Nominees for the 2026 Betfred Championship Player of the Year can be confirmed today ahead of Rugby League Awards night in Manchester on Tuesday 29 September.
Josh Drinkwater (Oldham RLFC), Connor Robinson (Doncaster RLFC) and Gairo Voro (London Broncos) form the shortlist following a poll of the head coaches of the competition’s 20 clubs.
Since joining Oldham ahead of the 2025 season, Drinkwater has brought experience and composure to the club’s spine, playing a pivotal role in their impressive campaign this time around. The former Super League half-back played a key-role in the Roughyeds Play-Offs push towards the end of the season.
Robinson, meanwhile, wrote his name into the rugby league record books during the first round of the Play-Offs after setting a new all-time record in the sport’s 131-year history.
The 31-year-old reached 52 consecutive goal kicks during their 72-0 defeat of Barrow Raiders – breaking the previous best of 41 – and that then stretched to 58 in last weekend’s victory against the same opponents before he finally missed.
Papua New Guinea international Voro has been a standout performer for London throughout the 2026 Betfred Championship season. The 23-year-old has been instrumental in the Broncos path to the League Leaders’ Shield and 1895 Cup Final triumph, scoring 30 tries in all competitions.
The coaches also voted that Allan Coleman should be the 2026 Betfred Championship Coach of the Year following a fifth-place finish for the Widnes Vikings at the end of the regular season alongside a stellar 1895 Cup campaign.
Sully Medforth has been crowned Young Player of the Year – the 21-year-old joined the Midlands Hurricanes initially on loan from Hull FC towards the end of 2024 and made an immediate impact with a series of impressive performances, resulting in a permanent move to the Avery Fields. He’s featured in 27 games for the Hurricanes this season crossing the whitewash ten times.
The winner of the 2026 Betfred Championship Player of the Year Award will be announced at the Rugby League Awards Night, when Coleman and Medforth will also be presented with their awards.
