Brad O’Neill has been named fourth in the latest Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel rankings, reflecting a run of form that has made the 23‑year‑old one of Wigan Warriors’ most consistent performers this season. The assessment, compiled by a five‑strong panel of former recipients, covered rounds 10 to 18 of the Super League campaign.
Panel assessment and context
The panel — made up of Ellery Hanley MBE, Paul Sculthorpe MBE, Sam Tomkins, James Roby and Joe Lydon — reduced a 10‑player shortlist to a top five. Their judgment follows a period in which O’Neill has been ever‑present in a Wigan side that lifted the Challenge Cup at Wembley in May. He has started all 23 of his appearances this season.
"As always, it was really difficult whittling down to the final five. But I think the two guys that top it - Jake Connor and Ash Handley - fully deserve it."
The quote above is from Sam Tomkins during the panel's second episode of Man of Steel – The Panel, where he endorsed the top two selections and reflected on the influence of form over the nine‑round period under review.
Where the frontrunners stand
Leeds Rhinos occupy the top of the Super League table after 19 rounds and have two representatives sharing top spot in the panel’s current assessment. The top five in this round of rankings are drawn from performances in the middle third of the season, highlighting how quickly the leaderboard can shift as Super League moves into its final third.
- Joint first: Jake Connor (Leeds Rhinos)
- Joint first: Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos)
- Third: Lachie Miller (Leeds Rhinos)
- Fourth: Brad O’Neill (Wigan Warriors)
- Fifth: (from the panel’s narrowed list)
The panel noted that some players who were absent from earlier shortlists have surged into contention during rounds 10–18, underlining the award’s sensitivity to recent form rather than season‑long accumulation alone.
Local significance
For Wigan supporters, O’Neill’s placing is further evidence of the club’s strong domestic showing this year. The hooker’s continuous presence in the team — starting every match so far — and his contribution to the Challenge Cup victory are measurable factors in the panel’s thinking. While the Man of Steel remains a highly contested prize, being in the top five at this stage marks O’Neill out as one of the competition’s leading performers.
| Rank | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (joint) | Jake Connor | Leeds Rhinos |
| 1 (joint) | Ash Handley | Leeds Rhinos |
| 3 | Lachie Miller | Leeds Rhinos |
| 4 | Brad O’Neill | Wigan Warriors |
As Super League progresses towards the run‑in, rankings like these will continue to evolve. For now, O’Neill’s fourth place represents both individual recognition and a reminder of Wigan’s competitiveness across competitions this season.
