SAINTS prop George Delaney was a runner up in Super League’s Player of the Year category at the Rugby League’s Awards Night, staged at the Royal Armouries in Leeds last night.
The award went to Wigan’s sensational second row Junior Nsemba after helping power the Warriors to Old Trafford with some devastating running and destructive tackling.
The strong running Delaney, who was again Saints’ Young Player of the Year for a second time, was runner up alongside Warrington’s NRL-bound Matty Nicholson.
Saints Women’s scrum half Faye Gaskin was also a runner up in the Woman of Steel category – that prize going to full-back Georgie Hetherington – the third York player to win the award in consecutive years, after Sinead Peach in 2023 and Tara Jane Stanley in 2022.
There was one winner from the Saints contingent – with Women’s coach Matty Smith named Coach of the Year after guiding Saints to the League Leaders’ Shield and their fourth consecutive Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup triumph.
Meanwhile Mikey Lewis and Willie Peters claimed double glory for Hull KR ahead of Saturday’s Betfred Super League Grand Final as the club’s memorable 2024 season was recognised.
Lewis, the 23-year-old homegrown half-back who made his England debut against Tonga last year, was crowned Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel as the outstanding performer in the Betfred Super League campaign – only the second Hull KR player to win the award since it was introduced in 1977, and the first since Gavin Miller in 1986.
Peters was voted Coach of the Year, an award decided by his peers, after steering Hull KR to second in the Betfred Super League table and on to Saturday’s first Grand Final appearance in his second full season in charge at Sewell Group Craven Park.
Award Winners.
Betfred Super League.
Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel - Mikey Lewis (Hull KR).
Young Player of the Year - Junior Nsemba (Wigan Warriors).
Coach of the Year - Willie Peters (Hull KR).
Betfred Wheelchair Super League.
Wheels of Steel – Josh Butler (Leeds Rhinos).
Young Player of the Year – Rob Hawkins (Halifax Panthers).
Coach of the Year – Wayne Boardman (Halifax Panthers).
Betfred Women’s Super League.
Woman of Steel – Georgie Hetherington (York Valkyrie).
Young Player of the Year – Bella Sykes (Leeds Rhinos).
Coach of the Year – Matty Smith (St Helens).
Betfred Championship.
Player of the Year - Max Jowitt (Wakefield Trinity).
Young Player of the Year – Oliver Pratt (Wakefield Trinity).
Coach of the Year – Daryl Powell (Wakefield Trinity).
Betfred League One.
Player of the Year – Lewis Else (Rochdale Hornets).
Young Player of the Year – Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e (Oldham).
Coach of the Year – Mark Dunning (Midlands Hurricanes).
Glen’s Spirit of Super League – Bill Arthur.
Rugby League Foundation of the Year – Leeds Rhinos.
RFL / RL Cares Matt King Educational Bursary – England Wheelchair.
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