Brad O'Neill and Jenna Foubister win top honours at rugby league awards

Brad O'Neill has won the 2026 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award for the first time, with fellow Wigan Warriors player Jenna Foubister receiving the Woman of Steel honour. BBC Sport reported the results on 29 September, as Wigan also collected the men's and women's Super League coaching awards.

O'Neill, a 24-year-old England hooker, was selected ahead of Wigan team-mate Adam Keighran and Leeds full-back Lachie Miller. He made 31 appearances across all competitions in a season in which the Warriors won both the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders' Shield. The Man of Steel award adds to his recognition as the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association Player of the Year.

The individual honours followed a return to trophies for Wigan after the club finished 2025 without silverware. Matt Peet was named Super League Coach of the Year after overseeing the men's Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield successes. St Helens also had a winner in the men's Super League categories, with Harry Robertson receiving the Young Player of the Year award.

Foubister emerged from an entirely Wigan shortlist for Woman of Steel, beating club colleagues Eva Hunter and Megan Willams. It was the second consecutive year that all three shortlisted players came from the Warriors. Wigan's Denis Betts received the women's Coach of the Year award, while Leeds Rhinos' Connie Boyd was named Young Player of the Year.

The women's awards came after Wigan missed completing a three-trophy season. Having secured the Women's Challenge Cup and League Leaders' crown, the Warriors were beaten by York Valkyrie on Sunday and did not add the Women's Super League title. Foubister's individual success therefore followed a season that brought two team honours but ended without the league championship.

Elsewhere, Halifax Panthers' Rob Hawkins received the Wheels of Steel award. London Roosters' Max Owen took the wheelchair Young Player of the Year prize, with Edinburgh Giants' Martyn Gill named Coach of the Year. In the Championship categories, London Broncos' Gairo Voro was named Player of the Year, Midlands Hurricanes' Sully Medforth won the young-player award and Widnes Vikings' Allan Coleman received the coaching honour.