Castleford star Luke Gale named rugby league's Man of Steel

Castleford scrum-half Luke Gale has won the Super League Man of Steel award for 2017.

The former Bradford and London Broncos half-back got the nod ahead of Tigers team-mate Zak Hardaker, with Hull stand-off Albert Kelly third.

The award recognises the man who has made the biggest impact on the 2017 season.

Castleford boss Daryl Powell was named coach of the year and Wigan centre Oliver Gildart took the young player of the year.

Gale, who was also voted player of the year by the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters' Association, broke the Castleford record for points in a season and is guaranteed to finish 2017 as the league's top scorer with 332 points so far.

But the Man of Steel votes were collected before he produced a match-winning contribution to his side's 23-22 semi-final victory over St Helens lastThursday, just 16 days after having his appendix removed.

"I was honoured just to make the short-list," he said. "It's great being noticed, but my job is to control this team and, when the team is working this well, it makes it a lot easier. This team I've got around me is pretty remarkable."