Alex Sutcliffe wins YEP Shooting Star award as Matt Prior named Leeds Rhinos player of the year

Alex Sutcliffe is the Yorkshire Evening Post Leeds Rhinos Shooting Star for 2020.
Alex Sutcliffe is the 2020 YEP Shooting Star. Picture by Leanne Flynn/Leeds Rhinos.Alex Sutcliffe is the 2020 YEP Shooting Star. Picture by Leanne Flynn/Leeds Rhinos.
Alex Sutcliffe is the 2020 YEP Shooting Star. Picture by Leanne Flynn/Leeds Rhinos.

In an online presentation today (Wednesday), Australian prop Matt Prior was named Rhinos’ player of the year, the clubman honour went to director of rugby Kevin Sinfield and Richie Myler’s touchdown against Toronto Wolfpack has been voted Leeds’ best try of 2020.

Sutcliffe, a 21-year-old centre or second-rower, capped a breakthrough year by joining some of the most successful players in the club’s history on the prestigious Shooting Star award’s roll of honour.

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Sutcliffe topped a YEP readers’ vote to select the young player, aged 24 or under, who has made the biggest impact this year.

Also nominated were props Mikolaj Oledzki and Tom Holroyd and second-row/loose-forward Cameron Smith. Previous winners - including 2019 Shooting Star Harry Newman - were not considered.

The Oulton Raiders product made his debut for Rhinos in 2017 and featured once off the bench two years later, but cut his teeth during a spell on dual-registration that season with Featherstone Rovers.

Paying tribute to Sutcliffe, who underwent shoulder surgery last week, coach Richard Agar said: “Alex, we feel, has developed really nicely.

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“His year playing first grade at Featherstone was a huge benefit to us, he proved himself to be one of the standout centres - if not players - in that competition.

“That has always translated through to his first grade appearances here when he has had an opportunity, whether that has come at centre or as a back-rower - and he has filled in in the middle for us at times,”

Sutcliffe made nine appearances for Rhinos in 2020 and was among the substitutes when Leeds ended a five-year wait for Wembley glory with a 17-16 victory over Salford Red Devils in the Coral Challenge Cup final.

“He is a guy we have got a lot of confidence in,” Agar added. “We know he never lets us down, we love the fact he is a really aggressive defender.

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“His ability to go in there and win battles defensively has been great for us and he has had some game-changing moments through his defence this year. He also has the ability to get on the end of play and come up with some important tries. He runs a great line and he is a player we think has made terrific strides over the last 18 months.”

Off-season signing Prior was named player of the year, chosen by his teammates and the coaching staff over the course of the season.

Prior is on his off-season break in Australia and received his award from former Leeds player Trent Merrin.

Last year’s winner Ash Hanley, Betfred Super League’s top try scorer, was runner-up, just one vote behind Prior.

Captain Luke Gale came third, a single vote ahead of Myler.

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Sinfield was named clubman of the year after running seven marathons in seven days to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

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