Who do we think will be crowned this years man of steel? I can’t say anywone has stood out enough for the duration of the season so with that in mind, I am going to say James Roby or Paul McShane.

Regards

King James

Bateman in with a shout

Remi Casty for me. A true man of steel inspirational in Catalans reversal of fortunes this year.

I'm not sure what the criteria is. Most durable? Most influential? Hardest? Can anyone help?

Tony Gigot or Josh McCrone, every year someone from one of the M62 clubs wins it, it needs to go abroad like the challenge cup did so the sport doesn't die.

They need to change how they pick the candidates and winner.

Adopt the same system as Dally M in Australia where points are awarded on a weekly basis. This way you will see a fairer representation of players who are deemed to have performed over the whole season.

This is a good idea as long as it is implemented properly. I know league express used to do something similar but in the year when Trent Barrett came runner up to the legendary James Roby, I think League express had, based on their system someone like Ade Gardner as their player of the year. I stopped buying League express shortly after

Regards

King James

Top 3 candidates IMO (in any order) Bill Tupou, James Roby, John Bateman.

So your selection would be based on geography rather than performance.

Think he's trying to pull some legs.

You'd have thought,

Roby
Barba
McShane

I had a tenner on roby before the start of the season. I love McShane for obvious reasons.


Therefore, barba will win it.

We really are in some rut if Paul McShane is deemed to be the best player in Super League.

The award is of little meaning anymore given the structure of the league and the only 2 games which actually count aren't considered in the vote.

McShane has no chance, Roby is miles better. Similar with Tupou, good player but despite Sky’s best efforts to make out he deserves it he definitely doesn’t. It has to be a Saints player and I think the final 3 will end up being 1. Roby 2. Barba 3. Bateman. Luke Thompson and Jonny Lomax can both consider themselves unlucky.

I'll be astonished if Chris Hill doesn't win

Bateman by plenty , in the absence of the like of Farrell and SOL for long periods of the season , he has practically carried the Wigan pack singlehandedly at times . A phenomenal seasons work , he may well sign off with another ring , wouldn't be surprised .

McShane with not only the most tackles in super league but a whopping 27 assists.

Roby has been playing in a team with a clean bill of health most of the year, McShane certainly has not.

Lomax ? Give over.

Tony Gigot is a genuine contender.

Ben Barba was very impressive in the 1st half of the season but hasn’t kept that up over the last few months

McShane has played more minutes than Roby and Houghton which is why he has more tackles. Assists aren’t the be all and end all otherwise Richie Myler and Jacob Miller would be in contention. Roby has outclassed McShane on 3 occasions this year. McShane getting MOS really would be a sad moment for Super League and an indicator of just how far we’ve fallen. Lomax has been the best stand off by a country mile with 17 try’s and 16 assists. He’s been outstanding and would walk into every SL side on this seasons form.

Roby, McShane, Bateman couldnt argue against any. Barba was I front but his drop of form around time of his move back to NRL may well count against him.

It would be a joke for the MOS to not come from Saints. Bateman is an excellent player gives 110% and all that but he isn’t a particularly skillful player. Sure he makes metres and tackles everything in sight but in way of try’s or assists he doesn’t contribute a great deal. He’s become overrated and shouldn’t win MOS.

Correct. He's a moron. A hooker with 27 try assists. Not a bloody stand off or scrum half!

AS literally vanished when saints blew the cup and then their LLS v Wigan. Back after they've beaten an in form hull side and a wire side missing their best players.

Wire were missing Hughes and Clark. Saints were missing LMS and Roby.

McShane has been given more attacking responsibility since the injury to Gale and up until recently, the lack of a proper Full back. Roby has 11 with a lot less responsibility in the opposition 20 and less playing time.