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Clive Churchill Medal
Australian rugby league medal
Australian rugby league medal
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Clive Churchill Medal |
| caption | 2025 medal winner Reece Walsh |
| image_size | 200px |
| league | National Rugby League |
| givenfor | The man-of-the-match in the NRL Grand Final |
| first | 1986 (contemporary) |
| 1954 (retrospective) | |
| firstwinner | Peter Sterling (contemporary) |
| Clive Churchill (retrospective) | |
| mostwins | Norm Provan (3) |
| mostrecent | Reece Walsh (2025) |
1954 (retrospective) Clive Churchill (retrospective)
The Clive Churchill Medal is the award given to the player judged to be man-of-the-match in the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill following his death in 1985. Churchill is considered one of the greatest and most decorated players in Australian rugby league history. One of the highest individual player honours in the NRL, the medal's recipient is chosen by the selectors of the Australian national team. It is announced at the post-grand final ceremony, and awarded by a previous winner. The current recipient of the award is Reece Walsh of the Brisbane Broncos.
The Clive Churchill Medal has been awarded since the 1986 NSWRL season when its first recipient was Peter Sterling. It was initially presented in a case until 2000 where it is presented separately with a ribbon being worn around the neck. The only three players to have won the award more than once are Bradley Clyde (1989 and 1991), Billy Slater (2009 and 2017) and Nathan Cleary (2021 and 2023) . Despite the Melbourne Storm being stripped of their 2007 and 2009 premiership titles due to salary cap breaches in 2010, the medal winners of those years remain officially recognised.
The medal has only been awarded to a member of the losing grand final team on four occasions. Clyde in 1991, Brad Mackay in 1993, Daly Cherry-Evans in 2013, and Jack Wighton in 2019.
List of recipients
| Year | Recipient | Team | Position | Ref | (1) | ^ (2) | ^ | (1) | ^ | (2) | ^ | Dylan Edwards | (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Parramatta Eels | ||||||||||||
| 1987 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | ||||||||||||
| 1988 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | ||||||||||||
| 1989 | Canberra Raiders | ||||||||||||
| 1990 | Canberra Raiders | ||||||||||||
| 1991 | Canberra Raiders | ||||||||||||
| 1992 | Brisbane Broncos | ||||||||||||
| 1993 | St George Dragons | ||||||||||||
| 1994 | Canberra Raiders | ||||||||||||
| 1995 | Sydney Bulldogs | ||||||||||||
| 1996 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | ||||||||||||
| 1997 | Newcastle Knights | ||||||||||||
| 1998 | Brisbane Broncos | {{Cite news | last = Mascord | first = Steve | title = Embarrassed, dizzy Tallis says every player should be given a medal | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | place = Australia | page = 22 | Fairfax]] | date = 28 September 1998 | url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news980928_0317_1038 | access-date = 13 February 2011}} | |
| 1999 | Melbourne Storm | ||||||||||||
| 2000 | Brisbane Broncos | ||||||||||||
| 2001 | Newcastle Knights | ||||||||||||
| 2002 | Sydney Roosters | ||||||||||||
| 2003 | Penrith Panthers | ||||||||||||
| 2004 | Bulldogs | ||||||||||||
| 2005 | Wests Tigers | ||||||||||||
| 2006 | Brisbane Broncos | {{cite news | last = Stevenson | first = Andrew | title = Medal for the quiet achiever | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | place = Australia | publisher = Fairfax Media | date = 2 October 2006 | url = https://www.smh.com.au/news/league/medal-for-the-quiet-achiever/2006/10/01/1159641217277.html | access-date = 2009-12-16}} | ||
| 2007 | Melbourne Storm | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | ||||||||||||
| 2009 | Melbourne Storm | ||||||||||||
| 2010 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | {{Cite news | last = Chammas | first = Michael | title = 2010 Clive Churchill winner Darius Boyd | work = Illawarra Mercury | place = Australia | publisher = Fairfax Media | date = 4 October 2010 | url = https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/2010-clive-churchill-winner-darius-boyd/1958382.aspx?storypage=0 | access-date = 4 October 2010}} | ||
| 2011 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | ||||||||||||
| 2012 | Melbourne Storm | ||||||||||||
| 2013 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | ||||||||||||
| 2015 | North Queensland Cowboys | ||||||||||||
| 2016 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | Melbourne Storm | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | Sydney Roosters | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | Canberra Raiders | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | Melbourne Storm | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | Penrith Panthers | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | Penrith Panthers | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | Penrith Panthers | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | Penrith Panthers | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | Brisbane Broncos |
Retrospective awards
As part of the Centenary of League celebrations in 2008, the Clive Churchill Medal has been retrospectively awarded for man-of-the-match performances from season 1954, the first to feature mandatory grand finals. The first recipient from the 1954 season is the man for which the award was originally named, Clive Churchill.
Despite claims to the contrary at the time of the announcement of the retrospective medals that there had not been Man Of The Match awards for Grand Finals prior to 1986, this was not the case - there had been the Dave Brown Medal awarded at some stage, and, according to the NSWRL's official match day program, a new prize was awarded in 1971, with the winner named by reporters covering the game (the first was won by South Sydney's Ron Coote). In 1972 the award went to Manly half back Dennis Ward, and the following year, to Manly's Bob Fulton. In 1974, Arthur Beetson won the press writers award, and in 1975 it was Ian Schubert. The retrospective Clive Churchill Medals - either by coincidence or design - reflect those award winners.
In the replayed grand finals of 1977 and 1978, the award was based on efforts over the course of both games, although Manly-Warringah's Graham Eadie was a clear choice in 1978 after a dominating performance from fullback in the Grand Final replay.
| Year | Recipient | Team | Position | (1) | (2) | (3) | ^ | (1) | (2) | (1) | (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Fullback | |||||||||
| 1955 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Second row | |||||||||
| 1956 | St George Dragons | Prop | |||||||||
| 1957 | St George Dragons | Second row | |||||||||
| 1958 | St George Dragons | Second row | |||||||||
| 1959 | St George Dragons | Lock | |||||||||
| 1960 | St George Dragons | Second row | |||||||||
| 1961 | St George Dragons | Five-eighth | |||||||||
| 1962 | St George Dragons | Hooker | |||||||||
| 1963 | St George Dragons | Second row | |||||||||
| 1964 | St George Dragons | Fullback | |||||||||
| 1965 | St George Dragons | Prop | |||||||||
| 1966 | St George Dragons | Lock | |||||||||
| 1967 | Canterbury-Bankstown | Fullback | |||||||||
| 1968 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Fullback | |||||||||
| 1969 | Balmain Tigers | Five-eighth | |||||||||
| 1970 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Halfback | |||||||||
| 1971 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Lock | |||||||||
| 1972 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Halfback | |||||||||
| 1973 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | ||||||||||
| 1974 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Prop | |||||||||
| 1975 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Fullback | |||||||||
| 1976 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Fullback | |||||||||
| 1977 | St George Dragons | Prop | |||||||||
| 1978 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Fullback | |||||||||
| 1979 | St George Dragons | Halfback | |||||||||
| 1980 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | ||||||||||
| 1981 | Parramatta Eels | Prop | |||||||||
| 1982 | Parramatta Eels | Five-eighth | |||||||||
| 1983 | Parramatta Eels | Five-eighth | |||||||||
| 1984 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Prop | |||||||||
| 1985 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Halfback |
Multiple winners
The following players have won the Clive Churchill Medal multiple times.
| Medals | Player | Team | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Norm Provan | St George | 1957, 1958, 1963* |
| 2 | Graham Eadie | Manly-Warringah | 1976, 1978 |
| Brett Kenny | Parramatta | 1982, 1983 | |
| Bradley Clyde | Canberra | 1989, 1991 | |
| Billy Slater | Melbourne | 2009, 2017 | |
| Nathan Cleary | Penrith | 2021, 2023 |
** Retrospective medals.*
References
References
- (2023-09-30). "Clive Churchill Medal winner: Andrew Johns - 2001".
- (2002-10-07). "Fitzgibbon finally on winning side".
- Massoud, Josh. (2 September 2010). "St George Illawarra hooker Luke Priddis to retire at end of season". [[Herald Sun]].
- (2004-10-04). "Oh, brother: Mason sees his dream come true".
- (2 October 2005). "Tigers claim historic premiership". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Webster, Andrew. (2007-10-01). "Invincible Inglis in a class of his own".
- (5 October 2008). "Clive Churchill Medallist Brent Kite flies high in NRL grand final". [[The Courier-Mail]].
- Magnay, Jacquelin. (2009-10-05). "Slater puts pedal to the medal for No.1 berth".
- AAP. (2 October 2011). "Hasler praises Churchill winner Stewart". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- (2012-09-30). "Melbourne Storm's crafty playmaker Cooper Cronk caps superb season with Clive Churchill medal".
- (2013-10-06). "Cherry-Evans surprised by Churchill honour". ABC News.
- (2024-09-27). "South Sydney Rabbitohs – Article".
- (2020-10-14). "Thurston voted best Churchill Medal winner for 2015 heroics".
- Pengilly, Adam. (2016-10-02). "NRL grand final 2016: Cronulla Sharks' Luke Lewis wins Clive Churchill medal".
- (1 October 2017). "NRL 2017 grand final: Billy Slater wins Clive Churchill Medal for the second time". News Corporation Australia.
- (30 September 2018). "'Two-position' Keary wins Clive Churchill Medal".
- (6 October 2019). "'Numbest I've ever felt': Wighton wins Clive Churchill Medal".
- (25 October 2020). "Ryan Papenhuyzen claims Clive Churchill Medal as Melbourne Storm take out NRL Grand Final". Nine Media.
- (3 October 2021). "Penrith co-captain Nathan Cleary wins Clive Churchill Medal after Panthers claim 2021 premiership". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Tackle, Zero. (2022-10-02). "2022 Clive Churchill Medal winner announced".
- (2023-10-01). "Nathan Cleary clinches second Clive Churchill Medal".
- (2024-10-06). "Martin and Kelly win major awards on Grand Final Day".
- James Dampney. (1 October 2008). "Greats to get man-of-match awards". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney).
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