Wheelchair

2024 Betfred Wheelchair Super League Award nominees unveiled

25 Sep 2024

Five outstanding players are in the running to win the 2024 Wheels of Steel trophy at the sport’s biggest and most inclusive Awards Night at the Royal Armouries in Leeds next month.

Coach of the Year and Young Player of the Year will also be celebrated as part of the build-up to Grand Finals week – with the Betfred Wheelchair Super League Grand Final again being shown live on Sky Sports, from the Allam Sports Centre in Hull on Sunday October 13 (KO 5.30pm).

The Wheels of Steel trophy was introduced last year as Wheelchair Rugby League took its place at Rugby League’s annual Awards Night, with Lewis King of London Roosters and England the inaugural winner and recognised alongside Woman of Steel Sinead Peach and Man of Steel Bevan French.

The shortlist for the 2024 Wheels of Steel includes one player from London Roosters, one from Halifax Panthers, and three from League Leaders Leeds Rhinos – and all five nominees will be involved in this weekend’s semi-finals.

Both are on Saturday, starting with Halifax versus London - live on The Sportsman’s Rugby League YouTube channel - in a match that will see nominees Joe Coyd (London Roosters) and Jeremy Bourson (Halifax Panthers) battle it out for a spot in this year’s Grand Final.

The Rhinos have stormed the Super League season winning all their fixtures and their achievement has been rewarded with three players on the 2024 shortlist - Tom Halliwell OBE, Nathan Collins and Josh Butler.

Butler has continued his impressive form from 2023 into this season with the 22-year-old once again in the running for two awards as he is also among the nominees for the Young Player of the Year – which is open to all players who were 23 or under at the start of the 2024 season.

Also nominated in that category are Nathan Roberts of Wigan Warriors and Panthers duo Nat Wright and Rob Hawkins.

The four nominees for Coach of the Year include Leeds Rhinos James Simpson MBE, who has taken his side from strength to strength this season.

He is joined by Tom Coyd MBE, the head coach of both England and London Roosters; and Mike Swainger of Hull FC, who has continued to be a pioneer of the wheelchair game in East Yorkshire; and Wayne Boardman who has overseen Halifax Panthers rise back to the top of the competition this season.

Betfred Wheelchair Super League Semi Finals, Saturday 28 September

Halifax Panthers v London Roosters – The Allam Sports Centre, 3.30pm live on The Sportsman

Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors – The Edge, 6.30pm

Betfred Wheelchair Super League Awards Nominees

Wheels of Steel

Jeremy Bourson (Halifax Panthers)

Josh Butler (Leeds Rhinos)

Joe Coyd (London Roosters)

Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos)

Tom Halliwell (Leeds Rhinos)

Young Player of the Year

Josh Butler (Leeds Rhinos)