YORK City Knights play-maker Danny Brough is in the running for the National League Two Young Player of the Year award.

The 20-year-old half-back, the top goal-kicker and point-scorer in the division during the regular season, is one of fiveplayers in line for the individual award, the others being Sheffield Eagles pair Andy Raleigh and Mitchell Stringer, Damian Reed, of Gateshead Thunder, and Jamaine Wray, of Hunslet Hawks.

The winners of the awards will be revealed at the National League's Arriva Trains-sponsored annual dinner at the Queen's Hotel, Leeds, on Tuesday, September 30.

The nominations for the Player of the Year title in NL2 are Hunslet scrum-half Phil Hasty, Swinton Lions packman Simon Knox, Chorley winger Eric Andrews, Barrow Raiders' Andy Henderson and Sheffield Eagles prop Jon Bruce.

Surprisingly considering the giant strides made by the Knights in their first season, outgoing boss Paul Broadbent is not in the running for the National League Two Coach of the Year award. The three nominations for that are Chorley's Darren Abram, Keighley's Gary Moorby and Sheffield's Mark Aston.

As in previous years, besides revealing the individual award winners, the 'All Star XIIIs' for each division will be named at the dinner. The event, sponsored by Rugby League World magazine, will also include a new section designed to recognise clubs' achievements within their communities.

The contenders for the National League One player of the year award are Salford's half-back partnership of Australian Gavin Clinch and Kiwi Cliff Beverley, their back-row colleague Andy Coley, Rochdale's back-row Paul Smith and Leigh loose-forward Adam Bristow.

The NL1 Young Player of the Year is between Richard Whiting and Andy Bailey of Featherstone, Paul Pickering of Hull KR, Mick Nanyn of Rochdale and Andy Kirk from Salford.

Heading the race for the Coach of the Year title are Steve Linnane of Hull KR, Martin Hall of Rochdale and Karl Harrison from Salford Reds.

Updated: 11:18 Friday, September 19, 2003