Mikey Lewis crowned Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel

Mikey Lewis and Willie Peters claimed double glory for Hull KR ahead of Saturday’s Betfred Super League Grand Final as the club’s memorable 2024 season was recognised at Rugby League’s Awards Night, staged at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

Lewis, the 23-year-old homegrown half-back who made his England debut against Tonga last year, was crowned Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel as the outstanding performer in the Betfred Super League campaign – only the second Hull KR player to win the award since it was introduced in 1977, and the first since Gavin Miller in 1986.

Peters was voted Coach of the Year, an award decided by his peers, after steering Hull KR to second in the Betfred Super League table and on to Saturday’s first Grand Final appearance in his second full season in charge at Sewell Group Craven Park.

But there was also success for Wigan Warriors, who will face Hull KR at Old Trafford, as their explosive 20-year-old back-row Junior Nsemba was named Young Player of the Year – only the second forward to win that award in a decade.

York Valkyrie’s achievement in becoming the first club to retain the Betfred Women’s Super League title with Grand Final victory over St Helens on Sunday was recognised as their full-back Georgie Hetherington was named 2024 Woman of Steel – the third York player to win the award in consecutive years, after Sinead Peach in 2023 and Tara Jane Stanley in 2022.

But Matty Smith was named Coach of the Year after guiding Saints to the League Leaders’ Shield and their fourth consecutive Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup triumph, while the 19-year-old Leeds Rhinos forward Bella Sykes was named BWSL Young Player of the Year.

There was another major award for the Rhinos Wheelchair team, who take on Halifax Panthers in the Wheelchair Super League Grand Final in Hull this Sunday, as Josh Butler was the second winner of the Wheels of Steel - which was introduced in 2023 as a focal part of Rugby League’s biggest and most inclusive awards ceremony.

The Panthers took the other two Wheelchair awards, with Wayne Boardman named Coach of the Year, and Rob Hawkins regaining the Young Player of the Year award he first won as a teenager in 2019.