Betfred Super League 2021 Man of Steel predictions and top tryscorer tips

Free rugby league tips, best specials bets and analysis for the 2021 Betfred Super League season, which starts on Friday evening.

Best bets

John Bateman Man of Steel
1pt 14-1 Sporting Index

Daryl Clark Man of Steel
1pt 25-1 general

Bevan French top tryscorer
2pts each-way 8-1 general

Ryan Hall top tryscorer
1pt each-way 33-1 Sporting Index

Man of Steel award

The last two winners of the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award have been 40-1 shots but you may need to look a bit closer to the top of the betting to find this year's successor to Paul McShane, who won it last year, and 2019 winner Jackson Hastings.

Hastings, at 18-1, has every chance of landing the prize again providing he remains with Wigan amid rumours of a return to the NRL.

The rugged half-back is an influential character for the Warriors, who look set to contend for league and cup honours and should provide him with plenty of opportunities to shine again.

It was no surprise to see Action Jackson crowned for his efforts when guiding Salford Red Devils almost single-handedly to the Grand Final in 2019.

More of a surprise was McShane's triumph last year despite a season of struggle at Castleford Tigers.

The Tigers' had a miserable time of it during the height of the pandemic and plummeted down the standings.

McShane, though, was an ever-present in the side and beat Huddersfield captain Aidan Sezer, Wigan duo Liam Farrell and Bevan French and St Helens full-back Lachlan Coote to the illustrious honour, which is now awarded based on a series of weekly votes by members of the Man of Steel panel.

Only Paul Sculthorpe in 2001 and 2002 has won back-to-back awards and he, along with Ellery Hanley and Andy Farrell are the only players to have won it more than once.

So it may pay to look elsewhere and you should search no further than Wigan's John Bateman.

Bateman returns to the Warriors after a successful two-year stint in the NRL with Canberra Raiders.

The 27-year-old fills the void left in the number 13 shirt by retired former skipper, Sean O'Loughlin and although they are big shoes to fill, Bateman is more than capable.

He claimed the prestigious Dally M award as the NRL's best second-rower while in Australia and he can add the Man of Steel trophy to his collection in 2021.

If Bateman falls short then Warrington Wolves hooker Daryl Clark can once again add his name to the award with his side fancied to challenge for silverware.

Clark is a huge influence on the Wolves outfit, as shown in 2014 when he claimed this award, and he could become just the fourth player to have his name engraved on the trophy more than once.

Top tryscorer

Bevan French crossed the whitewash 23 times in 29 games for Wigan Warriors in last season's stop-start campaign but a more settled schedule this time around could allow the magical full-back to do even more damage in 2021.

French was outstanding in his debut season and with new recruit Jai Field adding even more creativity to the side, Wigan's master finisher looks a decent bet at 8-1 to finish as the competition's top tryscorer.

Another man who knows his way over the try line is Hull KR veteran Ryan Hall.

Hall scored 232 tries in 327 games for Leeds Rhinos during a trophy-laden era at Headingley and he has a point to prove after returning from a disappointing spell in the NRL with Sydney Roosters where he failed to score in 11 outings.

Rovers have splashed the cash in a bid to climb up the Super League table and if they get on a roll, Hall could be the man to profit and he looks worth a wager at 33-1.

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