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.
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. The winner of the award receives the Raymond Fletcher Trophy.
Winners YearWinnerClubNotes1996Apollo PereliniSt Helens1997Andy FarrellWigan Warriors1998Iestyn HarrisLeeds Rhinos1999Iestyn HarrisLeeds Rhinos2000Tommy MartynSt Helens2001Paul SculthorpeSt Helens2002Adrian LamWigan Warriors2003Jamie PeacockBradford Bulls2004Danny McGuireLeeds Rhinos2005Jamie LyonSt Helens2006Paul WellensSt Helens2007Trent BarrettWigan Warriors2008James GrahamSt Helens2009Brett HodgsonHuddersfield Giants2010Pat RichardsWigan Warriors2011Sam TomkinsWigan Warriors2012Sam TomkinsWigan Warriors2013Danny BroughHuddersfield Giants2014Jamie PeacockLeeds Rhinos2015Adam CuthbertsonLeeds Rhinos2016Gareth Ellis Danny HoughtonBoth Hull F.C.2017Luke GaleCastleford Tigers2018James RobySt Helens2019Jackson HastingsSalford Red Devils2020Bevan FrenchWigan Warriors2021Sam TomkinsCatalans Dragons2022Jai FieldWigan Warriors2023Lachlan LamLeigh Leopards2024Mikey LewisHull KR2025Lachlan LamLeigh Leopards2026Brad O'NeillWigan Warriors
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, named after a former rugby league journalist for the Daily Mirror.
Winners YearWinnerRole1982Geoff FletcherPlayer and official1983David HowesRFL Press Officer1984Tom MortonClub secretary1985John HolmesPlayer1986Roger MillwardPlayer and coach1987Tom BerginRL Writers' Association life member1988Trevor FosterPlayer and official1989Gary HetheringtonPlayer and official1990Maurice OldroydBARLA administrator1991John JoynerPlayer1992David OxleyRFL chief executive1993Jeff GrayshonPlayer1994Mal MeningaPlayer and coach1995Alex MurphyPlayer and coach1996Garry SchofieldPlayer1997Lee CrooksPlayer1998Eric AshtonPlayer, coach and official1999Shaun EdwardsPlayer2000Daryl PowellPlayer and coach2001Johnny WhiteleyPlayer and coach2002Peter FoxPlayer and coach2003Ray FrenchCommentator2004Harry JepsonAdministrator2005Colin HuttonPlayer, coach and official2006David HinchliffeMember of Parliament2007John WilkinsonChairman2008Tommy SalePlayer and official2009Steve PrescottPlayer2010Malcolm AlkerPlayer2011Not awarded2012Mark AstonPlayer and official2013Dave HadfieldRugby league correspondent2014Mike NicholasPlayer, coach and official2015Kevin Sinfield Jamie PeacockPlayers2016Richard BottRugby league correspondent2021Bernard GuaschChairman2022Jodie CunninghamPlayer2023Dave WoodsCommentator
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