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Clive Churchill Medal

From Alfawiki
Clive Churchill Medal
Company typeAward
IndustrySports (Rugby league)
Founded1986
FounderNational Rugby League
ProductsMan-of-the-match award for NRL Grand Final

The Clive Churchill Medal is presented to the player deemed man-of-the-match during the National Rugby League's yearly NRL Grand Final. Introduced in 1986 to commemorate Clive Churchill, an iconic figure in Australian rugby league, this medal represents one of the NRL's highest honors. Winners are chosen by the Australian Kangaroos selectors and receive the award during the ceremony following the grand final.

The inaugural award was given to Parramatta's Peter Sterling. Originally, the medal was enclosed in a case, but since 2000 it has been designed to be worn around the neck on a ribbon. Only three players have earned this distinction more than once: Bradley Clyde of Canberra (1989, 1991), Billy Slater from Melbourne Storm (2009, 2017), and Nathan Cleary representing Penrith (2021, 2023). Although Melbourne Storm had their premierships from 2007 and 2009 revoked due to salary cap violations, their recipients of the Clive Churchill Medal remain officially acknowledged.

On rare occasions, the medal has been awarded to players from teams that lost the grand final; this has happened only four times: Bradley Clyde (1991), Brad Mackay (St George, 1993), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly, 2013), and Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders, 2019).

The medal’s namesake, Clive Churchill, had a distinguished career playing for and coaching the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He also represented both New South Wales and Queensland, in addition to captaining and coaching the Australian Kangaroos.

List of recipients

Table key
^ Player was member of losing team
2024
Table of recipients
Year Recipient Team Position Ref
1986 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon Parramatta Eels Template:Rlp
1987 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Template:Rlp
1988 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Template:Rlp
1989 Template:Sortname (1) Template:Leagueicon Canberra Raiders Template:Rlp
1990 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon Canberra Raiders Template:Rlp
1991 Template:Sortname^ (2) Template:Leagueicon Canberra Raiders Template:Rlp
1992 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon Brisbane Broncos Template:Rlp
Template:Sortname "Template:Leagueicon" Penrith Panthers "Template:Rlp"


Retrospective awards

During the 2008 celebrations marking the Centenary of the League, the Clive Churchill Medal was awarded retroactively to acknowledge man-of-the-match performances beginning with the 1954 season, which was the first to feature compulsory grand finals. The very first honoree was Clive Churchill himself.

Although it was initially stated that Man of the Match awards were not presented before 1986, earlier accolades such as the Dave Brown Medal and a 1971 award determined by the press—first earned by Ron Coote—had been given. Other recipients included Dennis Ward in 1972, Bob Fulton in 1973, Arthur Beetson in 1974, and Ian Schubert in 1975. These earlier recognitions align with the retrospective Clive Churchill Medals.

For the grand final replays held in 1977 and 1978, the award took into account players' performances across both matches, with particular emphasis on Graham Eadie's outstanding role as fullback in 1978.

Table key
^ Indicates player was part of the losing side
1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
List of recipients
Year Awardee Club Playing position
1954 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon South Sydney Rabbitohs Fullback
1955 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon South Sydney Rabbitohs Second row
1956 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Prop
1957 Template:Sortname (1) Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Second row
1958 Template:Sortname (2) Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Second row
1959 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Lock
1960 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Second row
1961 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Five-eighth
1962 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Hooker
1963 Template:Sortname (3) Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Second row
1964 Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Fullback
Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Prop
Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon St George Dragons Lock
Template:Sortname^ Template:Leagueicon Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Fullback
Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon South Sydney Rabbitohs Fullback
Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon Balmain Tigers Five-eighth
Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon South Sydney Rabbitohs Halfback
Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon South Sydney Rabbitohs Lock
Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Halfback
Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Centre
Template:Sortname Template:Leagueicon Eastern Suburbs Roosters Prop
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Ian – Schubert Template:Leagueicon – Sydney Roosters – 16 Eastern Suburbs Roosters Fullback
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Graham – Eadie (1) Template:Leagueicon – Manly Sea Eagles – 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Fullback
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Craig – Young – dab=rugby league Template:Leagueicon – St George Dragons – 16 St George Dragons Prop
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Graham – Eadie (2) Template:Leagueicon – Manly Sea Eagles – 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Fullback
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Steve – Morris – dab=rugby league Template:Leagueicon – St George Dragons – 16 St George Dragons Halfback
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Steve – Gearin Template:Leagueicon – Canterbury Bulldogs – 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Wing
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Bob – O'Reilly – dab=rugby league Template:Leagueicon – Parramatta Eels – 16 Parramatta Eels Prop
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Brett – Kenny (1) Template:Leagueicon – Parramatta Eels – 16 Parramatta Eels Five-eighth
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Brett – Kenny (2) Template:Leagueicon – Parramatta Eels – 16 Parramatta Eels Five-eighth
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Peter – Kelly – dab=rugby league Template:Leagueicon – Canterbury Bulldogs – 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Prop
scope=row – Template:Sortname – Steve – Mortimer Template:Leagueicon – Canterbury Bulldogs – 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Halfback


Multiple Recipients

The players listed below have each earned the Clive Churchill Medal on more than one occasion.

Number of Medals Player Club Years
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

* Medals awarded retrospectively.

See also

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