Courage of Prescott recognised in decision to honour his name

THE most prestigious individual honour in rugby league is to be named in memory of one of its most respected exponents – Steve Prescott.
Steve Prescott.Steve Prescott.
Steve Prescott.

From October, the player who makes the biggest impact on the First Utility Super League season will receive the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award.

The RFL’s proposal to rename an honour which has been awarded annually since its inception in 1977 received unanimous support from the 14 Super League clubs at their EGM last week. It was no surprise; Prescott’s courage, determination and fight in raising more than half a million pounds for charity while battling a rare form of leukaemia before his death in November, transcended the game.

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The ex-St Helens, Hull, Wakefield, Ireland and England full-back was diagnosed with the terminal disease in 2006, but proved an inspiration to millions of people as he completed a series of tough, fund-raising challenges.

Super League chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer said: “It is absolutely right that the player whose on-field heroics capture the imagination of his peers throughout a Super League season is presented with an award named in recognition of one of the sport’s true heroes.

“Although he never won the award himself, Steve really was a man of steel; a truly extraordinary individual.”

Prescott’s wife, Linzi, said: “The news that the Super League clubs have unanimously voted in naming the award after Stephen is overwhelming. The fact his name will always be linked to this award will for ever be a reminder of what a special husband, dad and person he was.”

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The Steve Prescott Foundation has donated £526,000 to The Christies Cancer Hospital and RFL Benevolent Fund and, at the start of the year, appointed 16 ambassadors from the world of sport to continue his legacy.

Huddersfield Giants coach Paul Anderson – whose captain Danny Brough is the reigning holder of the award – fully supported the decision and said: “The Man of Steel always had some meaning anyway, but it has so much more now being named after such an inspirational man.”

Bradford Bulls coach Francis Cummins is hopeful the troubled club could have a new owner in the next week and that no more players will exit Odsal.

“We found after the Wakefield win, just when we felt we were starting to build some momentum, another spanner was thrown in there, but things are starting to happen, which is good,” he said.

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“It’s looking really positive. I’m frightened to death we’re going to lose some more – there might be a club or two that has a poor result at the weekend that finds some money and things happen – but hopefully the club will have moved on a bit by then.

“Hopefully, the administrator might have some definite offers by the end of the week, that’s the latest update that I’ve had.

“You never know, someone might come in and buy the club and we might not lose all the six points if there is an appeal.”

Loan signings Liam Sutcliffe and Greg Burke will debut at Hull tomorrow night, but Garreth Carvell has been left out of the home squad.

Wakefield’s Australian half-back Harry Siejka, 22, will arrive in the UK this lunchtime having finally had his visa approved after initially signing last October.

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