Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel three-man shortlist announced

Wigan Warriors team-mates Brad O’Neill and Adam Keighran, plus Leeds Rhinos full-back Lachie Miller, have been shortlisted for the 2026 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel. 

All three players have enjoyed stellar campaigns for their clubs, proving to be influential, inspiring, and consistent, firmly putting themselves in the reckoning for the prestigious prize as Betfred Super League’s top performer. 

The winner will be announced at Rugby League’s Awards Night in Manchester on Tuesday 29 September. 

Combative hooker O’Neill has already claimed the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association (RLWBA) Player of the Year award having helped fire Wigan to the League Leaders’ Shield, the Challenge Cup and within 80 minutes of the Grand Final. 

With his tough-tackling, pinpoint passing and impressive durability, the 24-year-old has developed into an integral part of Matt Peet’s Treble-chasing side. 

O’Neill, who will feature when Wigan take on Wakefield Trinity in Saturday’s Super League semi-final, has already earned a place in the Betfred Super League Dream Team and is highly-fancied to book a seat on the flight to Australia with Brian McDermott’s England World Cup squad next month. 

He has featured in two of the three selections made by esteemed Man of Steel panel members Ellery Hanley MBE, Paul Sculthorpe MBE, Joe Lydon, James Roby and Sam Tomkins. 

They met after Round 9, Round 18 and Round 27 on new show Man of Steel: The Panel, which is free on SuperLeague+, to consider the leading performers from each block of the season. 

Australian full-back Miller has been in the Man of Steel conversation since the opening weeks of the season, when he came out on top in the panel’s first vote after the opening nine rounds.  

No player has made more than the electric Leeds full-back's 166 tackle busts this term and his brilliant running game has lit up plenty of games for Rhinos, who were long-time leaders. 

However, he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in their recent game against Wigan and so misses out on Friday’s mouthwatering semi-final with Warrington Wolves. 

Prolific Australian centre Keighran forced his way into the final three after a red-hot finish to the regular season. 

He took top spot when the panellists assessed performances from Round 19 to Round 27.  

Keighran finished the regular campaign with 16 tries and 107 goals, but he has also earned praise for his hard-hitting defence and classy partnership with free-scoring winger Zach Eckersley. 

Panel members included everyone who had picked up top-five finishes to form the basis of their deliberations for their final three-man shortlist. 

A final Man of Steel: The Panel show detailing how they decided on the eventual winner to be aired on Wednesday September 30th.

The full list of contenders was Miller, Jake Connor, Ash Handley and Brodie Croft (all Leeds), Wigan’s O’Neill, Keighran, Bevan French and Jai Field, Jez Litten and Tyrone May (both Hull KR), Leigh Leopards centre Umyla Hanley and St Helens hooker Daryl Clark.