Wigan Warriors’ Brad O’Neill named Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel

Wigan Warriors’ Brad O’Neill has been crowned the 2026 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel at the Rugby League Awards Night in Manchester. 

The England hooker’s outstanding season had already earned him a first selection in the Betfred Super League Dream  Team earlier this month plus the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association Player of the Year award. 

But O’Neill, 24, also came out on top for the most prestigious individual award in the sport after seeing off challenges from Leeds Rhinos’ Lachie Miller and Wigan team-mate Adam Keighran. 

It was a memorable night for the Warriors with Matt Peet also named Betfred Super League Coach of the Year having guided his side to the League Leaders’ Shield and Challenge Cup. 

The final decision for Man of Steel was made by a panel of five former winners - Ellery Hanley MBE, Paul Sculthorpe MBE, Joe Lydon, James Roby and Sam Tomkins – who all took to the stage as O’Neill received his award. 

How they reached the decision on the combative No9 can be seen in the final edition of Man of Steel: The Panel which airs free tomorrow on Super League+ 

 St Helens star Harry Robertson once more claimed the Betfred Super League Young Player of the Year award having done likewise 12 months ago. 

He was selected from a strong three-man shortlist which also included Wigan half-back Jack Farrimond and Warrington Wolves teenager Ewan Irwin. 

Peet, whose side finished the regular season on a club Super League record run of 15 successive victories, pipped Leeds Rhinos’ Brad Arthur and Toulouse Olympique’s Sylvain Houles, following a vote involving all 14 Super League head coaches. 

Wigan also enjoyed further success with Jenna Foubister, the dynamic England half-back, claiming the Woman of Steel award and Denis Betts taking the Betfred Women’s Super League Coach of the Year. 

But Leeds Rhinos’ Connie Boyd prevented a clean sweep when the impressive centre came out on top in the race for Betfred Women’s Super League Young Player of the Year. 

Halifax Panthers’ Rob Hawkins capped another brilliant campaign by being named the Wheels of Steel winner. 

London Roosters’ Max Owen and Edinburgh Giants’ Martyn Gill also claimed their Betfred Wheelchair Super League Young Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards respectively. 

Other awards went to Leed Rhinos’ Maika Sivo as Super League’s top try-scorer with 29 efforts and Bradford Bulls’ Joe Mellor who took the Top Tackler gong with 1,075. 

Huddersfield Giants’ Amelia Brown was heralded as the Women’s Super League top try-scorer. 

In the Championship, London Broncos’ Gairo Voro claimed Betfred Championship Player of the Year off the back of the Papua New Guinea stand-off's immense season for Jason Demetriou’s side. 

He beat competition from Josh Drinkwater (Oldham RLFC) and Connor Robinson (Doncaster RLFC) to secure the trophy. 

Widnes Vikings’ Allan Coleman was presented with the Championship Coach of the Year award and Midlands Hurricanes’ Sully Medworth received his trophy as Young Player of the Year.