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.
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.
In February 2024 the Rugby Football League announced that the trophy will be replaced by the Rob Burrow Award. 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."
Recipients Season Awarded in Recipient Team1964–65Championship Final Terry Fogerty Halifax1965–66Albert Halsall St. Helens1966–67Ray Owen Wakefield1967–68Gary Cooper Wakefield1968–69Bev Risman Leeds1969–70Frank Myler St. Helens1970–71Bill Ashurst† Wigan1971–72Terry Clawson Leeds1972–73Mike Stephenson Dewsbury1973–74Premiership Final Barry Philbin Warrington1974–75Mel Mason Leeds1975–76George Nicholls St. Helens1976–77Geoff Pimblett St. Helens1977–78Bob Haigh Bradford Northern1978–79Kevin Dick Leeds1979–80Mal Aspey Widnes1980–81Len Casey Hull KR1981–82Mick Burke Widnes1982–83Tony Myler Widnes1983–84John Dorahy Hull KR1984–85Harry Pinner St. Helens1985–86Les Boyd Warrington1986–87Joe Lydon Wigan1987–88David Hulme Widnes1988–89Alan Tait Widnes1989–90Alan Tait Widnes1990–91Greg Mackey Hull1991–92Andy Platt Wigan1992–93Chris Joynt St. Helens1993–94Sam Panapa Wigan1994–95Kris Radlinski Wigan1996Andrew Farrell Wigan1997Andrew Farrell Wigan1998Grand FinalJason Robinson Wigan1999Henry Paul† Bradford2000Chris Joynt St. Helens2001Michael Withers Bradford2002Paul Deacon† Bradford2003Stuart Reardon Bradford2004Matt Diskin Leeds2005Leon Pryce Bradford2006Paul Wellens St. Helens2007Rob Burrow Leeds2008Lee Smith Leeds2009Kevin Sinfield Leeds2010Thomas Leuluai Wigan2011Rob Burrow Leeds2012Kevin Sinfield Leeds2013Blake Green Wigan2014James Roby St. Helens2015Danny McGuire Leeds2016Liam Farrell Wigan2017Danny McGuire Leeds2018Stefan Ratchford† Warrington2019Luke Thompson St. Helens2020James Roby St. Helens2021Kevin Naiqama St. Helens2022Jonny Lomax St. Helens2023Jake Wardle Wigan † = denotes a player who won the trophy but played on the losing team in the final.
Winners by club 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 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