Influence of ‘Man of Steel’ Brough huge in memorable year for Giants

As the player who has had the biggest impact on the Super League season, the prolific stand-off overcame a considerable challenge from Leeds Rhinos’ stalwart prop Jamie Peacock and, also, Sean O’Loughlin, who hopes to add the Grand Final to Wigan Warriors’ Challenge Cup crown on Saturday evening.

There can be few arguments, though, against Brough’s vote given he had already elicited the Rugby League Writers’ Association Player of the Year in a campaign where he inspired Huddersfield to a top-place finish for the first time in 81 years and had such a telling influence on so many games.

Always one of the sport’s more talented and exuberant characters, the 30-year-old has shown greater maturity this time around, clearly thriving after unexpectedly being handed the captaincy by Paul Anderson, the Huddersfield chief who himself won the Coach of the Year after a vote by his fellow coaches at the awards dinner held at Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

Completing a clean sweep for Yorkshire clubs, Hull FC’s exciting centre Ben Crooks claimed the other main prize as Super League Young Player of the Year after scoring 20 tries in just 21 games.

It is Brough, however, who has captured the imagination this term, discovering the most consistent form of his much-travelled career to spearhead Huddersfield’s charge to the League Leaders’ Shield and their first piece of silverware in the summer era.

Although the Grand Final eluded them – they fell in a semi-final at Warrington Wolves last Thursday – Brough’s peerless kicking, excellent passing skill and ability to pierce sides with his sheer acceleration have at times helped make the Claret and Golds unplayable.

He missed only two games, both against Bradford Bulls, and Huddersfield lost each time.

Furthermore, while once seen as a soft target in defence, Brough is now one of the steeliest half-backs in the competition, something that his peers – who voted for Man of Steel before the final decision was made by a specially convened five-man selection panel – have recognised.

Along the way this year he broke two long-standing club records. He bettered Ben Gronow’s 147 goals in a season, which lasted for 93 years, by six, and surpassed Pat Devery’s points in a season, set in 1953, by amassing 344.

Such was the high level of Brough’s displays, there was outrage among many that the former Hull FC, Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity half-back was continually overlooked by England coach Steve McNamara.

Eventually exasperated by the ongoing snub, Dewsbury-born Brough pledged his allegiance to Scotland once more and he will captain them in the forthcoming World Cup, just as he did five years ago after qualifying through his Glaswegian grandfather.

He made 32 try assists – second only to Castleford Tigers’ Rangi Chase – and finished with nine tries and 154 goals, becoming only the second Huddersfield player to win the Man of Steel after Brett Hodgson in 2009.

Anderson, undoubtedly, has brought the best out of the player as he has done with the majority of this Huddersfield squad, Brough among five to make the Super League Dream Team.

In his first full season as a head coach, the former Bradford and Great Britain prop took them from seventh to first, ironing out many of the deficiencies seen under his predecessor Nathan Brown.

Huddersfield prop Stuart Fielden, the ex-Bradford, Wigan and Great Britain international who recently retired, was also recognised last night with a lifetime achievement award for playing more than 200 Super League games, as was former Hull FC, Hull KR and England full-back Shaun Briscoe.

Peacock took the Top Metre Maker award – his Leeds club were also highlighted for their foundation work – while his team-mate and captain Kevin Sinfield received the inaugural Rhino Top Gun Award as the most accurate goalkicker during the regular season.

Industrious Hull FC hooker Danny Houghton claimed the Top Tackler gong for a second successive season.

Huddersfield centre Joe Wardle has pulled out of the Scotland World Cup squad due to the need for shoulder surgery.

Coach Steve McCormack has included six uncapped players, four from Australia’s NRL competition – Brisbane Broncos star Peter Wallace, Gold Coast prop Luke Douglas, North Queensland centre Kane Linnett and Gold Coast’s Irvine-born full-back Matt Russell – plus Bradford utility Danny Addy and Widnes prop Ben Kavanagh.

Hull KR prop Adam Walker, who has extended his contract at MS3 Craven Park until 2017, is joined in Scotland’s squad by twin brother Jonathan (Castleford). There are three members of Sheffield Eagles’ victorious Championship-winning team – Andrew Henderson, Mitchell Stringer and Alex Szostak – plus Gareth Moore from Batley Bulldogs.

Wigan’s former British Lion forward Andy Powell has been left out of Wales’ World Cup squad due to injury.

Wales are also denied the services of Castleford centre Michael Channing and Sydney Roosters forward Tyson Frizell, but Warrington centre Rhys Evans is set to make his debut after deciding to switch his allegiance from England.

The other uncapped players are Huddersfield prop Larne Patrick, St Helens’ Anthony Walker and James Geurtjens, from Queensland Cup side Norths Devils.

McNamara names his England squad this morning as does Ireland counterpart Mark Aston.