocked on by Jack Welsby and Matty Lees was then penalised for lying on at the play the ball, seeing yellow for the professional foul. That saw Saints drop to 12 with Lees in the sin bin and Adam Keighran score his third penalty of the game, making the game six points a piece with less than ten minutes to go.

After a flurry of penalties and a blocked drop goal from Tomkins it was finally the moment of magic that the game had been waiting for. Saints raced off the line to block the kick and Tomkins wound back the clock to dodge the chase and dart through under the sticks after a brilliant step. A supreme try!