Tuesday 30 September 2014 17:09, UK
Shaun Wane says he is mystified none of his Wigan players are in contention for the prestigious Man of Steel award, feeling particularly irked that Matty Smith failed to make the shortlist.
Daryl Clark (Castleford), Chris Hill (Warrington), Jamie Peacock (Leeds) and James Roby (St Helens) are the players in contention for the top award, which is renamed this year as the Steve Prescott Man of Steel.
The shortlist was drawn up by a specially-convened panel following a poll of all Super League players, who were unable to vote for their own club-mates.
"I thought Matty would have had a chance with what he has done when (half-back partner) Blake Green has been out," Wane said.
"He's led the team really well. He was already high in my estimation and he's gone even higher this year.
"I'm gutted for him. The four who have been picked are quality players but to not have anybody from the Wigan team is pretty strange."
Former St Helens and Salford scrum-half Smith was named in England coach Steve McNamara's 34-man training squad in the summer and was one of two Warriors included in the 2014 Super League Dream Team.
He will get the chance to press his England claims ahead of the autumn Four Nations Series in Australia and New Zealand when he goes up against Warrington's Richie Myler, the other specialist scrum-half in McNamara's initial squad, in Friday's semi-final at the DW Stadium.
Wigan, the defending champions, are virtually at full strength and rested after a week off following their impressive 57-4 rout of Huddersfield in their qualifying play-off.
"We used the break well," Wane said. "We had a pretty physical week last week but we've laid off them a bit this week, making sure they're fresh for Friday."
Watch Wigan v Warrington on Sky Sports 2HD from 19.30 on Friday night
