Graham lands Man of Steel award

11:03pm Tuesday 30th September 2008

England prop forward James Graham maintained St Helens' dominance of rugby league's top individual award on Tuesday night when he was named the 2008 engage Super League Man of Steel.

The 23-year-old emerged top of a poll of Super League players who determined the winner of the prestigious award for the first time.

"It's fantastic news for James," said St Helens coach Daniel Anderson. "To do what he's done this year is exceptional. He's been tremendous for us."

Also shortlisted were St Helens stand-off Leon Pryce and Leeds forward Jamie Peacock, who like Graham will feature in Saturday's Grand Final at Old Trafford.

Graham, who was recently voted as player of the year by the Rugby League Writers Association, received his trophy and a cheque for £5,000 at a gala dinner in Manchester.

He becomes the seventh St Helens player to be crowned Man of Steel in the last nine years, emulating the feat of James Roby (2007), Paul Wellens (2006), Jamie Lyon (2005), Sean Long (2000) and Paul Sculthorpe (2001 and 2002).

Graham, who was Super League's young player of the year in 2006, has been inspirational this season in St Helens' bid to complete a domestic whitewash of the trophies, taking up the mantle when the team lost both first-choice starting props Jason Cayless and Nick Fozzard through injury.

Since scoring twice on his debut for Great Britain against New Zealand two years ago, Graham has yet to appear on the losing side for his country and promises to be a key figure for England in the World Cup.

Castleford loose forward Joe Westerman, 18, who is also in England's World Cup squad, was named young player of the year, beating off competition from Joel Tomkins (Wigan) and Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield).

Mick Potter topped a poll of Super League coaches to be named coach of the year after guiding Catalans Dragons to a third-place finish in his final season before taking over from Anderson at St Helens.

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