SAINTS stand off Jack Welsby has retained his Super League Young Player of the Year award.

But he was runner up to Salford Red Devils’ mercurial half back, Brodie Croft in the 2022 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel.

Welsby, who started the year at full back, has operated with effect in the halves following Lewis Dodd's season ending Achilles injury. 

On picking up the award, Welsby said: “It’s a real honour to be receiving this award. There is so much young talent coming through Super League so to be crowned the winner for the second successive year is an honour for me. 

“I was also privileged to be nominated for the Betfred Man of Steel award, but I would swap all personal honours for another Grand Final winners ring. 

“It is going to be a packed out Old Trafford and I am really looking forward to it.

"As a kid this is all you want to do – play in big games and I am thankful I will hopefully get the opportunity to do that for a third year running!”

The award was selected by the English Performance team.

Croft saw off competition from Welsby and Jai Field (Wigan Warriors) to be crowned Man of Steel in his first season with the Red Devils.

Croft also becomes only the second Salford player to win the award, following in the footsteps of Jackson Hastings who lifted the trophy in 2019.

It was a season of two halves for the Red Devils in 2022 and it was that dramatic second half turnaround in form, that saw Croft climb the weekly leaderboard.

Croft claimed points in 6 of Salford’s last nine fixtures to top the leaderboard at the end of the regular season.

This season Croft missed just one regular season game, in round 27, and in those appearances, he contributed 25 try assists, 7 tries to Salford’s campaign. However, his involvement went deeper than just scoring, he also featured in the top 10 for carries (433), metres (2761) and clean breaks (30).

Croft was presented his award by two-time Man of Steel and former team-mate and friend of Steve Prescott, Paul Sculthorpe MBE at the Betfred Super League Awards in Leeds.

Sculthorpe said of Croft: “Being a two-time Man of Steel, I know first-hand what it means to a player to receive this recognition.

“Brodie has shown all season what an exceptional talent he is. His creative flair, leadership and doggedness have been as huge asset to Paul Rowley’s rejuvenated Salford Red Devils team.

“It is no shock that the run Salford put together at the end of the season was mirrored by an exceptional series of performances from Brodie. Highlighted by the 25 try assists he provided this season.”

Award winners at the 2022 Betfred Super League Awards.

Top Tackler – Danny Houghton (Hull FC).

Top Try Scorer – Bevan French (Wigan Warriors).

Loch Lomond Spirit of Super League Award – Peter Mata’utia (Awarded to those who make a significant contribution to the sport beyond the field of play).

Young Player of the Year – Jack Welsby (St Helens).

Coach of the Year – Matt Peet (Wigan Warriors).

Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel – Brodie Croft (Salford Red Devils).