Jake Connor Returns to the Top of Man of Steel Rankings

What happened: Sky News reports that Leeds Rhinos pair Jake Connor and Ash Handley are joint-top of the latest Steve Prescott Man of Steel rankings. The updated shortlist covers rounds 10 to 18 of the Betfred Super League season. The most striking part is Connor’s movement: the reigning Man of Steel was not on the previous shortlist at all, but has now returned to the top.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndysZ8uTAns

Why it matters: The Man of Steel race is a form guide as much as an award table. Because this update covers a defined block of Super League rounds, it captures who has influenced the middle phase of the season rather than simply rewarding reputation from earlier in the year. Connor’s return changes the shape of the conversation because it moves him from outside the visible race back to the front of it.

Tournament impact: For Leeds Rhinos, having Connor and Handley jointly leading the rankings points to a strong individual contribution from two players over the same stretch of the campaign. The source does not provide match-by-match detail, voting totals, or the wider league table context, so it would be wrong to overstate what this means for Leeds’ final position. What can be said is narrower and still important: between rounds 10 and 18, the Man of Steel process judged Connor and Handley to be among the most influential players in the competition.

What changed: Connor’s absence from the previous shortlist makes this update more than a routine ranking refresh. It suggests a significant mid-season swing in recognition. In award terms, that matters because gaps in visibility can be hard to overcome, especially when voters and fans start building narratives around consistent contenders. Connor has now forced his name back into the lead group.

What to watch: The next ranking update will show whether this is a peak in a specific voting window or the start of a sustained push. Handley’s joint position also deserves attention because teammates sharing the top can cut two ways: it underlines Leeds’ influence, but it can also split narrative focus if the award race tightens. Without the full shortlist or points distribution in the supplied story, the gap to the chasing group remains unclear.

Confidence: Confirmed by Sky News: Jake Connor and Ash Handley are joint-top of the latest Steve Prescott Man of Steel rankings, covering rounds 10 to 18, and Connor was missing from the previous shortlist. Still needing follow-up: the full rankings table, points margins, match-level voting detail, and how this aligns with Leeds’ broader Super League position.