Thoroughly deserved, all these silly comments people are making need to understand that this award has been given to Paul from ex rugby players of international class who know the game inside out, and yet some people on here are trying to belittle his achievement, I bet they have never touched a rugby ball in there lives let alone played the game, well done paul you did it the hard
Way too straight down the middle good on ya

The award isn't worth winning any more.

Why?

Absolutely tremendous season. Been class all of it. Well done.

Even though Wigan had two nominees in the MOS, I'm happy enough for Macca to win the award, much improved since his Leeds & Wakey days, always puts a shift in!

You could see in his interview how emotional he was and how much he values winning the MoS.
The recognition from his family, fellow players and people he respects should make any negative comments insignificant to him.

Its made me laugh, some of the journos, especially the Wigan ones, throwing their two penneth in about Kendall getting the gig on Friday and the mental health implications of all the criticism its drawn from “the trolls” whilst openly criticising the MoS system and McShane not deserving it as hes not been the best player this year. Imagine how McShane must be feeling reading all the comments saying he doesnt deserve it and hes not even been that good.

For me he epitomises the “Man of Steel”. Plays 80mins every week, in the middle, and walks off that pitch with nothing left to give, looking like hes been hit by a train.

Sure French, Coote and Sezer are great players, and do all the flashy stuff and get the headlines but it doesnt make McShane any less deserving of it. Farell. Im not a fan so.....

Biggest mistake we made letting McShane go. Well deserved. Could have got it in past years and should have played international already.

Seems easy this MOS $#!T

*thinking of making a comeback* !

I doubt McShanes mother even had him in her top 3.

Good player yes
Best player this season, not a chance.

Basically, if you are half decent and play for a garbage team you are a shoe in for man of steel.

Steph Ratchford should have won it half a dozen times in that case then.

Or basically if you perform at the same level as a Saints player but have to do 3x the work on top.

Yeah, a bit like Makinsons Golden boot.

I don't actually think he's been as good as in previous seasons, but with the voting system the way it is, it's always going to make it more likely that someone like Mcshane wins it because it's easier for him to stand out.
With the fractured nature of the season I was struggling to think of many obvious contenders, to be honest, but I'm pleased for him.

McShane has gone well all season, either playing at 9 or, in the halves.
Of those on the shortlist, it's hard to argue.

Its really not.

I don't think anyone would have been against the award going to Rob Burrow. In a season of adversity, which has seen such a patchy and incomplete fixture list on the field, the award could have gone to someone who's faced the most adversity off the field.

McShane is a good player, important for Cas. But they've got a class squad and were terrible after lockdown, the entire club didn't want to be there. Completely clocked off, barely won a game and they pretty much all ignored the covid rules and got all their games called off. The most influential player in SL this season was Alex Walmsley. Yet he wasn't even in the running. Coote, French, Farrell, Bentley all had sensational seasons and were ignored. It's virtually impossible to win MOS in a winning team now. There is always going to be players taking points off you when you've got international calibre players all over the place and you are winning consistently.

I'd echo the shouts for Rob Burrow/Mose Masoe getting it. It was a weird season and the system they've come up with is clearly broken. Perfect time to do that and perfect timing with the piece Sky did for Rob before the GF for it to be announced then.

I honestly don't think Rob Burrow would want to win it. He'd never wish to take away a title from the best player of the season, most of whom only ever win it once.
As for the system in place I think we should look anew at this - there used to be separate player of the year and Man of Steel awards with the latter something very much different. It seems like we should revert to that basis.

Have you any evidence to back any of these claims up ?

Almost every Cas player tested positive. The RFL were forced to investigate their conduct. I'm sur e it'll be whitewashed as it's gone now and hopefully covid as a season destroyer is now too.

I don’t think being trapped on the m62 for three hours to play Hull KR in St Helens helped.

I'm not sure it would have caused that much of an issue if the club were professional enough to wear masks whilst travelling. Does it not seem a bit of a coincidence that the teams with no real issues with covid were the same ones at the top of the table? it's just another example of the professionalism of the clubs.

Written. By someone who is completely ignorant about Covid. Even though we are 10 months into a pandemic. Still anything to have a go at another team.

FYI. Masks don’t significantly stop you getting Covid. They reduce your ability to spread it to a large extent but unless everyone is wearing an air proof mask with attached oxygen supply they would be unlikely to to achieve much in an A/C coach for 3 hours .

Well said.

The sport doesn't need enemies with "fans" like saddened about.