Sky Sports pundit issues Super League Man of Steel verdict

Sky Sports pundit Sam Tomkins believes Jake Connor was a worthy winner of the 2025 Super League Man of Steel award.

Connor picked up the award on Tuesday night, edging out Hull KR half-back and flying Wigan Warriors full-back Jai Field, who take on each other in Saturday’s Grand Final at Old Trafford.

The 2025 season was Connor’s first as a Leeds Rhinos player and he started the year with a point to prove after struggling for consistency at Huddersfield Giants. Injury meant Connor started the season at full-back but he quickly found a home for himself in the halves at Headingley alongside Brodie Croft.

And, he became the driving force behind Leeds’ push towards the play-offs. He was top of the Man of Steel charts when the voting went dark in June and he did more than enough to cling onto top spot over the second half of the year as Leeds went on to finish the season in fourth.

He finished the year with 30 try assists and seven tries to his name and while Lewis and Field had more try involvements over the course of the year, the Man of Steel points Connor stacked up saw him claim the top prize, which is something Tomkins believes was absolutely justified.

Sam Tomkins on Jake Connor’s Man of Steel nod

“I think he’s had an outstanding year and it’s certainly been his best year,” Tomkins said on Sky Sports about Connor’s award. “He’s been playing the game for a long time and I think what Jake has struggled with is consistency and he’s certainly found that this year at Leeds.

“I think he’s certainly been right in the middle of everything Leeds have done well and he was up against some tough competition – Jai Field, who I thought has had his best year also.

“A very worthy winner and I’m happy for him. Hopefully he can continue that consistency.”

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