The Harry Sunderland Trophy was awarded annually to the man of the match in the Super League Grand Final and its predecessors, the RFL First Division Final and the Premiership Final, between 1965 and 2023. Named after Harry Sunderland, who was an Australian rugby league football administrator in both Australia and the United Kingdom, the Trophy was first awarded in the Rugby Football League Championship Final of the 1964–65 season following Sunderland's death.[1][2]
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Competition | First Division Final (1965–1973) Premiership Final (1974–1997) Super League Grand Final (1998–2023) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Presented by | Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters' Association |
| History | |
| First award | 1965 |
| Editions | 59 |
| Final award | 2023 |
| First winner | Terry Fogerty |
| Most recent | Jake Wardle |
After the 1972–73 season the play-off system was dropped as the League went to two divisions. The Trophy's use was continued in the Rugby League Premiership and Super League Premiership finals until Super League III, when a play-off system was re-introduced to determine the Champions through the Grand Final.
The trophy's winner is determined by the Rugby League Writers' Association and presented on the field immediately following the conclusion of the match. In 2011, Rob Burrow of Leeds Rhinos became the first player to achieve the unanimous votes of all 37 judges when winning the award.[3]
In February 2024 the Rugby Football League announced that the trophy will be replaced by the Rob Burrow Award.[4] In announcing the new award, RFL vice-president Trevor Hunt said "I am certain that rugby league players and supporters will agree that the name of Rob Burrow is a fitting one to recognise, ... We believe that now is the right time to make a change that brings the award recognition into the new era, and Rob Burrow is the right man."[5]
Recipients
edit† = denotes a player who won the trophy but played on the losing team in the final.
Winners by club
edit| Club | Awards (winners) |
|---|---|
 Bradford Bulls | 6 (6) |
 Dewsbury | 1 (1) |
 Halifax | 1 (1) |
 Hull F.C. | 1 (1) |
 Hull Kingston Rovers | 2 (2) |
 Leeds Rhinos | 12 (9) |
 St Helens | 13 (11) |
 Wakefield Trinity | 2 (2) |
 Warrington Wolves | 3 (3) |
 Widnes Vikings | 6 (5) |
 Wigan Warriors | 12 (11) |
Seven players have been awarded trophy twice.
See also
edit- Clive Churchill Medal – corresponding award for the NRL Grand Final
- Karyn Murphy Medal – corresponding award for the NRLW Grand Final
- Lance Todd Trophy – corresponding award for Rugby Football League Challenge Cup final
References
edit- ^ "What makes a Harry Sunderland Trophy winner?". Sky Sports. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ Room, Adrian (2010). Dictionary of Sports and Games Terminology. p. 72. ISBN 978-0786442263.
- ^ "Who was Harry Sunderland?". Rugby Football League. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ Walker, Callum (7 February 2024). "Harry Sunderland Trophy to be replaced by the Rob Burrow Award". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Rob Burrow: Super League Grand Final award renamed after former player". BBC Sport. 7 February 2024.
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