The best player never to win the Man of Steel, is...

Who is the best player never to win the Man of Steel?

Sean Lawless: I think this answer may be printed a few times today, but Trent Barrett was robbed by James Roby. We saw some masterclass performances from Barrett and to come so close and to lose it to a young player at the time, like Roby, didn’t sit right; and still doesn’t to this day.

Jon Lyon: Having a look back at some of the players who have missed out, there are some surprising names. With all Leeds have won I was surprised not one of McGuire, Burrow and Sinfield have ever won, and even Jamie Peacock only won the award as a Bradford player. Add to that there’s the likes of Radlinski, Connolly, Henry Paul, Fielden, Deacon and Vainikolo who must have been very close over the years.

Normally choosing a Wigan player may seem a little biased, but this time I really don’t think so. Our very own Sean O’Loughlin has been one of the most consistent, skilful and tough players in Super League over the last nineteen seasons.

Who else has had the strength, power and defence of a forward and the handling and kicking skills of a half back?

Having captained Wigan to four grand final wins and been unlucky to lose two more, and also leading the team to two League Leader’s Shields, there’s no-one more deserving.

Alex Graham: When Trent Barrett was overlooked by the voting panel in 2007 in favour of British golden boy James Roby, it devalued the award, just like when the Golden Boot award was given to Kevin Sinfield in 2013. The two others who are all time British Super League greats are Keiron Cunningham and our very own Sean O’Loughlin.

Unfortunately both have been unlucky with injury and often sit chunks of the season out, but it shows how good they are when they’re still key to earning success and are valued as competition legends.

Darren Wrudd: Man of Steel for me is the most influential player of the season. This could be aggression, leadership, silky skills or simply never giving up. The last decade has seen a real lean towards the backs, with eight out of the last 10 awards shared between the back positions, and the other two to hookers, which are almost the same. I find it incredible that Sean O’Loughlin has not featured in this list when names like Rangi Chase have.

O’Loughlin would have won the award in my eyes at least twice in the last decade and is a real omission.

As a leader, an aggressive forward, a brilliantly skilled ball-handler or simply the first name on the list if you were to name the ones you would have fighting beside you, Sean O’Loughlin would have my vote as the best player of the decade.

Robert Kenyon: Trent Barrett, didn’t even have to think for a second. I believe he was given a crime reference number at the end of the season because he was robbed blind.

With no Ashes, would you prefer England to play the Exiles, France or someone else?

Sean Lawless: With the World Cup next year, we need England to experience a challenge. Whilst I believe the Exiles concept was shelved at the right team, it feels like a pretty exciting time to bring it back and create a three game origin from it. To see the likes of James Maloney, Sezer, SBW, Bevan French and Konrad Hurrell line up together, is pretty exciting. The current crop of overseas stars is the best we have had in a long time, so the perfect time to reimagine the concept.

Jon Lyon: I’m not a huge fan of the Exiles concept but they would provide a stern test for England. I’m sure players like Sonny Bill Williams, Bevan French and Israel Folau would help put bums on seats and ensure a decent sized crowd for a rugby starved audience if we’re allowed back inside stadiums by then.

I think though that the best way to go for the benefit of international rugby league would be to play France.

The fixtures are looked down upon as France don’t always give us the strongest challenge, but how do we expect France to improve if we never let them play better quality sides?

We have for years criticised Australia for looking down their noses at us on the international stage, putting their domestic game before international matches, as they are doing this year again. Are we not in danger of doing the same thing ourselves to France?

Alex Graham: If the international, domestic and governing bodies in the UK and France were willing to work together, invest properly and provide a long term plan for France then we’d have a reasonably competitive opponent with all the benefits an international rugby league would bring to their country and sport.

However, nobody is willing to put the hard work by building the initial foundations, nor are they willing to sacrifice the short term pain of one sided victories for long term gain. We often criticise the Australians for not taking international rugby league seriously enough and making a poor effort to complete fixtures against England, yet we’re do the exact same with France.

I don’t see how choosing to play a Super League overseas select benefits international rugby league (and England!) long term other than providing a one off friendly in preparation for a competition.

Darren Wrudd: With the Ashes now officially binned for the year, it would still be nice for some of the players to get international recognition.

The problem with that will be just when the season restarts, finishes and how the fixture list looks. If we try to cram in the complete fixture list and play three games a week, the game will suffer and any international at the end could only look lacklustre and tired.

But if we were to force the issue, then I would like to see an Exiles fixture perhaps as a nod to the high calibre of overseas players we have here in the UK Super League. A French side would be easy beats and not do justice other than to plump our feathers with false pride at another international trophy. But just a glance around the teams at the moment in the UK shows some amazing quality which could be moulded into a threatening squad. That would at least test us.

Robert Kenyon: I’d bin the lot off for this season and focus on next year. At the end of the season foreign players who would have played for the Exiles will want to travel, go back home, let their hair down etc rather than stop and play a game. If we are to have the Exiles, it’s better mid season. If we were to play a game, I’d be looking at Wales or Ireland or some sort of home nations game.

George Williams has earned rave reviews from his NRL start. Has that surprised you at all?

Sean Lawless: George Williams is a brilliant player and I thought he had a good game for Canberra, but it didn’t strike me as exceptional. I agree with Shaun Wane’s thoughts that it was good but it was just a Williams performance. Perhaps the Australian press haven’t seen much of Williams and therefore are just shocked at the level he reached, but he can do so much more and will do, this season for Canberra.

Jon Lyon: Not one bit. It beggars belief so many fans on social media found reason to criticise Williams so much when he wore the cherry and white. Calling him out for running aimlessly across the pitch is unfair as he only looks bad if he doesn’t have anyone running good lines he can then put through the gap. A half back is only ever as good as his runners.

George’s kicking game is immaculate, his defence is very strong for a half back, he has speed, a great step, short and long passing game, he has everything. It is slightly annoying the Aussie commentators seem so shocked there are such good players in Super League. I know our backs haven’t always fared as well as our forwards in the NRL but, considering how many Australian teams are looking over here for players, we must be doing something right.

Alex Graham: I wasn’t surprised in the slightest and actually find the tighter, quicker defences of the NRL are better suited to his attacking game. At Wigan he was a brilliant player but, if there was any criticism, it’d be his game-management when under pressure at times he could be perceived as a headless chicken. However, the NRL defences are so quick and in his face it almost channels his decision making. Under ex-Australia half Ricky Stuart he’ll learn to keep build pressure and strike when needed as he did brilliantly at the weekend.

Darren Wrudd: I watched the game as George Williams plied his trade for the Raiders last week, and yes the plaudits he received did surprise me somewhat.

He made a good tackle which caught the eye but it was more timing than ferocious energy. His kicking game was largely off to be honest and yet the commentators picked up on a couple of decent efforts, attacking the line was almost non-existent with only one real cut through, and yet the Aussies loved him. I smiled when I saw Shaun Wane’s comments that he would have given him some stick if he had played like that for us, but I suppose its each to their own and they seem to like his style. I hope he does really well down there and look forward to seeing how he develops.

Robert Kenyon: No not at all. He played well his first couple of games and ripped Melbourne apart. Jack Wighton, who I think should have won Golden Boot last year, is their main threat so George Williams will go under the radar. I remember seeing him smash Gold Coast’s hooker and the GC player looking at Williams to say ‘Flipping heck, that was you? I expected a prop’.

He smashed Papenhauzen and created two, maybe three tries if you count the last try, it was a shame he didn’t score that one. The first try reminded me of Andy Gregory in the way he threw a long floating pass that was pinpoint accurate for the winger to catch and score. If he continues to play the way he is, he will be the Dally M half of the year for me.