Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters' Association

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[2]
1998Iestyn HarrisLeeds Rhinos[2]
1999Iestyn HarrisLeeds Rhinos[2]
2000Tommy MartynSt Helens[2]
2001Paul SculthorpeSt Helens[2]
2002Adrian LamWigan Warriors[2]
2003Jamie PeacockBradford Bulls[2]
2004Danny McGuireLeeds Rhinos[2]
2005Jamie LyonSt Helens[2]
2006Paul WellensSt Helens[2]
2007Trent BarrettWigan Warriors[2]
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
1982[20]Geoff FletcherPlayer and official
1983[20]David HowesRFL Press Officer
1984[20]Tom MortonClub secretary
1985[20]John HolmesPlayer
1986[20]Roger MillwardPlayer and coach
1987[20]Tom BerginRL Writers' Association life member
1988[20]Trevor FosterPlayer and official
1989[20]Gary HetheringtonPlayer and official
1990[20]Maurice OldroydBARLA administrator
1991[20]John JoynerPlayer
1992[20]David OxleyRFL chief executive
1993[20]Jeff GrayshonPlayer
1994[20]Mal MeningaPlayer and coach
1995[20]Alex MurphyPlayer and coach
1996[20]Garry SchofieldPlayer
1997[20]Lee CrooksPlayer
1998[20]Eric 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
2007[19]John 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

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