Wigan Warriors star Jenna Foubister leads 2026 Woman of Steel reckoning

Wigan Warriors half-back Jenna Foubister has emerged as the early frontrunner for the 2026 Woman of Steel.

A five-strong panel debated the form of players across the opening ?three rounds of Betfred Women’s Super League and this season’s full Challenge Cup campaign with the exciting 19-year-old being deemed top of the pile. 

Foubister has enjoyed a prolific start to the campaign and produced a superb display as player of the match under the famous Wembley arch in May. 

She created two tries, provided three line-break assists and controlled the Cup final victory over St Helens with an outstanding kicking performance as the Warriors ran in ten tries. 

Foubister is joined by her Warriors team-mate Megan Williams, who was voted second in the Woman of Steel rankings, with winger Anna Davies third.

A clean sweep for the Cherry and Whites was completed with captain Georgia Wilson taking fourth spot and reigning Woman of Steel Eva Hunter completing the top five. 

The five panellists whittled down a ten-player shortlist, which also included St Helens’ Faye Gaskin, Leeds Rhinos’ Connie Boyd, Huddersfield Giants’ Amelia Brown plus Wigan duo Izzy Rowe and Mary Coleman. 

Similar to this year’s Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Award, the new panel will meet on two more occasions throughout the campaign to assess candidates: after Round 7 (21 July) and the final Round 13 (September 15).  

Following each meeting a shortlist of the leading performers from that block of games will be publicly announced.  

At the end of the regular campaign, the panel will meet one last time to draw together a final shortlist for the Woman of Steel and begin deliberations on the eventual outcome for the competition's most prestigious induvial award. 

Woman of Steel top five (after opening three rounds and Challenge Cup): 1) Jenna Foubister 2) Megan Williams 3) Anna Davies 4) Georgia Wilson 5) Eva Hunter