Jake Connor, once on the books at Huddersfield Giants before a spell with Hull FC and now a linchpin for Leeds Rhinos, has been named among the final three contenders for the 2025 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award.
The 30-year-old fullback has been a standout performer this season, steering Leeds to a fourth-place finish and cementing himself as one of the competition’s most influential figures.
Connor topped the leaderboard when voting was paused mid-season, holding a five-point lead over Hull prop Herman Ese’ese. Now, with the shortlist confirmed, he remains firmly in the frame to be crowned Super League’s best player for the first time.
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Connor’s competition is fierce. Current holder Mikey Lewis has forced his way back into the reckoning after a blistering second half of the campaign. Victory for the Hull KR star would make him only the second man in history to win consecutive Man of Steel titles, following Paul Sculthorpe’s feat in the early 2000s.
The third finalist is Wigan’s Jai Field, whose attacking spark has once again driven the Warriors into contention. Field, like Connor, is chasing his first Man of Steel crown.
For Leeds, a win for Connor would mark their first since Zak Hardaker claimed the honour in 2015, and only their second in the past two decades. The winner will be revealed at a ceremony in Manchester next month, with history beckoning for whichever name is read out.