Clive Churchill Medal Winners: Every Winner Since 1954

Who has won the most Clive Churchill Medals? Here is every NRL grand final player of the match since 1954, from Clive Churchill and Peter Sterling to James Tedesco, plus the multiple winners, records and the clubs with the most medallists.

James Tedesco is the reigning Clive Churchill medallist after a titanic display in the Sydney Roosters’ 19-18 grand final win over Newcastle on 4 October. The Roosters captain ran for 385 metres, the most by a player in any NRL finals match, and made 14 tackle breaks as the Tricolours came back from 12-0 down to claim their first premiership since 2019.

It was Tedesco’s third premiership but his first Clive Churchill Medal, and it completed his set of the game’s biggest individual honours alongside his 2019 Wally Lewis Medal and his Dally M Medals from 2019 and 2025. Fittingly, the medal was presented by Parramatta great Peter Sterling, 40 years after he became its first winner.

The man he succeeded, Reece Walsh, is now the Kangaroos’ fullback. Walsh, the 2025 medallist, was picked ahead of Tedesco in the No. 1 jersey and scored a hat-trick in the 44-12 semi-final win over Samoa, setting up a Rugby League World Cup final against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday 15 November.

The Clive Churchill Medal goes to the best player on the field in the NRL grand final. It was created to honour South Sydney and Australian fullback Clive Churchill, who died in 1985, and was first awarded in 1986. As part of rugby league’s centenary celebrations in 2008, the medal was awarded retrospectively for every grand final from 1954, the first season in which a grand final was compulsory, and fittingly the first of those went to Churchill himself.

Both sets of winners are listed below. Names and clubs have been checked against the Rugby League Project’s honour roll and NRL.com, and each entry includes the grand final result.

Most Clive Churchill Medals

3: Norm Provan (St George, 1957, 1958 and 1963, all retrospective)
2: Graham Eadie (Manly-Warringah, 1976 and 1978, retrospective)
2: Brett Kenny (Parramatta, 1982 and 1983, retrospective)
2: Bradley Clyde (Canberra, 1989 and 1991)
2: Billy Slater (Melbourne, 2009 and 2017)
2: Nathan Cleary (Penrith, 2021 and 2023)

Since the medal was first presented in 1986, only Clyde, Slater and Cleary have won it twice, and nobody has won three. Clyde was just 19 when he was named best on ground in Canberra’s famous 1989 extra-time win over Balmain.

Most Clive Churchill Medals by club since 1986

Melbourne Storm: 6
Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Penrith Panthers: 5
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters: 3
Newcastle Knights: 2
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, Parramatta Eels, South Sydney Rabbitohs, St George Dragons, St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers: 1

Melbourne leads the way since the medal was introduced, even though its 2007 and 2009 premierships were stripped over salary cap breaches. Inglis and Slater are still recognised as the medallists for those years. Penrith had a winner in four straight grand finals from 2021 to 2024, while Walsh became the fifth Bronco to win it in 2025.

Most Clive Churchill Medals by club including retrospective awards

St George Dragons: 14
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: 9
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 7
Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs: 6
Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters: 5
Parramatta Eels: 4
Newcastle Knights: 2
Balmain Tigers, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers: 1

St George’s 11-year premiership run explains its dominance of the retrospective list, with Dragons players taking the medal in every grand final from 1956 to 1966. Canterbury-Bankstown and the Roosters tallies include Canterbury’s 1995 win as the Sydney Bulldogs and the Roosters’ wins as Eastern Suburbs.

Clive Churchill Medal records and facts

First winner: Peter Sterling (Parramatta), 1986. The first retrospective medal went to Clive Churchill (South Sydney) for 1954
Most medals: 3, Norm Provan (St George)
Teenage winner: Bradley Clyde (Canberra), aged 19, in 1989
Won by a player on the losing side: Les Johns (Canterbury-Bankstown, 1967, retrospective), Bradley Clyde (Canberra, 1991), Brad Mackay (St George, 1993), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly-Warringah, 2013) and Jack Wighton (Canberra, 2019)
First Queenslander to win it: Allan Langer (Brisbane), who scored two tries in the 1992 grand final
Most common position since 1986: halfback, with 12 medals, followed by fullback with 9
Back-to-back fullbacks: Walsh in 2025 and Tedesco in 2026

Cherry-Evans has a special place in this story. The 2013 medallist, who won it on the losing side for Manly, kicked the field goal that won the 2026 grand final for the Roosters in his last NRL game.

Clive Churchill Medal winners: 2020s

2026: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters, fullback). Grand final: Sydney Roosters 19 def. Newcastle Knights 18
2025: Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos, fullback). Grand final: Brisbane Broncos 26 def. Melbourne Storm 22
2024: Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers, second row). Grand final: Penrith Panthers 14 def. Melbourne Storm 6
2023: Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers, halfback). Grand final: Penrith Panthers 26 def. Brisbane Broncos 24
2022: Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers, fullback). Grand final: Penrith Panthers 28 def. Parramatta Eels 12
2021: Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers, halfback). Grand final: Penrith Panthers 14 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 12
2020: Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm, fullback). Grand final: Melbourne Storm 26 def. Penrith Panthers 20

Clive Churchill Medal winners: 2010s

2019: Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders, five-eighth) (losing side). Grand final: Sydney Roosters 14 def. Canberra Raiders 8
2018: Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters, five-eighth). Grand final: Sydney Roosters 21 def. Melbourne Storm 6
2017: Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm, fullback). Grand final: Melbourne Storm 34 def. North Queensland Cowboys 6
2016: Luke Lewis (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, second row). Grand final: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14 def. Melbourne Storm 12
2015: Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys, halfback). Grand final: North Queensland Cowboys 17 def. Brisbane Broncos 16 (golden point)
2014: Sam Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, lock). Grand final: South Sydney Rabbitohs 30 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 6
2013: Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, halfback) (losing side). Grand final: Sydney Roosters 26 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 18
2012: Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm, halfback). Grand final: Melbourne Storm 14 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 4
2011: Glenn Stewart (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, lock). Grand final: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 def. New Zealand Warriors 10
2010: Darius Boyd (St George Illawarra Dragons, fullback). Grand final: St George Illawarra Dragons 32 def. Sydney Roosters 8

Clive Churchill Medal winners: 2000s

2009: Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm, fullback). Grand final: Melbourne Storm 23 def. Parramatta Eels 16 (premiership later stripped)
2008: Brent Kite (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, prop). Grand final: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 40 def. Melbourne Storm 0
2007: Greg Inglis (Melbourne Storm, five-eighth). Grand final: Melbourne Storm 34 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8 (premiership later stripped)
2006: Shaun Berrigan (Brisbane Broncos, hooker). Grand final: Brisbane Broncos 15 def. Melbourne Storm 8
2005: Scott Prince (Wests Tigers, halfback). Grand final: Wests Tigers 30 def. North Queensland Cowboys 16
2004: Willie Mason (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, prop). Grand final: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16 def. Sydney Roosters 13
2003: Luke Priddis (Penrith Panthers, hooker). Grand final: Penrith Panthers 18 def. Sydney Roosters 6
2002: Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters, second row). Grand final: Sydney Roosters 30 def. New Zealand Warriors 8
2001: Andrew Johns (Newcastle Knights, halfback). Grand final: Newcastle Knights 30 def. Parramatta Eels 24
2000: Darren Lockyer (Brisbane Broncos, fullback). Grand final: Brisbane Broncos 14 def. Sydney Roosters 6

Clive Churchill Medal winners: 1990s

1999: Brett Kimmorley (Melbourne Storm, halfback). Grand final: Melbourne Storm 20 def. St George Illawarra Dragons 18
1998: Gorden Tallis (Brisbane Broncos, second row). Grand final: Brisbane Broncos 38 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12
1997: Robbie O’Davis (Newcastle Knights, fullback). Grand final: Newcastle Knights 22 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 16 (ARL grand final)
1996: Geoff Toovey (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, halfback). Grand final: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 20 def. St George Dragons 8
1995: Jim Dymock (Sydney Bulldogs (Canterbury-Bankstown), lock). Grand final: Sydney Bulldogs (Canterbury-Bankstown) 17 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 4
1994: David Furner (Canberra Raiders, second row). Grand final: Canberra Raiders 36 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12
1993: Brad Mackay (St George Dragons, lock) (losing side). Grand final: Brisbane Broncos 14 def. St George Dragons 6
1992: Allan Langer (Brisbane Broncos, halfback). Grand final: Brisbane Broncos 28 def. St George Dragons 8
1991: Bradley Clyde (Canberra Raiders, lock) (losing side). Grand final: Penrith Panthers 19 def. Canberra Raiders 12
1990: Ricky Stuart (Canberra Raiders, halfback). Grand final: Canberra Raiders 18 def. Penrith Panthers 14

Clive Churchill Medal winners: 1986 to 1989

1989: Bradley Clyde (Canberra Raiders, lock). Grand final: Canberra Raiders 19 def. Balmain Tigers 14 (after extra time)
1988: Paul Dunn (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, prop). Grand final: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 def. Balmain Tigers 12
1987: Cliff Lyons (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, five-eighth). Grand final: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 18 def. Canberra Raiders 8
1986: Peter Sterling (Parramatta Eels, halfback). Grand final: Parramatta Eels 4 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2

Retrospective Clive Churchill Medals: 1970 to 1985

1985: Steve Mortimer (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, halfback). Grand final: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 7 def. St George Dragons 6
1984: Peter Kelly (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, prop). Grand final: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 6 def. Parramatta Eels 4
1983: Brett Kenny (Parramatta Eels, five-eighth). Grand final: Parramatta Eels 18 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6
1982: Brett Kenny (Parramatta Eels, five-eighth). Grand final: Parramatta Eels 21 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8
1981: Bob O’Reilly (Parramatta Eels, prop). Grand final: Parramatta Eels 20 def. Newtown Jets 11
1980: Steve Gearin (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, winger). Grand final: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 18 def. Eastern Suburbs 4
1979: Steve Morris (St George Dragons, halfback). Grand final: St George Dragons 17 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 13
1978: Graham Eadie (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, fullback) (judged across the drawn grand final and the replay). Grand final: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 16 def. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 0 in a replay, after an 11-11 draw
1977: Craig Young (St George Dragons, prop) (judged across the drawn grand final and the replay). Grand final: St George Dragons 22 def. Parramatta Eels 0 in a replay, after a 9-9 draw
1976: Graham Eadie (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, fullback). Grand final: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 13 def. Parramatta Eels 10
1975: Ian Schubert (Eastern Suburbs, fullback). Grand final: Eastern Suburbs 38 def. St George Dragons 0
1974: Arthur Beetson (Eastern Suburbs, prop). Grand final: Eastern Suburbs 19 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 4
1973: Bob Fulton (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, centre). Grand final: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10 def. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 7
1972: Dennis Ward (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, halfback). Grand final: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 19 def. Eastern Suburbs 14
1971: Ron Coote (South Sydney Rabbitohs, lock). Grand final: South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 def. St George Dragons 10
1970: Bob Grant (South Sydney Rabbitohs, halfback). Grand final: South Sydney Rabbitohs 23 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12

Retrospective Clive Churchill Medals: 1954 to 1969

1969: Dave Bolton (Balmain Tigers, five-eighth). Grand final: Balmain Tigers 11 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 2
1968: Eric Simms (South Sydney Rabbitohs, fullback). Grand final: South Sydney Rabbitohs 13 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 9
1967: Les Johns (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, fullback) (losing side). Grand final: South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 def. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 10
1966: John Raper (St George Dragons, lock). Grand final: St George Dragons 23 def. Balmain Tigers 4
1965: Kevin Ryan (St George Dragons, prop). Grand final: St George Dragons 12 def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 8
1964: Graeme Langlands (St George Dragons, fullback). Grand final: St George Dragons 11 def. Balmain Tigers 6
1963: Norm Provan (St George Dragons, second row). Grand final: St George Dragons 8 def. Western Suburbs Magpies 3
1962: Ian Walsh (St George Dragons, hooker). Grand final: St George Dragons 9 def. Western Suburbs Magpies 6
1961: Brian Clay (St George Dragons, five-eighth). Grand final: St George Dragons 22 def. Western Suburbs Magpies 0
1960: Monty Porter (St George Dragons, second row). Grand final: St George Dragons 31 def. Eastern Suburbs 6
1959: Peter Provan (St George Dragons, lock). Grand final: St George Dragons 20 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 0
1958: Norm Provan (St George Dragons, second row). Grand final: St George Dragons 20 def. Western Suburbs Magpies 9
1957: Norm Provan (St George Dragons, second row). Grand final: St George Dragons 31 def. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 9
1956: Kevin Brown (St George Dragons, prop). Grand final: St George Dragons 18 def. Balmain Tigers 12
1955: Jack Rayner (South Sydney Rabbitohs, second row). Grand final: South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 def. Newtown Jets 11
1954: Clive Churchill (South Sydney Rabbitohs, fullback). Grand final: South Sydney Rabbitohs 23 def. Newtown Jets 15

Who will win the 2027 Clive Churchill Medal?

Tedesco will chase a second medal as the Roosters try to go back to back, while Walsh, Cleary and Edwards have all shown they can rise to the occasion on grand final day. Before then, the Kangaroos chase a fourth straight Rugby League World Cup this Sunday. When the 2027 season starts, follow the form, stats and tips for every game in TSB’s NRL Match Centre, catch up on our NRL news or download the free TSB app on iPhone and Android.

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