Grand Final Preview #1 - The best player in Super League vs The player who the best player in Super League thinks is the best player in Super League (catchy title, eh?)

Last night, Jackson Hastings collected the Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award, as he was crowned the best player in Super League.

Whether it is false modesty or not, Jackson Hastings had not shied away from telling the media who he thinks that the best player is Super League is.

His argument certainly is not without merit. Jonny Lomax missed out a dream team selection this year and could count himself very unlucky to do so.

There is little questioning the impact that these two men have on their respective teams. For Salford, the impact of Hastings is obvious. He guides his team around the field with ease, leads their kicking game and injects himself with a sniping running game frequently exploiting tired defences.

His impact is more than that though. He has the adoration of everyone associated with Salford. Even the announcement of his expected departure to Wigan did not bring anger or ill-will from the Salford fans.

The same scenes have greeted Salford’s final home game for the last two seasons. Jackson Hastings disappearing into the terracing at the AJ Bell Stadium, being mobbed by fans.

Anyone who follows Jackson Hastings on social media will now about the impact that he has had on the local community too. Two examples spring to mind. Today, he invited two young Salford fans to training, who you may have seen on TV on Friday night, caught up in the emotion of Salford’s unprecedented victory at Wigan.

The night before at the Super League Awards, he went out of his way to congratulate LDRL player Oliver Thomason on his award. By the way, if you haven’t seen BBC Sport’s feature today about Oliver and his brother Craig, then take 5 minutes out of your day to read it, because it is truly humbling.

Back to Jackson Hastings, you could reel of a list as long as your arm of the positive things that he has done for the local community in under two years in Salford. All things that he has no obligation to do. 

The pre-conceived image of an Australian troublemaker that was presented when he came to the UK lifted almost instantly. He presents himself as an intelligent, thoughtful young man. He now stands poised with his Salford team to make history with just 80 more minutes.

(Picture Credit: Salford Red Devils)

Jonny Lomax is a player that often does not get the credit that he deserves. He seems content to fade into the background and is as far removed from the ‘cheeky’ half back image as you as likely to get. That does not make him any less talented of a player.

Jackson Hastings is not the only figure to praise him. If you listen to Wayne Bennett, one of the greatest coaches in our sport’s history, barely an interview goes by in his England capacity where he does not praise Jonny Lomax.

A tribute to his talent is that Bennett seems always to find a place for Lomax in his team, even if it is not in his club position. Bennett appears to rate him so highly, that Lomax is one of the first names on the team sheet.

His record at St Helens speaks for itself. St Helens have lost three games in Super League this year. There is one constant with all of those defeats. Jonny Lomax did not play in any of those games.

That is not a coincidence. St Helens are severely weakened by his absence. It may not be as noticeable on TV, but at the stadium, you notice that as well as playing his own game, he has started to demonstrate more leadership. He often encourages, passes on words of wisdom to and, when required, berates the younger players in the team (especially Regan Grace)!

Jonny Lomax has had setbacks in his career. Whether it was a severe head injury as a schoolboy that almost stopped his career before it started or several serious knee injuries that saw him miss nearly two full seasons.

In late 2015 – early 2016, it looked like his potential would go unfulfilled. But he hasn’t allowed that to happen. Instead he has catapulted himself into a regular international, has captained his club and is talked about amongst the game’s elite.

What is he missing? A winner’s medal. Yes, he got one when Saints were last champions in 2014, but he didn’t play from June onwards due to another knee problem. There probably isn’t the same satisfaction in picking up a Super League trophy in a suit as there is after playing.

Lomax has lost a number of finals at St Helens and will be desperate, finally to get that winning feeling in a major final.