Micky Higham nominated for Championship Player of the Year.

Neil Jukes nominated for Championship Coach of the Year.

Both well deserved and IMO both should go on to win too.

Lost count of the number of games that have looked in the balance with 20 to go before we bring Higham back on and he blows them away.

Well done to both!



Championship Player of the Year: Mickey Higham (Leigh Centurions), Dominic Brambani (Batley Bulldogs) and Misi Taulapapa (Featherstone Rovers)

Championship Young Player of the Year: Jordan Baldwinson (Featherstone Rovers), James Cunningham (London Broncos), Josh Guzdek (Dewsbury Rams)

Championship Coach of the Year: Neil Jukes (Leigh Centurions), John Kear (Batley Bulldogs), Andrew Henderson (London Broncos)

I hope we do not send any representatives to this farce of an awards night.

We all know Neil Jukes, given what he has achieved in the face of adversity is the championship coach of the year by a country mile.

Given previous awards, my money is on Andrew Henderson walking off with the title on the night.

Why wouldn't we send anyone?

Even being nominated is recognition for a great season for them both.

We have had winners before. Ridyward won Player of the Year 2 seasons ago. Rowley won Coach of the Year in his 1st season back in 2012.

I reckon Higham will win PotY, the other nominees are great but Higham has been simply outstanding.

Jukes might win. Probably depends when the vote was/is made. If it was made a few weeks ago Kear will probably get it, if the vote is made now I reckon Jukes would get it.

Leigh fans will think Jukes should win it. He's done very well.
But Batley fans will think Kear should win it. He's done wonders to get Batley in the top 3 on a tiny budget.
And London fans will think Henderson should win it, and they've got a point too, they were poor last season when he took over and have become an extremly consistent and impressive team with only one really high-profile signing (and that came towards the backend of the season).

All 3 have strong cases because they have clearly faced different tasks and different circumstances. If Jukes wins it, fair enough, as I say he's done very well, but suggestions that only a conspiracy could prevent him from being the rightful winner are silly.

I as a Leigh fan thinks the Leigh representatives are third in the pecking order whilst thoroughly deserving their nominations.

Any one of the other two in each category will be deserved winners

On the Coach of the year i think that Neil could be overlooked by the "with the squad he has any one could coach that team" brigade, who of course will choose not to be aware of the circumstances he had to deal with at the start of his tenure as head coach and the change of playing style and structure he has successfully introduced .

Not to mention the following circus acts/distractions he has had to deal with, as his tenure proceeded: -

The Ryan Brierley fiasco
The Rangi Chase fiasco
His predecessor 'poaching' the likes of Liam Kay, Jonny Pownall, Andrew Dixon, Jake Emmitt (particularly deviously it would appear) and Greg Worthington - all announced at critical times of the season.

The departure of Matthias Pala, just before the season start.

The 'non availability' of Bob Beswick and Sam Barlow for the entire season.

Virtually season-long injuries to Willie Tonga and Gregg McNally!

Yes, John Kear (as always) and Andrew Henderson have had excellent seasons, but I wonder what dramas they had to contend with?



Anyway, why wasn't Richard Marshall nominated? He won the award after taking 'Fax from 3rd to 4th. I'd have thought he was nailed on after guiding them to 6th!!

"Kingstone Press Championship Club of the Year: @LeighCenturions"

"Kingstone Press Championship Coach of the Year: @BatleyRLFC's John Kear"

Congrats to John, massive achievement on a shoe string budget.

Can't help but feel if the vote had taken place a few weeks later though Jukesy would have won it but can't begrudge Batley after such a great season.

"Kingstone Press Championship Young Player of the Year: @LondonBroncosRL's James Cunningham"

"And the big one.. Championship player of the year is @LeighCenturions captain Micky Higham!"

Only ever one winner for this one!

Micky!

Well done Mickey.
Gutted for Jukesey but adds a bit of spice to Saturdays game.