Woman of Steel shortlist revealed

The three nominees for the Woman of Steel award have been revealed.

Voting closed earlier this week on a poll of all players from the eight Women’s Super League (BWSL) clubs, and the three leading contenders will now be invited to the Betfred Super League Awards Night at the Lowry Theatre on Sunday October 6.

Castleford Tigers, the unbeaten leaders of the BWSL, are represented on the shortlist by Kelsey Gentles, their prolific 21-year-old three-quarter who has scored 21 tries from 15 appearances this season. She is bidding to succeed Tigers team-mate Georgia Roche, who was crowned Rugby League’s first Woman of Steel last autumn.

St Helens, who are second in the table, are represented by Emily Rudge, their industrious second-row who captained England Women in their last international against France last year, and who has scored nine tries from 11 appearances this season.

The third player on the shortlist is Courtney Hill, the goalkicking half-back from Queensland who rediscovered Rugby League with Leeds last season after previously playing cricket in the Big Bash. Hill has scored more than 150 points from 14 appearances this season.

All three of the contenders will be in action for their clubs in the next few days, with two rounds of matches remaining in the regular BWSL season before the top four play-offs.

Leeds make the short trip to Wakefield Trinity on Saturday, Saints have a local derby against the reigning champions Wigan on Sunday, and Castleford can clinch the League Leaders’ Shield when they host York City Knights at the Mend-a-Hose Jungle on Tuesday night.