Bevan French, a former Parramatta Eels winger, is one of three players vying for the Super League Man of Steel award, hoping to join an elite group.

The Super League Man of Steel award, established in 1977, is given to the greatest player of the season in the Super League – the English counterpart of the Dally M medal in Australia.

English internationals Tom Johnstone (Catalan Dragons) and Jack Welsby (St Helens) were also named on the shortlist for the award.

The previous two-time Indigenous All-Star was nominated for the award after a fantastic season in which he moved from the wing to the half. He is the current league leader in try assists and was instrumental in Wigan winning the League Leaders Shield.

If he wins the Man of Steel title, he will be the ninth ex-NRL player to do so, after Brodie Croft in 2022 and Jackson Hastings in 2019.

French was linked with a return to the NRL last year after leaving the Parramatta Eels at the end of the 2018 season with 47 appearances and 140 points under his belt.

He was said to be very close to signing a contract with the Newcastle Knights.

French, who is only 27 years old, is very likely to return to Australia in the future, especially because his contract expires at the end of next season.

AUSTRALIAN WINNERS OF THE MAN OF STEEL AWARD

1986: Gavin Miller (Hull Kingston Rovers)
1999: Adrian Vowles (Castleford Tigers)
2005: Jamie Lyon (St Helens)
2009: Brett Hodgson (Huddersfield Giants)
2010: Pat Richards (Wigan Warriors)
2018: Ben Barba (St Helens)
2019: Jackson Hastings (St Helens)
2022: Brodie Croft (Salford Red Devils)