Micky Higham named Championship player of the year

Leigh Centurions skipper Micky Higham has been named Kingstone Press Championship player of the year at an awards dinner in Leeds.

Higham, 35, only led Leigh back to the Super League 48 hours before being crowned with his Championship honour and has been rewarded for his fine efforts this season.

The former Wigan, St Helens and Warrington hooker was a key cog in the Centurions system as they successfully defended the league leaders' trophy and won five games from five in the Super 8s Qualifiers, gaining automatic promotion in the process.

Higham saw off competition from Batley scrum-half Dominic Brambani and Featherstone centre Misi Taulapapa to win the award.

Elsewhere, Batley's John Kear took the coach of the year gong after securing a third-placed finish for the Bulldogs, while London Broncos hooker James Cunningham was named young player of the year.

Toulouse halfback Johnathon Ford and coach Sylvain Houles scooped the League One player and coach of the year awards respectively.