Leeds Rhinos duo Jake Connor and Ash Handley are joint-top of the latest Steve Prescott Man of Steel rankings, covering rounds 10 to 18 of the Betfred Super League season – after missing out entirely on the previous shortlist.
Team-mate Lachie Miller - who led the standings after the opening nine rounds - is third while Wigan Warriors' industrious hooker Brad O'Neill came fourth having helped underpin their resurgence.
Leigh's dynamic centre Umyla Hanley rounded out the top five.
The rankings are decided by a panel of five former Man of Steel winners - Ellery Hanley, Paul Sculthorpe, Sam Tomkins, James Roby and Joe Lydon - who reduce a 10-man shortlist to a top five at each stage of the season.
Four of the latest top five are new entries from the previous rankings, with Miller the only player to retain his place. Reigning Man of Steel Jake Connor and Leeds team-mate Ash Handley both return after missing the previous shortlist.
Ex-England captain Sam Tomkins said Leeds duo Ash Handley and Jake Connor "fully deserve" to top the Man of Steel leaderboard, hailing Handley as being in the best form of his career.
Tomkins said: "They have really cemented themselves as frontrunners to make Old Trafford and I think Jake and Ash combined have been pivotal in that.
"We're seeing the best of Jake again. His kicking has been outstanding, his try assists and his influence - the way he runs that side of the pitch - is clear for everyone to see.
"And Ash Handley is certainly in the best form of his career. That's without doubt, in my opinion.
Hull KR's Mikey Lewis, the 2024 winner , and Toulouse Olympique's Olly Ashall-Bott received votes but missed out on the top five.
Tyrone May, Daryl Clark and Leeds winger Maika Sivo, the competition's leading try scorer, completed the ten-man shortlist. Jez Litten and Brodie Croft, second and fourth in the first edition, did not feature.
The panel meets again after Round 27 before a final deliberation to decide a three-man shortlist.
The winner will be announced at the Rugby League Awards Night in Manchester on September 29.
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