Who should get the gong?

This debate is now closed.

Wigan Warriors' inspirational half-back from Papua New Guinea, Adrian Lam, is among the favourites to win after a fine season at the JJB Stadium.

However, Saints loose forward Paul Sculthorpe is being hotly tipped to become the first player to retain the trophy.

London Broncos' Denis Moran and Sculthorpe's team-mate Darren Albert are outside bets.

Who is your season's Man of Steel?

I'd vote for Lam. In a season where Andy Farrell has been below par, Adrian has taken control of the team and kept them in touch with Saints and Bradford.

Of course, the most influential player might really be in evidence after the Man of Steel awards, when the difficult task starts of getting through the play-offs to the Grand Final.
Daniel, London, UK

Just look at all the Opta stats... he is in the top three for all of them (except tackling and goals) and that's Tevita Vaikona. It does seem though there is a great publicity drive pushing Paul Sculthorpe to the top of the list.
John G, UK

James Lowes or Michael Withers should get it as they have been persistent all season.
Hingsy, Bradford, UK

I cannot believe that there aren't more Bradford players being suggested here. I thought Henry Paul and James Lowes were the better players last season and although there is no doubt about Sculthorpe's class and ability I would go for Vaikona, Withers and Sculthorpe in that order this year.
Kevin Narey, UK

Adrian Lam and Paul Sculthorpe are both worthy contenders for the 'Man of Steel' award. In my opinion, Adrian Lam just pips it for his professionalism as well as skill. There are quite a few spoiling tactics creeping into Paul Sculthorpe's game which is a shame, and why I think he should not win the award for a second time.
Angela, UK

It has to be Sculthorpe. His performance for Britain in Australia was well above the rest of the team and his consistency for St Helens is without question.

He is multi-talented and can play equally well at stand off and loose forward. An additional plus is that he has now taken over the goal kicking role from Sean Long at St Helens with great success.
Mike, New Zealand

Although Adrian Lam has had an excellent second half to the season, there can be no doubt that Sculthorpe has produced the goods all year, and even played with the eponymous quality that the title suggests. Paul Sculthorpe to retain the award.
Richard Ellis, UK

I think if Wigan's Andrew Farrell hadn't been out for a long time with injury, he could have been up there with the main contenders, same said for Kieran Cunningham...they are both top quality players who always give 200% week in, week out!

However, I would personally give the 2002 award to Wigan prop Terry O'Connor. The props very rarely get the recognition he deserves and Terry gives 100% effort every week and fully deserved the Roy Powell medal from the Origin series!!
Kate, England

There are so many people who maybe deserve this award, but I'll narrow it down to five:

1) Michael Withers- he has been excellent all season. He has scored lots of tries, made numerous try saving tackles, as well as adding to his game with his kicking. Overall he is an excellent player, and is the one I think deserves this award the most.

2) Paul Sculthorpe - well what can you say? He is a quality player, and brings many assets to both club and country. Even though people like Albert have also been good for the Saints, Sculthorpe stands out the most.

3) Tevita Vaikona - he had an excellent first half of the season and has scored lots of tries.

These are the main ones, in my opinion, but there are two others I would like to make brief reference to:
4) Dennis Moran
5) Danny Orr.
Mr Verney, United Kingdom

Danny Orr has been in outstanding form this season and has even helped cause an upset, what with Castleford being able to beat at least two of the 'big four' teams. I feel the critics underrate him as well.
Lindsay, England

Unquestionably, the 2002 Man of Steel should be Paul Sculthorpe. His versatility and competence was astounding last year when he deputised for injured players but his performance this season has been awesome and his kicking, a skill used only rarely in previous seasons, has blossomed so that he has become not only an inspirational player but an invaluable kicker.

Perhaps the most telling point is that he has shown himself to be a star in a veritable firmament of stars. The question to be asked in relation to Adrian Lam, a very fine player himself, is whether or not he would have shone amongst the other St Helens players. I suspect not and that is why Sculthorpe once again deserves the accolade, Man of Steel.
Dawn Holt, England

Among all of the talk of Man of Steel there is one player who is not getting the recognition that he deserves and that is Tevita Vaikona. There is no other player this season that has been as good in his own position.

Yes, Lam and Sculthorpe have been outstanding, but their position gives them the spotlight more - it's like always giving the man of the match award to David Beckham or Michael Owen in football.

Vaikona has not put a foot wrong all season and defences fear him more than almost any other player. The other player who would have been up there had he not lost it a few weeks ago is Barrie McDermott. And that's coming from a Bradford fan!
David Sharpe, England

Castleford Tigers' Michael Smith is the unsung hero of SL this year. His wholehearted performances, in terms of tackling, breaking tackles, metres gained and offloading skills have been exemplary this season.
Grez, Stourport-on-Severn, England

Kevin Sinfield has had a good season. Along with Danny Orr they are both underdogs. If Sean Hoppe is a contender I am a monkey's uncle. Just because he is professional doesn't mean he is a contender.
Ben, Leeds, England

Adrian Lam has just done enough to pip Sculthorpe this year. His performance in the cup final was outstanding and he has been at the top of his game all year for Wigan.
Paul, England

Sculthorpe and Lam have got to be high on the list, but what about Saints' Kiwi winger Sean Hoppe? He has got to be the most professional player in RL both on and off the field. However, it is more than likely going to be either Scully, Lam or Moran. As per usual, the choice of two certain TV pundits. Darren Albert will run them all very close though!
Anthony Burns, UK

I think Paul Sculthorpe is the only choice for Man of Steel. He has proved a worthy future captain of GB after being the only one who made an impact against the Aussies and every week gives 110% with St Helens.

He has gone from strength to strength and is incredibly versatile. He can play in different positions and has excelled at goal kicking since taking over from Sean Long.
Sarah, UK

It has to be Lam - he's been absolutely superb recently and an absolute joy to watch. And after putting in a performance like he did at Murrayfield and going away without the Lance Todd trophy due to the heroics of Radlinski, it would be such a shame if he missed out again.
Helen, England

I may be a bit biased but Dennis Moran has been inspirational for the Broncos this season. He truly deserves this award.
Richard, England

I tipped Sculthorpe as an outside bet for Sports Personality of the Year but for Man of Steel this season he should be odds on. The usual rivals, Cunningham, Farrell etc, have not had their best seasons and Radlinski has had lots of injuries.

Darren Albert has been the overseas signing of the season but a winger doesn't make that much impact on a game, he just finishes off the work of his team-mates.

Rivals for Sculthorpe? Adrian Lam is the obvious one, he's brought back a taste of glory back to Wigan this season. If it's not Sculthorpe though, I'd give it to Sid Domic of Warrington. He's been an awesome performer in several positions, playing through injury and illness and held a poor team together.
Paul Shelway, England

Lam has played out of his skin recently, although Sculthorpe has been as consistent as last year and was the only one to gain credit from the disaster in Sydney.

An outside bet would be Danny Orr on recent performances, but realistically it is a choice between the consistency of Sculthorpe and the improvement of Lam
Rich, England

It has to be Scully for me he has been the outstanding performer over the last three years. Paul is multi-skilled how many positions can Lam play in?
David John Smith, UK