RUGBY LEAGUE Our awards for 2016 Shaunshank redemption
Wane’s Wigan upset odds in style
PLAYER OF THE YEAR Hull FC hooker Danny Houghton was a deserved Steve Prescott Man of Steel for his unstinting efforts in the Black and Whites’ engine room. CLASS COACHES Impossible to split Hull FC’s Lee Radford and Wigan’s Shaun Wane. Radford guided Hull to their first ever Wembley triumph, while Wane oversaw a Grand Final win against the odds – his fourth successive trip to Old Trafford. YOUNG GUN Wigan forward Ryan Sutton just missed out on the official Super League award to Wakefield’s Tom Johnstone, but was immense in the Warriors pack, both at prop and second row. UNSUNG HERO Sam Powell played virtually the entire season as Wigan’s only recognised hooker after Michael McIlorum’s injury, but was a key figure in the Grand Final charge. LOCAL HERO Martyn Ridyard was a roofer not long ago, playing part-time rugby for hometown Leigh. The standoff overcame a mid-season blip to help guide them to Super League. FALLEN HERO Denny Solomona was idolised on the Cas terraces after breaking club and Super League try-scoring records. But failing to return for pre-season training, amid a controversial move to Sale RU, saw fans turn against him. TITANIC TACKLE Danny Houghton’s stunning trysaver on Ben Currie at Wembley won the Challenge Cup for Hull. MILLION POUND KICK Gareth O’Brien’s long-range golden point drop goal for Salford won the most dramatic of matches in the Million Pound Game at Hull KR. EXPIRED SONG Hull KR fans had long revelled in adapting Hull FC’s ‘Old Faithful’ anthem to include the line “You’ll never win at Wembley” – the Black and White’s Challenge Cup triumph makes that redundant. NOT THEIR YEAR Warrington, whose fans join in with the mocking “It’s always your year chant” from opposition supporters, were beaten finalists in both major competitions. PART-TIME HEROES Shared between local rivals als Oldham and Rochdale. The Roughyeds stunned Super League Hull KR in the Challenge Cup, while Hornets went up from League One by winnning at Toulouse. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT England failing to make the Four Nations final, despite the return of league legend Sam Burgess. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson might have divided opinion for much of his career, but f ew have contributed more to rugby league in this country than the now retired Sky Sports commentator. YOUNG GUNS Castleford centre Greg Minikin, St Helens forward Morgan Knowles and Wakefield full-back Max Jowitt. CENTURIONSCE MARCH AllA eyes will be on how Leigh adapt to life at Super League level. RUNNING WITH PACK T Toronto Wolfpack will ma make history as the first transatlantic professional sports team when they enter League One. Paul Rowley’s full- time squad should blitz through the competition. WORLD CUP DREAMS England are long odds to win Down Under, but there are hopes Wayne Bennett can deliver.