YORK Valkyrie assistant coach Callum Windley has tipped captain Sinead Peach for a third Woman of Steel nomination after an impressive season.

Peach has led from the front this after taking over the captaincy from Katie Langan to become the Valkyrie’s top try scorer and assister, having a hand in a combined 38 scores.

The England hooker, characterised by her quick hands and darts out of dummy half, notched her 12th and 13th tries of the season in York’s 58-10 thrashing of Warrington Wolves on Sunday, her first seeing her also pass 100 points in the city’s colours.

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She has reached that achievement in just three seasons at the LNER Community Stadium, made even more remarkable by the fact that she is not her side’s goal-kicker.

York Press: Peach scored twice for the Valkyrie on Sunday, bringing her York tally past 100 points.Peach scored twice for the Valkyrie on Sunday, bringing her York tally past 100 points. (Image: Craig Hawkhead)

Peach was shortlisted for both the 2021 and 2022 Woman of Steel, coming up just short to England and St Helens captain Jodie Cunningham and most recently, team-mate Tara Jane Stanley.

But with the Valkyrie sailing towards a history-making second consecutive Betfred Women’s Super League Leaders’ Shield after an unbeaten league campaign, Windley has backed Peach to again be among the nominees for the prestigious award after an outstanding 2023.

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“It’s some achievement, a dummy half scoring 100 points,” he enthused. “She doesn’t even kick goals either, so that’s incredible.

“She’s scored a lot of tries recently, particularly this year. It’s worth pointing out that she’s been so consistent, this is her third season at the club, and I think that she’s right up there again for being a contender for the Woman of Steel.

“I’m not afraid to say those things because I strongly believe it and her performances back that up.

“I think that she’s accumulated more points this year than she has in the past, and she’s added more things to her game.

“She’s somebody who is reflective of her own performance as well as the team’s, so she’ll be striving for more, and hopefully she’ll be soon chasing down 200 points, it’s madness.

“If she kicks goals, maybe it’ll be even faster!”

York Valkyrie can seal the League Leaders’ Shield with victory at Wigan Warriors on August 20.