Five of the nine clubs who competed in Betfred League One this season are represented in the nominations for the end of season awards – with Oldham’s dominance reflected in their representation in each of the three categories.
The Roughyeds have already secured promotion to the Betfred Championship next season after finishing top of the table with 19 wins from their 20 fixtures.
Scheming half-back Danny Craven is one of three nominations as Player of the Year, with Sean Long in the running for Coach of the Year, and Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e – the 21-year-old full-back who spent the year on loan at Oldham from Hull KR – has been nominated as both Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.
As usual, the nominations – and winners, who will be announced at Rugby League’s Awards Nights at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on Tuesday October 8 – have been determined by a poll of head coaches, who are not allowed to vote from players in their own teams.
Lewis Else, the Rochdale Hornets half-back, completes the short list for Player of the Year with Craven and Laulu-Togaga’e.
Billy Walker of Keighley Cougars, who finished second to Oldham and have qualified for the Betfred League One Play-Off Final on Sunday week, is nominated for Young Player of the Year with Laulu-Togaga’e and Todd Horner of Midlands Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes, who have had their best season yet since moving to the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, receive further recognition with Mark Dunning on the shortlist to be Coach of the Year with Long and Dean Muir, whose Hunslet team face Rochdale in this weekend’s Play-Off Eliminator.
Betfred League One Awards Nominees
(nominees in alphabetical order)
Player of the Year
- Danny Craven (Oldham)
- Lewis Else (Rochdale Hornets)
- Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e (Oldham)
Coach of the Year
- Mark Dunning (Midlands Hurricanes)
- Sean Long (Oldham)
- Dean Muir (Hunslet)
Young Player of the Year
- Todd Horner (Midlands Hurricanes)
- Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e (Oldham)
- Billy Walkley (Keighley Cougars)
