DEPARTING Saints full back Ben Barba has been awarded the Steve Prescott Man of Steel at tonight's ceremony in Manchester.

He saw off club captain James Roby and Wigan packman John Bateman.

Barba, who finished top of the Super League try scoring charts with 28 in the league, lit up the competition in the opening six months.

Although his form tailed off at the end, he had made a significant and lasting impression on those he played against.

The former Cronulla and Brisbane full-back is only the second player to win both the Man of Steel and the NRL equivalent, the Dally M, which he earned in 2012 during a spell with Canterbury Bulldogs.
Former Hull KR forward Gavin Miller won the Dally M Award as a Cronulla player in 1988, two years after being named Man of Steel.
Barba, who was Super League's top tryscorer with 28 touchdowns, is the first Australian to win the award since former Wigan winger Pat Richards in 2010 and the sixth in all.
Barba becomes the first Saints player since James Graham in 2008 to win the award.

But he is the latest of a long line of Saints - George Nicholls, Sean Long, Paul Sculthorpe, twice, Jamie Lyon, Paul Wellens and James Roby.

Wigan's Shaun Wane was named coach of the year for the first time after steering the Warriors to a fifth Grand Final in seven seasons in his farewell campaign at his hometown club - ahead of saints boss Justin Holbrook.

Castleford's 19-year-old half-back Jake Trueman was named young player. ahead of Saints prop Matty Lees.

Castleford's Georgia Roche, 17, made history be becoming the inaugural winner of the Woman of Steel award.

Warrington were named club of the year for their off-field work which includes a leading role in the formation of Physical Disability Rugby League.