BARROVIAN Morgan Knowles lost out to another Super League superstar in Sam Tomkins in the bid for an award.

The St Helens loose forward was beaten to the accolade by Catalans Dragons and England full-back Sam Tomkins who was voted the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association's player of the year for the third time.

The Cumbrian was named the club's 2020 'player of the year' for his performance during the campaign, which saw the club clinch an 8-4 Super League Grand Final win against Wigan Warriors at the KCOM Stadium after finishing second in the regular season table.

Knowles was born in Barrow-in-Furness and his career began with Ulverston before he later joined Barrow Island.

Tomkins, who won the award back to back as a Wigan player in 2011 and 2012, has been pivotal in the Dragons' best-ever Super League campaign.

The French club lifted the League Leaders' Shield and on Thursday night in Perpignan will take on Hull KR for a place in the Grand Final.

The Catalans' historic season is further recognised by the awarding of the Association's prestigious merit award for services to rugby league to club owner Bernard Guasch.

Tomkins polled two-thirds of the votes of association members to land the Ray Fletcher Shield ahead of Castleford's Paul McShane and the St Helens trio of Lachlan Coote, Alex Walmsley and Morgan Knowles.

Tomkins, who is also on the Steve Prescott Man of Steel short-list, paid tribute to his team-mates.