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Rugby League

Roby wins Man of Steel

09/10/2007

St Helens utility man James Roby has been named Super League's Man of Steel for 2007 ahead of team-mate Paul Wellens and Wigan's Trent Barrett.

The 21-year-old, who is the youngest man to win the award since Andy Farrell in 1996, has started just 12 games this season but has frequently played a major part as an impact replacement.

Roby scored the first try at the new Wembley Stadium when he crossed the whitewash against Catalans Dragons in the Challenge Cup final earlier this year.

Australian international Barrett was the favourite to scoop the trophy, which comes with a cheque for £5,000 and is the most prestigious individual prize in European rugby league.

However the judges for the award, made up of "a panel of rugby league experts which includes representatives of the national media" decided Roby had "made the greatest impact on the 2007 Super League season".

He succeeds Wellens as the Man of Steel and becomes the third consecutive St Helens player to scoop the trophy. Jamie Lyon won it in 2005.

In the other awards on the night, St Helens' Daniel Anderson picked up the coach of the year award; Barrett was given some consolation for missing out on the main prize by being named players' player of the year; and Bradford Bulls' Sam Burgess was named young player of the year.