York Valkyrie's Georgie Hetherington named Woman of Steel

The 27-year-old fended off competition from St Helens half-back Faye Gaskin and Leeds Rhinos back-rower Lucy Murray to take home rugby league’s highest individual accolade at the RFL’s End of Season Awards in Leeds last night.

Not just the third consecutive Valkyrie to win the award after Tara Jane Stanley and Sinead Peach, Hetherington is also the first mother to do so.

She shares four-year-old son Bobby with York Knights full-back and Valkyrie assistant Will Dagger.

Recommended reading:

• COMMENT: Valkyrie should be honoured by city after making more BWSL history

• Anfield overjoyed as Valkyrie triumph over adversity to win second BWSL Grand Final

• REPORT: Valkyrie defy odds to become first team to win back-to-back BWSL Grand Finals

Hetherington has come into her own in 2024, having largely flown under the radar during her time playing under Lindsay Anfield at both York and Castleford over previous seasons.

Despite having won the Player of the Match in last October’s Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final on the wing, she started the season at hooker in place of pregnant captain Peach.

And during Stanley’s time on the sidelines with illness and injury, she also deputised at full-back – playing there in defence and hooker in attack towards the end of the season.

It is a move that has certainly paid off for Anfield’s side, Hetherington taking home a second consecutive Player of the Match as York became the first team in history to retain the BWSL title with a shock 18-8 victory at St Helens on Sunday.

Hetherington won the BWSL Grand Final Player of the Match against St Helens on Sunday. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography) Speaking to presenter Jenna Brooks at the ceremony at the Royal Armouries, the England international could not hide her emotions as she thanked director of rugby Anfield for not giving up on her.

“I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if I didn’t have that great support at home and with my coaches,” said a humble Hetherington. “I’m just really overwhelmed!

“I’m flying the flag for the mums!

“Especially coming back from having a baby, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to play at this level, I thought I’d struggle to compete.

“I remember saying to Lindsay ‘look, I don’t care where I play, just put me somewhere on the pitch, I want to play rugby’. I needed it for myself and for it to be something that makes me not just a mum.

“I was willing to put in the extra hours and get back to being at a level where I could compete, I’m just so grateful to Lindsay for trusting me and giving me that shot.”

The York connections did not stop there for the award winners.

Hull KR half-back Mikey Lewis, who twice spent time on loan at the Knights in 2021 – and scored in their AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final defeat to Featherstone Rovers at Wembley – was named the Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel.

The award is the latest in a series of accolades for the 23-year-old, who has also taken home the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association Player of the Year and been named in the Betfred Super League Dream Team.

Lewis had a hand in 43 tries as the Robins earned a second-placed finish and a place in their first ever Grand Final. He is the first player from the East Yorkshire club to win the accolade since 1986.

Visibly emotional at receiving the award, he admitted that he had been close to giving up on a rugby career entirely after finding out he did not have a place in the then-City of Hull Academy.

“It was probably the hardest thing to do,” he said, his voice breaking.

"I just had to be honest with myself, I thought I wasn't good enough, and the support that they gave me gave me a kick up the backside and I had to sort myself out because all I wanted to do is be a rugby league player. I've done that and I just want to repay them."

Hetherington, Lewis and Josh Butler with their Woman, Man and Wheels of Steel trophies. (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com) Elsewhere, Wakefield Trinity unsurprisingly claimed a clean sweep of the Betfred Championship awards, beating the Knights' Jordan Thompson, Brad Ward and Mark Applegarth.

Max Jowitt scooped the Player of the Year, coach Daryl Powell the Coach of the Year and former Heworth youngster Oli Pratt the Young Player of the Year.

Pratt spent the majority of last season on loan with the Knights under then-head coach Andrew Henderson, something that certainly seems to have paid dividends.

He scored six tries in 11 appearances for his hometown club last term and has 18 in 34 this season as Trinity wrapped up the League Leaders’ Shield at a canter.

The 20-year-old will come up against his former side this weekend, with York travelling to Belle Vue in the Championship Play-off Semi-Final on Sunday (3pm).