The ten-player shortlist for the third episode of Man of Steel: The Panel has officially been revealed, with League Leaders’ Shield winners Wigan Warriors dominating half of the nominations following the conclusion of the regular season.

The award, which will be presented at the Rugby League Awards Night in Manchester on Tuesday, September 29, sees ten of Super League’s biggest stars come under the microscope for their performances between Round 19 and Round 27. The panel will now vote to whittle the list down to a top five.

Wigan Warriors dominate the selections with five players nominated after their commanding end to the regular season.

Reigning Man of Steel winner Jake Connor joins Leeds Rhinos teammate Brodie Croft on the list, while dynamic prop Caleb Hamlin-Uele represents Wakefield Trinity alongside Leigh Leopards duo Joe Ofahengaue and Umyla Hanley.

The selections will be debated by an elite five-man panel of former award winners—Ellery Hanley MBE, Paul Sculthorpe MBE, Sam Tomkins, James Roby, and Joe Lydon—hosted by Brian Carney on SuperLeague+.

Reflecting on the difficulty of narrowing down the contenders, former St Helens and England hooker James Roby highlighted the fierce debate among the panel:

“There’s been some terrific individual performances in the last nine rounds of the regular Super League season.

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“There’s plenty of debate in the show and it’s never easy whittling the ten down to five.

“We don’t all agree – you can tell that with the voting – but the final five is impressive and they’ll now go into our thinking when it comes to making our final decision on the 2026 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel.”

Following Monday night’s broadcast, the panel will meet one final time to determine a three-man shortlist encompassing the entire campaign before crowning the 2026 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel.

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Ten-man shortlist for the 2026 Man of Steel award:

Wigan Warriors: Adam Keighran, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Brad O’Neill, Jai Field.

Leeds Rhinos: Jake Connor, Brodie Croft.

Leigh Leopards: Joe Ofahengaue, Umyla Hanley.

Wakefield Trinity: Caleb Hamlin-Uele.