Castleford Tigers hooker Daryl Clark was tonight crowned 2014 Steve Prescott Man of Steel.
The 21-year-old England player collected the sport’s most coveted individual award, presented to the player deemed to have made the greatest impact on the 2014 season, at the First Utility Super League Man of Steel dinner held at The Point, Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester.
Clark, a product of Castleford’s youth development system, has been in scintillating form for the Tigers this season, playing an instrumental role in helping them to their first Challenge Cup final since 1992 and finishing fourth in the Super League table, the Tigers’ highest-ever position.
Clark also became the third player to win Man of Steel and be named Super League Young Player of the Year on the same night since the awards’ inception in 1977.
He secured the Young Player of the Year award following a two-part selection process incorporating a ballot of every Super League player before the final decision was made by a specially convened five-man Man of Steel Selection Panel.
Clark received the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award ahead of Leeds Rhinos prop Jamie Peacock, Warrington forward Chris Hill and St Helens hooker James Roby.
Roby collected the Super League Hit Man Award for most tackles in the season; and his team-mate Luke Walsh picked up the Top Gun award for having the most successful kicking percentage over the course of the season.
Warrington Wolves won the Community Foundation of the Year Award, in recognition of the strong strategic partnerships they have forged with the local authority and other partners supporting a wide array of activities from Rugby League development to health, heritage, past players, and dance.
The Wolves also picked up two other awards with full-back Matty Russell receiving the Metre Maker award and team-mate Joel Monaghan crowned Top Try-Scorer.
Castleford coach Daryl Powell made it a night to remember for the Tigers as he picked up the Coach of the Year Award, as voted for by his fellow coaches, in recognition of his efforts in guiding the club to their most successful Super League season so far.
Widnes rounded off the evening’s awards when they were named the 2014 Super League Club of the Year having demonstrated rich progress in areas of youth development and player pathways. Widnes also made good progress on the field in 2014, reaching the play-offs for the first time and having a debut representative in the Super League Dream Team in Kevin Brown.
Retiring Super League players Matt Diskin (312 appearance), Jon Clarke (354), Richard Horne (357), David Hodgson (338), Willie Manu (217), Martin Gleeson (304) and Francis Meli (211) were also presented with Outstanding Contribution Awards to mark their long service to the competition having made over 200 Super League appearances.
Tonight was the first time that the Man of Steel was awarded since it was renamed in memory of Steve Prescott MBE, the former St Helens, Hull FC, Ireland and England full-back who died last year after a long and courageous battle against a rare form of stomach cancer.
The award winners in full from the 2014 Super League Man of Steel dinner are as follows:
Top metre maker – Matty Russell (Warrington Wolves) – 3,546 metres
Top try-scorer – Joel Monaghan (Warrington Wolves) – 28 tries
Hit man – James Roby (St Helens) – 1,054 tackles
Top Gun – Luke Walsh (St Helens) – 78.57 per cent
Outstanding Achievement – Matt Diskin, John Clarke, Richard Horne, David Hodgson, Willie Manu, Martin Gleeson, Francis Meli
Foundation of the Year – Warrington Wolves
Club of the Year – Widnes Vikings
Young Player of the Year – Daryl Clark (Castleford Tigers)
Coach of the Year – Daryl Powell (Castleford Tigers)
Steve Prescott Man of Steel – Daryl Clark (Castleford Tigers)