James Graham second favourite for rugby league Man of Steel honour (From St Helens Star)

James Graham second favourite for rugby league Man of Steel honour

1:11pm Wednesday 3rd February 2010

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JAMES Graham has been installed as second favourite to win the coveted Engage Super League Man of Steel crown in 2010, while Keiron Cunningham – who will retire at the end of the season – is 12 –1 to land an individual prize that has surprisingly eluded him during a glittering career.

Leeds Rhinos prop Jamie Peacock is priced at 8-1 by William Hill, the RFL’s official betting partner, to become the player who makes the biggest impact on the new Engage Super League season, which kicks off in earnest this weekend.

The 32-year-old’s biggest rivals for the honour this year are his two England front row colleagues Adrian Morley of Warrington Wolves and Saints prop James Graham, who are both rated as 10-1.

Graham won the prize in 2008.

Last season’s Engage Super League Man of Steel winner Brett Hodgson, the Huddersfield Giants captain, is 12-1 to become the first player to retain the honour in successive seasons since Paul Sculthorpe achieved the feat in 2001 and 2002.

Hooker Cunningham, who will be immortalised in bronze when a statue of him is unveiled by St Helens Council this spring, is also at 12-1 to round of his career by earning the gong.

So too Bradford Bulls’ new signing Matt Orford, the Australian scrum-half who captained Manly Sea Eagles to their World Club Challenge victory over Leeds last year.

William Hill are also offering short odds on some of the bright young stars of Engage Super League eclipsing their senior colleagues to become Man of Steel in 2010.

Kyle Eastmond, the 20-year-old Saints scrum-half, who made such an exciting impact for Saints last year is just 16-1 to land the honour.

Twenty-year-old Wigan Warriors half-back Sam Tomkins is 20-1.

Leading 2010 Engage Super League Man of Steel odds: Jamie Peacock (Leeds) 8/1, James Graham (St Helens) 10/1, Adrian Morley (Warrington) 10/1, Matt Orford (Bradford) 12/1, Brett Hodgson (Huddersfield) 12/1, Keiron Cunningham (St Helens) 12/1, Kevin Sinfield (Leeds) 14/1, Kyle Eastmond (Leeds) 16/1, James Roby (St Helens) 20/1, Danny Brough (Wakefield) 20/1, Sean Long (Hull FC) 20/1, Danny Buderus (Leeds) 20/1, Sam Tomkins (Wigan) 20/1, Michael Monaghan (Warrington) 20/1, Rob Burrow (Leeds) 20/1, Paul Wellens (St Helens) 25/1, Steve Menzies (Bradford) 25/1, Michael Dobson (Hull KR) 33/1, Greg Eastwood (Leeds) 33/1, Shaun Berrigan (Hull FC) 33/1, Brett Kearney (Bradford) 33/1, Eorl Crabtree (Huddersfield) 40/1, Matt King (Warrington) 40/1, Keith Senior (Leeds) 40/1, Mark O’Meley (Hull FC) 40/1, Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan) 40/1, Thomas Bosc (Catalans) 40/1, Richie Myler (Warrington) 40/1, David Solomona (Warrington) 50/1, Brent Webb (Leeds) 50/1, Clint Greenshields (Catalans) 50/1, Rangi Chase (Castleford) 50/1, Brent Sherwin (Castleford) 50/1, Adam Mogg (Catalans) 50/1, Heath L'Estrange (Bradford) 50/1, Chad Randall (Harlequins) 50/1, Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR) 50/1, Pat Richards (Wigan) 50/1, Tony Puletua (St Helens) 50/1, Andy Lynch (Bradford) 66/1.

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