The Super League is about to make significant changes to the selection process for the prestigious Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award in 2026, and this shift is set to create quite a buzz in the rugby community. For the upcoming season, a dedicated five-member panel will be entrusted with the responsibility of determining who stands out as the finest player in the league.
In the past few seasons, the voting system awarded points to the best players from each match, utilizing a straightforward 3-2-1 point scale for the top three performers. A former player would have the task of selecting these individuals each week, ensuring a fair assessment based on their weekly performances.
Interestingly, during the season, the leaderboard would become obscured around the midpoint, similar to the NRL’s Dally M Medal approach. However, as we look ahead to 2026, a complete revamp of this system is on the horizon, promising to reshape how the best players are evaluated.
Sources at Love Rugby League have disclosed that the new five-man panel—whose names remain a closely guarded secret—will diligently review all player performances throughout the season. At the conclusion of the campaign, they will compile a shortlist of candidates, ultimately deciding on the winner during the end-of-season awards, thus maintaining a tradition seen in previous years.
For context, Jake Connor from the Leeds Rhinos took home the 2025 Man of Steel award after leading the charge for much of the season before the leaderboard went dark. His spectacular performances not only propelled Leeds back into the top four but also earned him recognition as Super League’s standout individual player. Connor triumphed over 2024 award winner Mikey Lewis to claim this honor for the first time, and he is expected to be among the frontrunners once more in the upcoming season.
However, Connor, along with other top talents in the Super League, will now find themselves subjected to an entirely new voting methodology as they enter the new season. The previously familiar routine of weekly point announcements for the Man of Steel is likely to be entirely replaced in 2026.
But here’s where it gets intriguing: how will this new system impact player motivations and fan engagement? Will it lead to more transparency and fairness in awarding the top player, or could it become a topic of debate among supporters and pundits alike? As we move closer to the 2026 season, these are the questions that will undoubtedly be on everyone’s minds.
