Man of Metal 2021: Tremendous League reveal the 5 nominees for this 12 months’s award

The winner of this 12 months’s Steve Prescott MBE Man of Metal award can be revealed on the Betfred Tremendous League Awards on Monday, October 4. Watch the awards ceremony on Sky Sports activities from 8pm

Hull KR’s Jordan Abdull is among the many nominees for this 12 months’s Man of Metal award

The five-man shortlist for this 12 months’s Steve Prescott MBE Man of Metal award has been revealed, with a former winner and a number of other first-time nominees included.

The shortlist, drawn from the factors awarded every spherical by the Man of Metal panel over the course of the common season, is an all-English record for the primary time since 2014, and Catalans Dragons star and 2012 winner Sam Tomkins is amongst these up for the prize.

Nominees from both sides of Hull’s rugby league divide in Jordan Abdull and Jake Connor function too, together with St Helens half-back Jonny Lomax and Warrington Wolves’ Gareth Widdop.

This 12 months’s Man of Metal can be revealed on the Betfred Tremendous League Awards on Sky Sports activities on Monday, October 4 at 8pm and we profile the 5 contenders right here…

Jordan Abdull (Hull Kingston Rovers)

Abdull’s kind this season has been an enormous a part of the Robins reaching the play-offs for the primary time since 2013 – a season the place many had tipped them to be combating it out on the reverse finish of the desk.

A late-season harm coincided with Hull KR’s kind taking a dip at a pivotal time, however his return in opposition to Castleford Tigers in Spherical 24 helped the Robins to an important win which finally secured them a play-off berth.

A complete of 13 assists and 4 tries in 13 appearances for Abdull this season present why he was pushing in the direction of the highest of the Man of Metal leaderboard all through the season.

Jake Connor (Hull FC)

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Jake Connor was spectacular on his return for Hull FC as they took the spoils in opposition to their metropolis rivals

Nobody can argue that Connor has not been in formidable kind for Brett Hodgson’s Hull FC aspect this season.

Discovering his spot as first-choice full-back within the absence of Jamie Shaul, Connor’s affect throughout the crew has been evident all 12 months. His capability to tackle the road, discover area and create assaults is outstanding.

Second solely within the strive help charts to Josh Drinkwater, Connor has been concerned in a formidable 28 out of Hull FC’s 67 tries this 12 months, delivering 22 assists and crossing the whitewash six instances himself.

Jonny Lomax (St Helens)

A primary Man of Metal shortlist nomination feels lengthy overdue for the Saints star, however it’s that constant stage of high efficiency which has cemented Lomax’s place as among the finest gamers within the competitors.

Lomax’s ever-dependability has seen Saints win back-to-back Tremendous League titles and given them an actual likelihood of creating it three-in-a-row this season.

It’s typically stated that stats don’t at all times inform the total story and Lomax’s affect on the crew can simply be ignored when a crew is performing in addition to St Helens have this season.

Nonetheless, his capability to regulate the sport from the center and create alternatives with ball-in-hand praise his crew’s attacking ethos completely and his 14 assists in 17 appearances are proof of that.

Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons)

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Watch as Catalans’ Sam Tomkins weaved by means of the St Helens defence inside the primary three minutes at Magic Weekend

The Dragons have made loads of headlines in 2021, together with lifting the League Leaders’ Defend for the primary time and it’s their backbone, led by mercurial full-back Tomkins, which has pushed them on to being 80 minutes from a primary Grand Remaining.

The 2012 Man of Metal winner has settled into life within the South of France and the taking part in group Steve McNamara has assembled round him helps to deliver out the perfect in Tomkins this season.

Main the Man of Metal rankings when the votes went darkish after Spherical 18, Tomkins’ affect on the Dragons performances can’t be underestimated. Be it line-breaking kick returns, attacking the line of defense with devastating impact or strive saving tackles Tomkins has been immense for the French aspect.

In 19 appearances this season, Tomkins has been instantly concerned in 30 of the Catalans’ tries, racking up 10 of his and offering a formidable 20 assists – to not point out making a formidable 66 tackles busts.

Gareth Widdop (Warrington Wolves)

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Watch Gareth Widdop’s distinctive strive from Warrington’s win over Leigh

After an harm and Covid-disrupted first season in Tremendous League for Widdop, the England worldwide would have come into 2021 with large expectations of serving to Wolves attain the Grand Remaining and, so far, he has not let the crew down.

His management in the midst of park together with a quick-thinking rugby mind noticed Widdop declare early-season plaudits. A formidable private tally of 10 tries and 13 assists exhibits the artistic impression he brings.

His half-back partnership with fellow England participant George Williams, who joined from NRL aspect Canberra Raiders halfway by means of the season, is exhibiting indicators of being an amazing mixture for Warrington too.