Huddersfield Giants captain Danny Brough has received further recognition for his record-breaking season with his selection as the Rugby League Writers’ Association player of the year.

The goalkicking half-back , who inspired the Huddersfield Giants to their first top-of-the-table finish for 81 years, finished just ahead of Leeds’ former England captain Jamie Peacock in a poll carried out at the end of the regular Super League season.

Other players in the running for the award were Warrington hooker Mick Higham and Huddersfield prop forward Eorl Crabtree .

Brough, who will lead his side in the first Super League play-off semi-final at Warrington on Thursday night, is the 17th winner of the award and Huddersfield’s second in recent years after former captain Brett Hodgson was victorious in 2009.

“Danny Brough has been one of the top players in Super League for a number of years but this year he has been truly outstanding,” said association chairman Trevor Hunt.

“He has made no little contribution to Huddersfield’s first league success for 81 years and that no doubt got him the edge over Jamie Peacock, who has also enjoyed a tremendous season.”

Brough kicked 12 goals in his last match, Huddersfield’s 76-18 play-off win over Hull last Thursday , to break Ben Gronow’s club record of 147 goals in a season which stood for 93 years and he also smashed Pat Devery’s record for points in a season set in 1953.

The Scotland international will be presented with his award at the association’s annual dinner, which will have a World-Cup theme, in Manchester on Tuesday, November 26.

Brough, who was named in the 2013 Super League Dream Team, was last week presented with the Albert Goldthorpe Medal as reward for his consistency over the 27 rounds of Super League and will be hoping to complete a hat-trick of awards at the Man of Steel ceremony next Monday.

Danny Brough, Shaun Lunt, Eorl Crabtree, Brett Ferres and Leroy Cudjoe in the Super League Dream Team
Danny Brough, Shaun Lunt, Eorl Crabtree, Brett Ferres and Leroy Cudjoe in the Super League Dream Team

He is on a three-man short-list, along with Peacock and Wigan captain Sean O’Loughlin, for the annual prize awarded to the Super League player judged to have made the biggest impact on the season.

“I’m really pleased and privileged to receive all these awards this year,” Brough said.

“I put that down to having a good team around me and a good set of lads. It’s been a real team effort.”