Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters' Association explained

The Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters' Association (RLWBA) is an association of members of the English news media who write about rugby league in newspapers or present for television and radio programmes. Founded as the Rugby League Writers' Association, it presents a Player of the Year award annually to the best performing player in English rugby league.

Members of the Association who are present at the Challenge Cup Final decide which player should be awarded the Lance Todd Trophy for being man of the match.[1]

RLWBA Player of the Year

Since 1996, the association has voted on the Player of the Year in recognition of the best performing Super League player that season.

Winners

YearWinnerClubNotes
1996Apollo PereliniSt Helens[2]
1997Andy FarrellWigan Warriors
1998Iestyn HarrisLeeds Rhinos
1999Iestyn HarrisLeeds Rhinos
2000Tommy MartynSt Helens
2001Paul SculthorpeSt Helens
2002Adrian LamWigan Warriors
2003Jamie PeacockBradford Bulls
2004Danny McGuireLeeds Rhinos
2005Jamie LyonSt Helens
2006Paul WellensSt Helens
2007Trent BarrettWigan Warriors
2008James GrahamSt Helens[3]
2009Brett HodgsonHuddersfield Giants[4]
2010Pat RichardsWigan Warriors[5]
2011Sam TomkinsWigan Warriors[6]
2012Sam TomkinsWigan Warriors[7]
2013Danny BroughHuddersfield Giants[8]
2014Jamie PeacockLeeds Rhinos[9]
2015Adam CuthbertsonLeeds Rhinos[10]
2016Gareth Ellis
Danny Houghton		Both Hull F.C.[11]
2017Luke GaleCastleford Tigers[12]
2018James RobySt Helens[13]
2019Jackson HastingsSalford Red Devils[14]
2020Bevan FrenchWigan Warriors[15]
2021Sam TomkinsCatalans Dragons[16]
2022Jai FieldWigan Warriors[17]
2023Lachlan LamLeigh Leopards[18]

Merit Award

The Rugby League Writers' Merit Award is awarded annually to a player, coach or official for their services to the game of rugby league. The inaugural winner of the award was Geoff Fletcher in 1982. The award winner is presented with the Arthur Brooks Trophy,[19] named after a former rugby league journalist for the Daily Mirror.[20]

Winners

YearWinnerRole
1982Geoff FletcherPlayer and official
1983David HowesRFL Press Officer
1984Tom MortonClub secretary
1985John HolmesPlayer
1986Roger MillwardPlayer and coach
1987Tom BerginRL Writers' Association life member
1988Trevor FosterPlayer and official
1989Gary HetheringtonPlayer and official
1990Maurice OldroydBARLA administrator
1991John JoynerPlayer
1992David OxleyRFL chief executive
1993Jeff GrayshonPlayer
1994Mal MeningaPlayer and coach
1995Alex MurphyPlayer and coach
1996Garry SchofieldPlayer
1997Lee CrooksPlayer
1998Eric AshtonPlayer, coach and official
1999[21] Shaun EdwardsPlayer
2000[22] Daryl PowellPlayer and coach
2001[23] Johnny WhiteleyPlayer and coach
2002[24] Peter FoxPlayer and coach
2003[25] Ray FrenchCommentator
2004[26] Harry JepsonAdministrator
2005[27] Colin HuttonPlayer, coach and official
2006[28] David HinchliffeMember of Parliament
2007John WilkinsonChairman
2008[29] Tommy SalePlayer and official
2009[30] Steve PrescottPlayer
2010[31] Malcolm AlkerPlayer
2011Not awarded
2012[32] Mark AstonPlayer and official
2013[33] Dave HadfieldRugby league correspondent
2014[34] Mike NicholasPlayer, coach and official
2015Kevin Sinfield
Jamie Peacock		Players
2016Richard BottRugby league correspondent
2021Bernard GuaschChairman
2022Jodie CunninghamPlayer
2023Dave WoodsCommentator

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lance Todd Trophy . Rugby Football League . RFL . 2009-05-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090501024937/http://www.therfl.co.uk/challengecup/page.php?areaid=59 . May 1, 2009 .
  2. Web site: Barrett Voted RLWA Player Of The Year . Wigan Warriors . 27 June 2019 . 1 October 2007.
  3. Web site: Wilson . Andy . Three southerners in England's World Cup squad . The Guardian . 27 June 2019 . 9 September 2008.
  4. Web site: Trio shortlisted for top honour . BBC Sport . 27 June 2019 . 17 September 2009.
  5. Web site: Wigan's Pat Richards wins RLWA player of the year award . BBC Sport . 27 June 2019 . 7 September 2010.
  6. Web site: Sam Tomkins heads nominations for the Super League Man of Steel award . The Guardian . 27 June 2019 . 27 September 2011.
  7. Web site: All Write for Sam . Wigan Warriors . 27 June 2019 . 11 October 2012.
  8. Web site: Huddersfield's Danny Brough wins Super League Man of Steel award . BBC Sport . 27 June 2019 . 1 October 2013.
  9. Web site: Leeds Rhinos: Peacock shortlisted for top honour in Super League . Yorkshire Evening Post . 27 June 2019 . 29 September 2014.
  10. Web site: Cuthbertson Lands Award . Rugby Football League . 27 June 2019 . 2 October 2015.
  11. Web site: Ellis and Houghton to share RLWBA award for 2016 . Total Rugby League . 27 June 2019 . 28 September 2016.
  12. Web site: Luke Gale named Rugby League Writers' player of the year . Total Rugby League . 27 June 2019 . 27 September 2017.
  13. Web site: Roby Wins Rugby League Writers' Award . Rugby Football League . 27 June 2019 . 4 October 2018.
  14. Web site: Hastings Wins Rugby League Writers' Award .
  15. Web site: French Wins Rugby League Writers' Award .
  16. Web site: Sam Tomkins: Catalans Dragons and England full-back wins Rugby League writers' award for third time.
  17. Web site: Field Wins Rugby League Writers' Award .
  18. Web site: Like father, like son – Lachlan Lam follows Adrian as RLWBA Player of the Year .
  19. Web site: Award for Wilkinson . Metro News . 26 June 2019 . 30 October 2007.
  20. Book: Fletcher . Raymond . Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1999 . Headline . 978-0-7472-7572-5 . 380.
  21. News: Irvine . Christopher . Lost trophy comes back into service - Rugby League . The Times . 26 November 1999.
  22. Web site: Powell scoops award . BBC Sport . 26 June 2019 . 21 November 2000.
  23. News: Irvine . Christopher . Australia coach taken to hospital for tests - Rugby league . The Times . 21 November 2001.
  24. Web site: Irvine . Christopher . Retiring Hoppe is centre of attention again . The Times . 26 June 2019 . 20 November 2002.
  25. Web site: Wilson . Andy . Defiant Waite turns on his Lions critics . The Guardian . 26 June 2019 . 22 Nov 2003.
  26. Web site: President Awarded RLW Order Of Merit . Leeds Rhinos . 26 June 2019 . 17 November 2004.
  27. Web site: Fisher . Michael . Wigan sent to Dragons' den . The Telegraph . 26 June 2019 . 23 November 2005.
  28. Web site: Hull quartet are lifted by England call . Yorkshire Post . 26 June 2019 . 18 October 2006.
  29. News: Hulme . Mike . Writers' award for Tommy . Leigh Journal . 17 September 2008.
  30. Web site: Cancer battler Steve Prescott awarded MBE . St Helens Reporter . 26 June 2019 . 31 December 2009.
  31. Web site: Barker . Neil . Super League XVI: Season preview . Manchester Evening News . 26 June 2019 . 8 February 2011.
  32. Web site: Sheffield Eagles founder picks up top award . ITV News . 26 June 2019 . 17 October 2012.
  33. Web site: The Sport Matrix . The Independent . 26 June 2019 . 28 November 2013.
  34. Web site: Nicholas handed merit award . BT Sport . 26 June 2019 . 11 November 2014.

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