Backstories and controversies behind all the Clive Churchill Medal winners of the NRL era
Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers) 2021
Nathan Cleary claimed the Clive Churchill Medal following Penrith's win over South Sydney.
Cleary and his father and coach Ivan became the second father-son duo to win a premiership since John Lang and Martin Lang did it in 2003.
"It's hard to put into words, I've dreamed of this moment since I was a little kid," Nathan Cleary said.
Ivan added: "It's hard to put into words," continuing that, "I coach him every day, but when it's your son, it's a dream.
"I couldn't have written that story, it's pretty cool."
Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm) 2020
Ryan Papenhuyzen became the fifth Melbourne Storm player to claim the Clive Churchill Medal, following their 26-20 win over Penrith in 2020.
Papenhuyzen won the award in just his 42nd NRL match, noting after the game the influence of his predecessor as Melbourne fullback.
"He typed up a message I got to read yesterday, it's a pinch-yourself moment to think Billy Slater is writing you a letter to wish you good luck for a grand final," Papenhuyzen said.
"It's pretty amazing. He doesn't hold anything back, he's an open book. I spoke to him a few times before this game and he's been really good."
Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders) 2019
Jack Wighton became just the fourth player to win the Clive Churchill Medal in a losing side, after the Roosters beat Canberra 14-8 in 2019.
The announcement was met with boos from sections of the crowd, much to the displeasure of Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
"The best player on the field got the award tonight," Stuart said.
"Whether those people out there who booed agree with it or not, Jack didn't pick it.
"Three legends of our game pick the award and I think they know a little bit more than the wombats sitting behind the goal post."
Accepting the award on stage, Wighton was almost lost for words.
"This is the numbest feeling I've ever felt," he said.
Later on, he explained the reason why.
"It was a numb feeling to achieve something so big but it's probably the worst moment of my life losing the grand final," he said.
Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters) 2018
Luke Keary won the Clive Churchill Medal following the Roosters' 21-6 win over Melbourne in 2018.
The victory meant Keary joined a select group of players to have won a premiership at multiple clubs, having played in Souths' win in 2014.
His 2018 performance was top shelf, having to cover for his injured halves partner, Cooper Cronk, who was nursing a fractured shoulder blade.
"I knew if Coops wasn't there what I had to do. And if he was there, what I had to do," Keary said.
"I knew the situation and we'd worked so hard to get there. I think I said – and excuse my language – we got all the way to this week so you don't sh-t yourself because one bloke got hurt. You go out and get the job done."
Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm) 2017
An emotional Billy Slater accepted the Clive Churchill Medal after Melbourne's 34-6 win over North Queensland in 2017.
It was a stunning comeback for the Storm legend, who had overcome two shoulder reconstructions, with his surgeon suggesting the injury resembled that of a car crash victim.
That injury restricted him to just eight games in 2015 and 2016, and many, including himself, feared his career was over.
"I honestly didn't know whether my body would let me back here, it was the toughest thing," Slater said.
Adding to the emotion of the moment, Slater was off-contract with Melbourne at the time of the match, although he subsequently re-signed for a final year in 2018.
Slater's win also made him the only player in the NRL era to win the Clive Churchill Medal twice.
Luke Lewis (Cronulla Sharks) 2016
Luke Lewis was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal in Cronulla's drought-breaking 2016 premiership win, although many thought team-mate Andrew Fifita was wrongly overlooked.
The Sharks downed Melbourne 14-12, and Fifita's effort in scoring the match-winning try, as well as his work in running for 190 metres in just 60 minutes of game-time, led to much post-match debate.
Fifita had made headlines in the leadup to the match for writing "F.K.L" on his strapping, a message of support for his good friend, convicted one-punch killer Kieran Loveridge.
"It's pretty special to have this around your neck, but I really believe it wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the other 16 blokes in the side," Lewis said. "I really believe this Clive Churchill Medal should also go to the other 16 blokes out on the field.
"To be honest when the bell went all I cared about is that we won and everyone came off the field with no injuries. I was just looking forward to holding that trophy."
Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys) 2015
A Johnathan Thurston field goal in extra time gave North Queensland their first NRL premiership, downing Brisbane 17-16 in 2015.
It also earned Thurston the Clive Churchill Medal, an honour he admitted five months later that he didn't feel he deserved.
"Nope, I haven't watched the game," Thurston told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Because I wasn't very happy with how I played."
Asked directly if he felt he'd earned the Clive Churchill Medal, Thurston was adamant it should have gone elsewhere.
"No, I thought Jakey [hooker Jake Granville] was our best. I thought he was outstanding. There were a couple of errors that I made that put us under the pump, that's what I didn't like about it. That's why I won't watch the game."
Sam Burgess (South Sydney) 2014
In a performance reminiscent of another Souths great, John Sattler, Sam Burgess earned the Clive Churchill Medal for his role in the Rabbitohs' 30-6 win over Canterbury in 2014.
Burgess had his cheekbone broken in the opening tackle of the match, but bravely played through the pain as Souths won their first title in 43 years.
In 1970, Sattler kept playing despite suffering a broken jaw early in the grand final.
"It's just absolutely marvellous," Sattler said of Burgess' performance.
"His performance tonight and all through the season has been of the highest magnitude. He's what South Sydney is all about."
Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly) 2013
Daly Cherry-Evans said he was embarrassed and shocked to win the Clive Churchill Medal in 2013, after the Roosters beat Manly 26-18.
Roosters fans booed as Cherry-Evans was announced as the winner, the first player from the losing side to receive the award since St George's Brad Mackay in 1993.
The crowd's reaction drew the ire of former Roosters coach Brian Smith, who took four teams to grand finals during his career.
"Booing the referees is always childish but booing the best player of the match as he receives his award on centre stage is downright disrespectful and very bad form," Smith wrote after the match.
"Not only is it demeaning to the player but also to those who made the selection and of the game's history and standing in the broader community.
"A worldwide audience has taken that away with them as the way we treat our most outstanding performer on the biggest day of the season."
The award was decided by the four Australian selectors, Bob McCarthy, Bob Fulton, Des Morris and Alan Smith.
Many felt Sonny Bill Williams should have won the medal for his performance in the closing stages of the match, but McCarthy said that didn't make up for a lacklustre start.
"Sonny was awful in the first half," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Cherry-Evans was just the best player. I know it didn't look all that good, but that's the way it is. We're like the referees; we're not going to please everyone."
Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm) 2012
Cooper Cronk took out the Clive Churchill Medal in Melbourne's 14-4 win over Canterbury in 2012.
His kicking, particularly in the first half, allowed the Storm to dominate the match, laying the foundation for a comfortable win.
"To play with true friends and get the result - it's an honour," Cronk said. "It [the Clive Churchill Medal] is a high accolade. To sit here now, I have a big smile on my face. I have been happy with a few things this year but we base our game around improving our skills, not results."
