Brad O’Neill Honored with Prestigious Man of Steel Award

Wigan Warriors’ dynamic hooker, Brad O’Neill, has been recognized with the esteemed 2026 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old O’Neill emerged victorious over strong contenders, including fellow teammate Adam Keighran and Lachie Miller from Leeds, to claim this accolade.

This recognition is a testament to O’Neill’s pivotal role in Wigan’s successful rugby season, where they triumphed in both the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders’ Shield, in 2026. A stalwart presence, O’Neill featured in 31 matches across all competitions, securing his place as a key player.

Despite a challenging moment in last year’s Super League Grand Final, where O’Neill was sidelined for a poorly timed tackle on Tyrone May, this year he led his squad to significant victories following their trophyless 2025 season. His exemplary performance also earned him the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association Player of the Year title.

The awards night was memorable not just for O’Neill but also for Wigan’s coach, Matt Peet, who was named Betfred Super League Coach of the Year after leading the team to their recent successes.

Furthermore, Wigan showed their strength in the women’s game as well, with three of their players, Eva Hunter, Jenna Foubister, and Megan Williams, being shortlisted for the Woman of Steel award. Though they were narrowly defeated by York Valkyrie in the finals, Foubister took home the Woman of Steel title.

Elsewhere, Halifax Panthers’ Rob Hawkins received the Wheels of Steel award, adding another layer of excitement to the evening.

A Night of Celebrations Across Categories

The 2026 Rugby League Awards recognized exceptional talent across various leagues. In addition to the Man of Steel honors, St Helens’ Harry Robertson was applauded as Young Player of the Year in the Super League category. Other notable awards included Rob Hawkins’ recognition in the wheelchair category and Jenna Foubister’s Woman of Steel title in the Women’s Super League.

On this celebratory night, achievements across not just Wigan but other clubs were duly acknowledged, reflecting the robust spirit and competitiveness of the rugby league scene in 2026.

Photo by Stefan Lehner on Unsplash