Only four days after winning the most prestigious individual accolade in the 13-a-side code, the 23-year-old prop forward was on the losing side in the engage Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday when Saints crashed to a 24-16 defeat against defending champions Leeds Rhinos.

"I would have willingly swapped my Man of Steel award for victory in the Grand Final," admitted Graham, who became the fourth consecutive Saints' player to lift the trophy and follows in the illustrious footsteps of James Roby (2007), Paul Wellens (2006), Jamie Lyon (2005) and Paul Sculthorpe (2001/02).

The Great Britain international, who picked up a cheque worth £5,000, also won an award for making the most metres (3,935) when carrying the ball in regular season matches.

Graham said: " I'm pretty surprised to win the Man of Steel award but as a club we have had a great year.

"You don't set out to win awards like this because it's more about the team than anything else but it's still great to win it."

He added: "A lot of people wrote us off at the start of the year, which didn't impress me and the lads, so it was great to make a couple of finals.

"We're all totally aware that Rugby League is a team game and I feel a bit of an imposter. "

It was the first time that the players themselves had selected a winner instead of a panel of judges. Winger Ade Gardner, who crossed the whitewash 26 times in the regular season, won the Top Try Scorer award and team-mate Mike Bennett, who announced his retirement from the sport due to a shoulder injury a couple of months ago, collected the Carnegie Community Player of the Year prize.

Club skipper Paul Sculthorpe, who also revealed his plans to retire from the sport a few weeks ago, received a '200 Club' award, while Saints collected the Frontline Fair Play accolade as the most disciplined side in the competition.

Other major award winners included: Joe Westerman of Castleford Tigers (Young Player of the Year), Mick Potter of Catalans Dragons (Coach of the Year), Hull KR (Club of the Year). In addition, the newly-created Spirit of Rugby League award went posthumously to former Great Britain and Warrington captain and ex-Knowsley Road assistant coach Mike Gregory.

It recognises and acknowledges individuals whose career in the game has consistently reflected core values of the sport over an extended period and who have made a significant and positive contribution to Rugby League in this way.