Man of Steel Awards
The Steve Prescott Man of Steel Awards is an end-of-season awards dinner for the Super League rugby league competition. The event's name is taken from the main award presented, the Man of Steel award for the rugby league footballer of the year. In 2014, it was renamed after Steve Prescott.
Origins
The awards were started in 1977 when David Howes, the Rugby League's public relations officer, organised sponsorship worth £3,000 from Trumanns Steel Limited for awards in six different categories; Trumanns Man of Steel, Division One Player of the Year, Division Two Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Referee of the Year. The awards were voted on by the members of the rugby league press.The first awards were made at the end of the 1976–77 season with the inaugural award winners being:Trumanns Man of Steel - David Ward, LeedsDivision One Player of the Year - Malcolm Reilly, CastlefordDivision Two Player of the Year - Ged Marsh, Blackpool BoroughYoung Player of the Year - David Ward, LeedsCoach of the Year - Eric Ashton, St HelensReferee of the Year - Billy Thompson
In 2008, the voting for the award was changed, with the winner being chosen by the players of the Super League instead. In 2019, in response to criticism that some players were not taking the voting seriously, a panel of former rugby league players was chosen to determine the winner of the award. The voting was changed to a system similar to the Australian Dally M Medal, with points being awarded to the best performing players after each game.
Name change
Former England player Steve Prescott died in 2013 aged just 39, clear of cancer after multi visceral transplant complications. He raised many thousands of pounds for charity,. Following a short campaign, a petition with over 12,000 signatures was sent to the Rugby Football League, calling for the Man of Steel award to be renamed in Prescott's honour. In March 2014, the RFL officially announced that the award would be called the "Steve Prescott Man of Steel" from the 2014 season onwards.Woman of Steel
In 2018 an additional category for the Woman of Steel from the Women's [Super League (rugby league)|Women's Super League] was inaugurated.Wheels of Steel
In 2023 a new category for Wheels of Steel from the RFL Wheelchair Super League was inaugurated.| Year | Winner | Club | |||||
| 2023 |  Other awardsHit ManThe player making most tackles in the regular season.
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