Man of Steel contenders: Tom Johnstone

Tom Johnstone has settled straight into life in the South of France. The winger brought an end to his long-term association with Wakefield last season after an eight-year stint in Super League filled with glimpses of world-class talent but dampened by injury.

Johnstone has had to show unwavering resilience throughout his career - two ACL reconstructions and recurring concussions impeded his development during a challenging journey to get where he stands today.  

Yet despite those setbacks, he scored an incredible 81 tries in 106 Super League appearances for Trinity, as well as featuring in the 2018 Dream Team.

And this year, Johnstone has excelled even further. The 28-year-old has been a consistent figure on the Dragons left edge, topping the Super League try scoring charts and earning his second appearance in the Dream Team. 

Johnstone's Catalans career began on familiar territory with an opening round clash against his former club at his old stomping ground.

A ruthless display from the winger saw him cross for a hat-trick of tries that evening ? and it was a sign of things to come.

Since then, he has crossed for two more hat-tricks - both coming against fellow Play-Off Semi-Finalists, Hull KR and Wigan Warriors. 

Johnstone's ability isn't solely restricted to scoring tries either - he finished the regular season second in the metre making charts and averaged 129 run metres per game. 

Additionally, he failed to carry for more than 100 metres just six times this season, as well as carrying the ball for more than 200 run metres twice during the regular season - once against his former club, Wakefield and again against the Dragons' Semi-Final opponent, St Helens.

Despite those eye-catching stats, Johnstone's most impressive metric this season is his appearance record. The winger missed just one Super League fixture for the Dragons in 2023, an incredible turnaround after a career constantly interrupted by injury setbacks. 

Johnstone has succeeded in reinventing himself at the Dragons and is reaping the rewards. His inclusion on the 2023 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel shortlist is another impressive milestone in a career defining season.

And if he is awarded the coveted Man of Steel award, he will become just the second winger to win the trophy during the Super League era. 

The joint top scorer in #SuperLeague in 2023 ?@TomJohnstone01's Super League journey has been far from easy ?

Watch 'Tom Johnstone : A Dragon Flying High' at 7PM tonight ?

In association with @GlensVodkaLLG ? pic.twitter.com/LQ3iHqgDUV
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 5, 2023

Johnstone's fellow winger in the 2023 Dream Team, Josh Charnley, knows all too well how a move to pastures new can revitalise a player, following his move from Warrington to Leigh last year. 

On Johnstone, Charnley said: "I imagine he needed the move away to Catalans. He would've been stuck in a rut, seeing the same physios all the time, and regularly getting the same injuries. 

"He's bounced back this year and has excelled, looking better in himself both on and off the pitch. Tom is playing some of his best rugby and it's great to see him finishing a season injury free."

The winner of the 2023 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel will be announced on Tuesday 10 October at Emirates Old Trafford, at Rugby League's biggest and most inclusive Awards Night - when the winners of more than a dozen other awards will also be celebrated, including the 2023 Woman of Steel, and the first winner of the Wheels of Steel as the year's outstanding player in Wheelchair Rugby League.