Saints duo chase the star prize
Hero Hastings saves Red Devils from relegation
ST HELENS’ Ben Barba and James Roby are nominees for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel, alongside Wigan forward John Bateman.
Hooker Roby took the award in 2007 while fullback Barba (above) and Bateman are up for the sport’s main individual honour for the first time.
Roby is back in the squad for Justin Holbrook’s League Leaders Shield winners in their final Super Eights game with Castleford tonight, although most eyes will be at Leeds where Toronto could take a big step towards promotion by beating the current champions.
The Rhinos are all but mathematically assured of their Super League status, but director of rugby Kevin Sinfield insists that won’t mean his side will ease off against the ambitious Wolfpack.
Sinfield said: “We want to win for a whole host of different reasons.
“We’ve got a group of players that are leaving us and supporters that we want to say thank you to for sticking with us this season.”
In the two other Super Eights fixtures Warrington aim to return to form ahead of next Thursday’s semi-final at St Helens when they visit Wakefield.
Wigan can become the only team to win all seven matches in the competition by beating Hull FC at the DW Stadium, ahead of their semi-final against Castleford.
JACKSON HASTINGS helped complete his great escape mission for Salford and secure their Super League safety.