LAST year’s Grand Final match winner Jack Welsby has added another accolade to his belt.
The 20-year-old former Blackbrook Royals junior tonight collected Super League’s Young Player of the Year Award at the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Awards.
The versatile Welsby has not let last year’s momentous finale, when he scored the winner after the hooter against Wigan, affect his attitude or application and he has enjoyed another tremendous season in the red vee.
Starting the season at full back, in place of the then injured Lachlan Coote, Welsby has played centre, wing and stand off – finishing the season as interchange loose forward in the Super League semi final against Leeds.
In 25 matches this term he has scored 14 tries and a drop goal – twice scoring hat-tricks on the wing against Hull FC.
But maybe his highlight this year was the try he set up for Tommy Makinson at Wembley after coming on for the injured Theo Fages.
Although he has not nailed down his starting spot this year, he is nevertheless one of the first names put down on the 17, such is the quality, energy, pace and vision he brings to the game.
Welsby will take over from Coote at full back next season, but he showed when he deputised for the injured Jonny Lomax that he is equally adept in the halves.
Welsby said: “It’s a real honour to be receiving this award. There has been so much young talent coming through this year so to be even up for a nomination was great for me, but to be crowned the winner is massive.
“At the start of the season, I wanted to play as many games as possible and to get into this current Saints team is no mean feat as there is so many talented players in every position.
"Thankfully I have done that and won a first Challenge Cup and now we are in another Grand Final.
“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 so early on in my career.”
Previous Saints winners of this award are Matty Lees, Jonny Lomax, James Graham and Keiron Cunningham.
Coach of the Year has gone to Steve McNamara.
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