Kingstone Press Championships awards nominees announced

Former Challenge Cup winner Paul Cooke has been shortlisted for the Championship Player of the Year award.

Cooke, 32, was Championship 1 player of the year 12 months ago, and will enter 2014 as the player-coach of Doncaster. Outgoing Dons coach Tony Miller has been shortlisted for the coach award, also 12 months after he scooped the Championship 1 equivalent.

Going up against Cooke for the award are Dewsbury’s Aaron Brown and Sheffield prop Mitchell Stringer.

Brown is also shortlisted for the young player of the year award, alongside Ryan Brierley (Leigh), Tom Carr (York) and Liam Kay (Doncaster).

Miller faces competition from Leigh’s Paul Rowley and Sheffield’s Mark Aston for the coach of the year award.

In Championship 1, North Wales Crusaders could sweep up in all three awards. Andy Moulsdale and Jono Smith, along with London’s Dylan Skee, are up for the player of the year award, while coach Clive Griffiths goes up against Joe Mbu (London) and Troy Perkins (Hemel) for coach of the year.

Tommy Johnston is shortlisted for the young player of the year, as are Adam Files (Oldham), Tyla Hepi (Gloucestershire), Luke Hardcastle (Gateshead) and Richard Lepori (Oldham).

The winners will be announced at the Kingstone Press Championship Awards night in Leeds on Thursday September 26.