Does anyone know how the MOS is selected now? I think a shortlist is drawn up and then the players vote but that may have changed.

I'd like to see each club have an internal vote to determine their player of the year then that list of 12 players is then voted upon by all clubs with the restriction that you can't vote for the club from your player. MOS would then truly be chosen by the players themselves.

Kept their team out of the middle 8's I guess

Quite possibly.
Though it is interesting to note that in the three games Solomona missed our replacement left-wingers scored 9 tries.
The combination between Gale and Dorn this year has been the main reason our left edge has been so prolific (though Solomona has scored some fantastic individual efforts too).
It also has to be pointed out that our halves and backs can only perform if they are at the right end of the field. The likes of Springer, Millington, Holmes, Moors, McMeekan, Patrick and Lynch have been instrumental in this too.

Can anyone remember the last time Chris Hill had a bad game? For that matter, anyone remember when he last had an ordinary game? Without Hill the current Wire side wouldn't be top of the league, they probably wouldn't even be top four. Loads of very valid arguments for several players, but surprised that the best prop in Super League is barely getting a mention.

IIRC all Super League players get a vote from which a shortlist of three is made. The final decision comes from a five man panel including a former winner, a current player and representatives from the print and broadcast media.

He'd my in my top 3.
1. Houghton.
2. Gale.
3. Hill.

Chris Hill is a victim of his own ability. He is a top class consistant performer, I've never seem him have worse than a very good game. As a result that level of performance it's expected and not noticed as much. Houghton for example has been a decent player for several years who has upped his performances this year, as such has been noticed more.

Having an 80 metre pitch helps get you in good field positions

Only for half our games!
We seemed to gain good field position on your full-sized pitch both times we have played there this year, so it can't be all about our postage-stamp.

Any reason for editing the other four statements made in my original post?

Because they are still true!
I was only referring to the statements in your post that are no longer the case, so I only quoted this part of your post.

And just as an update, Gale now has 44 try assists (compared the Sneyd's 21) and remains the top goal kicker and points scorer in the league.

You are thinking of 'toughest' in the hardman sense which is completely bo llocks, I'm of course referring to someone who has 'steel', who plays consistantly at a high level, shows leadership, never wilts or goes missing, it's NOT about finishing off the hard graft of everyone else, despite how spectacular that might appear, the 'Man of Steel' was about those who grafted, put their body on the line again and again and again. Danny Houghton has been that man. Anyone else would be a travesty IMHO

Ah the annual "take the 'Man of Steel' award title literally and apply it to player x" debacle.

If it was as literal as that, past winners would not include Offiah, Chase, Tomkins, Lyon, Davies, etc etc. It is simply the best player of the year.

If we took it literally it would exclude all former winners bar an honorary award in 1981 whose shortlist included C3PO, K9 and Metal Mickey.

It was a controversial win for K9 in the end with internet forums at the time (it was in black and white in those days) insisting it is a "[iMan[/i of Steel" not "[iDog[/i of Steel" award.