The game has always been willing to recognise its heroes and pay tribute to the individuals and organisations who excel in their chosen field, as was seen on Tuesday night at the Man of Steel dinner and last week at the National League's presentation evening.

Awards ceremonies can often be incestuous affairs plagued by self-aggrandisement but both bashes were, in the main, restrained and dignified, but for the occasional lapse by Eddie Hemmings, the consummately professional and hugely likeable Sky TV presenter who just can't stop himself banging the Super League drum.

Every Super League club was represented at the Man of Steel do in Manchester, which wasn't the case at Leeds a week before when Whitehaven stayed away and Leigh, who are still sulking at missing out on a Super League licence, boycotted the event.

That was real shame for both clubs because not only did they miss an enjoyable, if overly long night, the meal (pate, rib of beef, creme brulee) was rather good, too.

The grub at the Hilton Hotel on Deansgate – salmon mousse, a Dolly Parton-esque chicken breast, sticky toffee pudding – wasn't half-bad either, although it probably didn't taste too good on the Leeds Rhinos table.

Just five days before they defend their title at Old Trafford, Leeds had to sit through another of the 'St Helens love-ins' compered by our Eddie who, even as a lifelong Warrington fan, can't turn down the opportunity to worship at the feet of Saints.

First up was James Graham, the "engage Super League metre maker" who kept a safe distance as the Sky anchor praised him to high heaven, despite knowing full well the carrot-haired prop would soon be back as winner of the main event.

The audience was then treated to a eulogy on the career of Paul Sculthorpe for making 200 Super League appearances before Graham's encore, which at one point threatened to turn into that sketch from Little Britain with 'Jammer' playing the Prime Minister and Eddie the PM's aide, Sebastian.

At least Jamie Peacock, who was short-listed for Man of Steel, could have had few complaints at being pipped to the award by Graham, who has been outstanding all year, unlike in 2005 when 'JP' all but single handedly carried Bradford to grand final glory only to lose out to St Jamie Lyon.

The Man of Steel dinner must be as popular a date in Leeds's diary as hair washing night is for a nine-year-old boy because looking down the roll of honour it has rarely been an evening of celebration for one of rugby league's biggest clubs.

Of the 93 main awards – Man of Steel, coach of the year, young player of the year – handed out since the event's inauguration in 1977, Leeds have collected just six, two of which were won first time out, by David Ward.

Leeds could be forgiven for not agreeing with the sentiments in the opening paragraph of this column because their achievements appear to have been systematically overlooked, making them the original victims of the credit crunch.

All that could change, of course, should they win on Saturday.

After all, it's not as if they will be short of motivation.