Remembering the Best

In Australian Rules football, club best and fairest awards mean plenty. The nights are an event, the results eagerly anticipated and the awards historical. Winners of each club’s best and fairest stretch back decades and are seen as a measurement of a player’s greatness.

Sadly, in rugby league, we tend to forget. History is rarely treated with the same reverence it is in other sports and club award winners are hardly even remembered. Most clubs make no mention of previous award winners on their websites. When contacted, those who work the front office simply can’t be bothered finding out. It is like these names never mattered, that these awards count for nothing.

No longer. Making The Nut is on a mission to recognise the champions of rugby league. Thanks to the great rugby league statistician and historian David Middleton- a man who should be recognised as one of the most treasured figures in modern rugby league- we have club best and fairest winners for all 16 teams. Older clubs are incomplete. Defunct clubs aren’t represented. Some clubs simply wouldn’t provide the winners.

We have a start though. Let it not be forgotten that Making The Nut does its utmost for rugby league history.

Brisbane Broncos

(Known as the Paul Morgan Medal from 2001)

1988: Allan Langer

1989: Greg Dowling

1990: Kevin Walters

1991: Trevor Gillmeister

1992: Kerrod Walters

1993: Allan Langer

1994: Allan Langer

1995: Allan Langer

1996: Allan Langer

1997: Peter Ryan

1998: Andrew Gee

1999: Gorden Tallis

2000: Wendell Sailor

2001: Shane Webcke

2002: Darren Lockyer

2003: Darren Lockyer

2004: Petero Civoniceva

2005: Shane Webcke

2006: Petero Civoniceva

2007: Petero Civoniceva

2008: Sam Thaiday

2009: Corey Parker

2010: Josh Hoffman

 

5: Allan Langer

3: Petero Civoniceva

2: Shane Webcke, Darren Lockyer

 

Canberra Raiders

(Known as the Mal Meninga Medal from 2008)

1982: Jon Hardy

1983: Steve O’Callaghan

1984: Chris O’Sullivan

1985: Chris O’Sullivan

1986: Gary Belcher

1987: Gary Belcher

1988: Ricky Stuart

1989: Brad Clyde

1990: Laurie Daley

1991: Steve Walters

1992: Ricky Stuart

1993: Ricky Stuart

1994: John Lomax

1995: Laurie Daley

1996: Laurie Daley

1997: Laurie Daley

1998: Mark McLinden

1999: Laurie Daley

2000: Jason Croker

2001: Clinton Schifcofske

2002: Ruben Wiki

2003: Ruben Wiki

2004: Clinton Schifcofske

2005: Josh Miller and Troy Thompson

2006: Alan Tongue

2007: Scott Logan

2008: Joel Monaghan

2009: Josh Miller and Josh Dugan

2010: David Shillington

 

5: Laurie Daley

3: Ricky Stuart

2: Chris O’Sullivan, Gary Belcher, Clinton Schifcofske, Ruben Wiki, Josh Miller

 

Cantebury-Bankstown Bulldogs

*Only available from 1985

1985: Steve Mortimer

1986: Terry Lamb

1987: Terry Lamb

1988: Andrew Farrar

1989: Terry Lamb

1990: Darren Smith

1991: Ewan McGrady

1992: Terry Lamb

1993: Terry Lamb

1994: Dean Pay

1995: Jim Dymock

1996: Darren Britt

1997: Matt Ryan

1998: Jason Hetherington

1999: Rod Silva

2000: Hazem El Masri

2001: Darren Britt

2002: Brent Sherwin

2003: Steve Price

2004: Andrew Ryan

2005: Roy Asotasi

2006: Luke Patten

2007: Luke Patten

2008: Andrew Ryan

2009: David Stagg

2010: Brett Kimmorley

 

5: Terry Lamb

2: Darren Britt, Andrew Ryan, Luke Patten

 

Cronulla Sharks

*Only available from 1989

1989: Gavin Miller

1990: Andrew Ettingshausen

1991: Craig Dimond

1992: Danny Lee

1993: Mitch Healey

1994: Andrew Ettingshausen

1995: Danny Lee

1996: Paul Donaghy

1997: David Peachey

1998: Martin Lang

1999: David Peachey

2000: David Peachey

2001: Adam Dykes

2002: Brett Kimmorley

2003: Danny Nutley

2004: Jason Stevens

2005: Danny Nutley

2006: Greg Bird

2007: Paul Gallen

2008: Paul Gallen

2009: Luke Douglas

2010: Paul Gallen

 

3: David Peachey, Paul Gallen

2: Andrew Ettingshausen, Danny Lee, Danny Nutley

 

Gold Coast Titans

(Known as the Paul Broughton Medal)

2007: Anthony Laffranchi and Luke Bailey

2008: Preston Campbell

2009: Nathan Friend

2010: Luke Bailey

 

2: Luke Bailey

 

Manly Sea Eagles

*Only available from 1999

(Known as the Doug Daley Memorial Trophy 2002-04 and the Roy Bull Best and Fairest 2005 onwards)

1999: Daniel Gartner

2003: Chad Randall

2004: Chris Hicks

2005: Ben Kennedy

2006: Ben Kennedy

2007: Brett Stewart and Anthony Watmough

2008: Glenn Stewart

2009: Jason King

2010: Jason King

 

2: Ben Kennedy, Jason King

 

Melbourne Storm

1998: Robbie Kearns

1999: Brett Kimmorley

2000: Rodney Howe

2001: Richard Swain

2002: Rodney Howe

2003: Robbie Kearns

2004: Matt Orford

2005: Cameron Smith

2006: Cameron Smith

2007: Cameron Smith

2008: Billy Slater

2009: Billy Slater

2010: Ryan Hinchcliffe

 

3: Cameron Smith

2: Robbie Kearns, Rodney Howe, Billy Slater

 

Newcastle Knights

1988: Tony Butterfield

1989: Michael Hagan

1990: Steve Fulmer

1991: Marc Glanville

1992: Robbie McCormack

1993: Marc Glanville

1994: Robbie McCormack

1995: Paul Marquet

1996: Tony Butterfield

1997: Robbie O’Davis

1998: Andrew Johns

1999: Danny Buderus

2000: David Fairleigh

2001: Steve Simpson

2002: Andrew Johns

2003: Danny Buderus

2004: Danny Buderus

2005: Steve Simpson

2006: Danny Buderus

2007: Kurt Gidley

2008: Kurt Gidley

2009: Isaac De Gois

2010: Matt Hilder

 

4: Danny Buderus

2: Tony Butterfield, Marc Glanville, Robbie McCormack, Andrew Johns, Kurt Gidley

 

New Zealand Warriors

1995: Tea Ropati

1996: Stephen Kearney

1997: Stacey Jones

1998: Joe Vagana

1999: Jason Death

2000: Robert Mears

2001: Jerry Seuseu

2002: Ali Lauititti

2003: Francis Meli

2004: Wairangi Koopu

2005: Ruben Wiki

2006: Steve Price

2007: Steve Price

2008: Simon Mannering

2009: Micheal Luck

2010: Manu Vatuvei

 

2: Steve Price

 

North Queensland Cowboys

(Known as the Paul Bowman Medal since 2007)

1995: Wayne Sing

1996: Steve Edmed

1997: Owen Cunningham

1998: John Lomax

1999: Paul Bowman

2000: Paul Bowman and Julian O’Neill

2001: Glenn Morrison

2002: Matt Sing

2003: Paul Rauhihi

2004: Luke O’Donnell

2005: Johnathan Thurston

2006: Aaron Payne

2007: Matt Bowen

2008: Aaron Payne

2009: Luke O’Donnell

2010: Matt Scott

 

Parramatta Eels

(Known as the Ken Thornett Medal)

*Only available from 1998

1998: Jason Smith

1999: Michael Vella

2000: Nathan Hindmarsh

2001: Nathan Hindmarsh

2002: Nathan Hindmarsh

2003: Daniel Wagon

2004: Nathan Hindmarsh

2005: Nathan Cayless and Timana Tahu

2006: Nathan Hindmarsh

2007: Nathan Hindmarsh

2008: Nathan Hindmarsh

2009: Jarryd Hayne

2010: Jarryd Hayne

 

7: Nathan Hindmarsh

2: Jarryd Hayne

 

Penrith Panthers

1967: Ernie Gillon

1968: Mick Leary

1969: Mick Leary

1970: Laurie Fagan

1971: Zac Olejarnik

1972: Doug Bayly

1973: Ron Lynch

1974: Tim Sheens

1975: Ross Gigg

1976: John King

1977: Paul Merlo

1978: Paul Merlo

1979: Darryl Brohman

1980: Henry Foster

1981: Royce Simmons

1982: Warren Fenton

1983: Brad Waugh

1984: Royce Simmons

1985: Greg Alexander

1986: Royce Simmons

1987: Royce Simmons

1988: Chris Mortimer

1989: Col Van Der Voort

1990: Greg Alexander

1991: Steve Carter

1992: John Cartwright

1993: Brad Fittler

1994: Gary Freeman

1995: Steve Carter

1996: Carl MacNamara

1997: Ryan Girdler

1998: Matt Adamson

1999: John Cross

2000: Craig Gower

2001: Scott Sattler

2002: Craig Gower

2003: Rhys Wesser

2004: Craig Gower

2005: Luke Priddis and Craig Gower

2006: Rhys Wesser

2007: Michael Jennings

2008: Petero Civoniceva

2009: Trent Waterhouse

2010: Luke Lewis

 

4: Royce Simmons, Craig Gower

2: Mick Leary, Paul Merlo, Greg Alexander, Steve Carter

 

St George-Illawarra Dragons

1999: Jamie Ainscough

2000: Trent Barrett

2001: Jason Ryles

2002: Shaun Timmins

2003: Ben Hornby

2004: Matthew Head

2005: Luke Bailey

2006: Mark Gasnier and Jason Ryles

2007: Ben Creagh

2008: Jason Ryles

2009: Ben Creagh

2010: Ben Creagh

 

3: Jason Ryles, Ben Creagh

 

South Sydney Rabbitohs

(Known as the George Piggins Medal since 2003)

*Only available from 1999

1999: Chris Caruana

2002: Paul Stringer

2003: Bryan Fletcher

2004: Ashley Harrison

2005: Peter Cusack

2006: David Fa’alogo

2007: Roy Asotasi

2008: Luke Stuart

2009: John Sutton

2010: Issac Luke

 

Sydney Roosters

(Known as the Jack Gibson Medal since 1995)

*Only available from 1986

1986: Brendan Hall

1987: David Trewhella

1988: Kurt Sherlock

1989: Trevor Gillmeister

1990: Hugh McGahan

1991: Wayne Marshall

1992: Gary Freeman

1993: Nigel Gaffey

1994: Jason Lowrie

1995: Jason Lowrie

1996: Terry Hermansson

1997: Luke Ricketson

1998: Brad Fittler

1999: Bryan Fletcher

2000: Brad Fittler

2001: Craig Fitzgibbon

2002: Craig Fitzgibbon

2003: Adrian Morley

2004: Brett Finch

2005: Ryan Cross

2006: Craig Fitzgibbon

2007: Braith Anasta

2008: Mitchell Pearce

2009: Craig Fitzgibbon

2010: Mitchell Pearce

 

4: Craig Fitzgibbon

2: Jason Lowrie, Brad Fittler, Mitchell Pearce

 

Wests Tigers

2000: Tyran Smith

2001: Ben Galea

2002: John Skandalis

2003: Anthony Laffranchi

2004: Brett Hodgson

2005: Scott Prince and Brett Hodgson

2006: Robbie Farah

2007: Robbie Farah

2008: Chris Heighington

2009: Gareth Ellis

2010: Gareth Ellis

 

2: Brett Hodgson, Robbie Farah, Gareth Ellis

 

Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images AsiaPac