Dave Craven: Solomona is now looking poised to make me eat my words

It conjures images of snarling, muscular, brutish superhumans who leave mere mortals quaking in fear.

With regard to past winners James Graham and James Peacock – along with the potential 2010 victor Adrian Morley – it is not a bad likeness.

Tough Leeds hooker David Ward, the inaugural recipient in 1977, and Hull KR's fearsome Gavin Miller, the first Australian to win it nine years later, were equally imposing.

However, for every hardened forward, there is a wily, cunning slip of a lad like Featherstone's Allan Agar or, more recently, last season's Brett Hodgson, Huddersfield's wiry Australian full-back previously more famously known for being ragged around like a doll by Queensland's Raging Bull Gordan Tallis.

This season's contenders include many of the usual suspects – grizzled prop Graham, Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield and Warrington's ageless Morley, magical Lee Briers and effective Michael Monaghan could all lay claims.

In all likelihood, though, the winner – voted for by the players themselves – will emerge from Wigan where the relentless points scoring of Pat Richards and fine leadership qualities of Sean O'Loughlin have helped set the Warriors apart from the rest so far.

That is 'Man of Steel' sorted but what if an award was served to the player who has given most value for money, possibly the signing of the season?

David Solomona would be a worthy winner. Snapped up on a free from Bradford, the gifted Samoan has been a revelation at Warrington, helping to fire their charge on both fronts.

Around this time last year, there were fears the maverick second-rower's career could be over after untold shoulder problems ruined his stay at Odsal.

He had joined three years earlier in a 100,000 deal from Wakefield where his sublime ball-handling skills had earned him cult-status with the Trinity fans.

But, charged with providing the majority of the Bulls' attacking threat, Solomona failed to live up to his billing, a combination of injuries and perhaps too much pressure seeing him struggle to consistently deliver.

During one sustained period of poor performances from both a frustrating Solomona and the ailing club, I even questioned whether the player, with the years passing by and still yet to lift a trophy, would one day look back and regret not making the most of his immense talent.

Warrington coach Tony Smith gambled on the big forward and it is paying off.

His wonder pass for Vinnie Anderson's try in Perpignan recently was the sort of move only Solomona could create and, with Briers and Monaghan in control, they do not have to rely on his guile.

He is afforded time to venture off the bench and sporadically throws in moments of genius. It has Wolves in the mix for both Super League and the Challenge Cup and leaves me genuinely hoping I have to eat my words.