Warriors dominate latest Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel voting

Wigan Warriors’ Adam Keighran has taken top spot in the latest round of Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel voting. 

The prolific Australian centre has been in red-hot form heading into the business end of the season, helping Matt Peet’s side claim the League Leaders’ Shield and standing within just 80 minutes of the Grand Final. 

He is one of four Wigan players picked in the top-five as panellists rated Betfred Super League’s best performers from Round 19 to Round 27. 

Keighran forced former Man of Steel winner Bevan French – who’s stunning attacking finesse on his return to injury has lit up Warriors’ campaign – into second spot while Wigan hooker Brad O’Neill came third. 

Panellists Ellery Hanley, Sam Tomkins, James Roby, Joe Lydon and Paul Sculthorpe, all previous Man of Steel victors, made their judgements for the latest edition of Man of Steel: The Panel which airs free on Super League+ tonight (7pm). 

A fourth Warriors player – Australian full-back Jai Field – finished level on points with Leigh Leopards centre Umyla Hanley to complete the scoring. 

It is the second time Hanley and O’Neill have made the top five having also both featured when panellists made their calls for Round 10 to Round 18. 

Goal-kicker Keighran, 29, scored seven tries in as many games during the latest voting period, and continued his electric partnership with free-scoring winger Zach Eckersley. 

Tomkins, the former England captain who won trophies galore with Wigan, said: “Adam Keighran has had an outstanding year. 

“He’s just got better throughout the season and especially in this last set of games. 

“It’s sometimes difficult for Wigan players to get much praise because they’re always playing in a team with Jai Field or Bevan French who very often get the headlines. 

“But Keighran has just gone about his business: defensively he’s very, very strong, has showed skill in attack and he’s been superb from the kicking tee as well. 

“He’s certainly been someone who slipped through the radar early on but has got better as the season’s developed and I imagine he will have a big finish to the end of the season, too.” 

All players who have been in any of the top-five selections through the three programmes will automatically go into the mix to win the 2026 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel. 

Leeds Rhinos’ Lachie Miller came out on top in the maiden programme and in the second edition Rhinos' team-mates Jake Connor and Ash Handley shared pole position. 

The full list of players to now come into the final reckoning is: Miller, Brodie Croft, Connor, Handley (all Leeds Rhinos), O’Neill, French, Field, Keighran (all Wigan Warriors), Jez Litten, Tyrone May (both Hull KR), Hanley (Leigh Leopards) and Daryl Clark (St Helens). 

The Panel will now decide on a final three-man shortlist to encompass the whole season before meeting one last time to deliberate their overall winner who will be announced at the Rugby League Awards Night in Manchester on Tuesday September 29.