SKY SPORTS pundit Jon Wilkin believes the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award needs a shake-up after taking aim at Leeds Rhinos’ Jake Connor being sat at the top of the tree.
Connor has impressed for the Rhinos since making the move from Huddersfield Giants ahead of the 2025 Super League season.
But, Wilkin does not believe that he is the best player in the competition and deserves to be sat first in the rankings.
“The Man of Steel needs looking at. Is Jake Connor the best player in our competition right now? No,” Wilkin said live on Sky Sports.
“I don’t think Jake Connor is currently in the top five or six players in the competition. He is playing well in a Leeds side that’s vastly improved and is playing in better parts of the field.”
Though Wilkin does not believe Connor should be top of the Man of Steel leaderboard, Wilkin does believe that the playmaker will be in the reckoning for the three Test Ashes series at the end of the season with Australia.
He is touching the ball a lot more playing in the halves so I think he is a contender for the Ashes.
“I think Shaun Wane would like the way he has evolved and improved his mentality but that is still a work in progress.”
https://www.totalrl.com/sky-sports-pund ... o-the-top/
Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin calls for Man of Steel shakeup following Jake Connors rise to the top
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josie andrews
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Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin calls for Man of Steel shakeup following Jake Connors rise to the top
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
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southportcdm
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Re: Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin calls for Man of Steel shakeup following Jake Connors rise to the top
I'm sure I'm not the only one to agree with Wilkin's comments. This has always been the weakness of the Man of Steel award but alternative systems have their weaknesses too. Perhaps the match to match scoring system should just be used to determine a short list (even a top 10?) which then gets voted on by a 'well qualified' panel. What then constitutes a 'well qualified' panel would then be the subject of great discussion but I would value the opinion of coaches more than commentators and even ex players.