Man of Steel: Jack Welsby, Bevan French and Tom Johnstone unveiled as nominees for 2023 award
Super League’s leading try scorer Tom Johnstone is among the nominees for this year’s Man of Steel award, along with reigning Young Player of the Year Jack Welsby and former nominee Bevan French
Last updated: 04/10/23 4:35 PM
Jack Welsby, Bevan French and Tom Johnstone are the three nominees for this year’s Steve Prescott MBE Betfred Super League Man of Steel award.
Johnstone’s productive season, which saw him finish as the competition’s joint leading try scorer with 27 points, has led to the Catalans Dragons winger being nominated.
St Helens full-back Welsby, who won the Super League Young Player of the Year award in 2021 and 2022, was also nominated for the Man of Steel award last year.
Wigan Warriors halfback French is also a former nominee and has impressed for the League Leaders’ Shield winners after moving from wing to half during the 2023 season.
This year’s Man of Steel winner will be announced at the rugby league end-of-year awards ceremony at Emirates Old Trafford on Tuesday, October 10.
Johnstone could become the first winger to win the prestigious award since Wigan’s Pat Richards in 2010 after topping the try-scoring chart alongside Warriors’ Abbas Miski.
French leads the league in assists, while Welsby has been an integral part of Saints’ strong form after a relatively slow start to their domestic season.
All three players will be involved in the play-off semi-finals this weekend, before the winner is announced ahead of the grand final on October 14.
Both semi-finals can be followed live Air sports. Coverage of the Catalans’ clash with St. Helens starts on Friday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. Sky Sportsmixwith coverage for Wigan’s match against Hull KR from Saturday 7 October at 12.15pm Sky Sports Arena.