Player Awards

International:
Golden Boot Award
Australian:
Claude Corbett Memorial Trophy
New South Wales:
Best and Fairest
Dally M Awards
Rising Star Award
Clive Churchill Medal
Sun-Herald Best and Fairest Player
Rugby League Week Player of the Year
NSW Player of the Year
Rugby League Players of the Year
NSW Country Player of the Year
NSW Country Origin Player of the Year
NSW Rugby League Writers' Player of the Year
Coach of the Year
Rugby League Week Hall of Fame
Metropolitan Cup Player Awards
Queensland:
Best and Fairest
Golden Boot Award

This award was presented to the finest player in the world, as chosen by experts in all rugby league countries. It was instituted in 1985 by Harry Edgar, founder of Britain's Open Rugby magazine, and later promoted by Channel 10 and Rugby League Week. It died out due to sponsorship problems in 1991.

1985  Wally Lewis (Australia)
1986  Brett Kenny (Australia)
1987  Garry Jack (Australia)
1988  Peter Sterling (Australia),
      Hugh McGahan (New Zealand) (tie)
1989  Ellery Hanley (Great Britain)
1990  Mal Meninga (Australia)
Claude Corbett Memorial Trophy

The Corbetts were a family of sports reporters. For at least 50 years from the start of rugby league in Australia, there was at least one Corbett covering the game for a major Sydney newspaper, and for two seasons in the 1930s there was one at each of the four Sydney games. Claude Corbett became argueably Australia's most famous rugby league reporter and is (or was) the only newspaperman to receive life membership of the NSW Rugby League. He died of cancer in 1944, and his brother donated the award in his memory.

I have seen two sources on what the award was given for. The first claims it was awarded to the captain of the winning side in the third test of each series held in Australia, whereas the second and more recent source restricts it to Anglo-Australian tests held in Australia. I don't know which is correct.

1946  Gus Risman (Great Britain)
1950  Clive Churchill (Australia, v. Great Britain)
1951  Puig-Aubert (France)
1952  Trav Hardwick (New Zealand)
1954  Clive Churchill (Australia, v. Great Britain)
1955  Jacques Merquey (France)
1956  Ken Kearney (Australia, v. New Zealand)
1958  Alan Prescott (Great Britain)
1959  Cliff Johnson (New Zealand)
1960  Antoine Jiminez (France)
1962  Arthur Summons (Australia, v. Great Britain)
1963  Arthur Summons (Australia, v. New Zealand)
1964  Reg Gasnier (Australia, v. France)
1966  Ian Walsh (Australia, v. Great Britain)
1967  Reg Gasnier (Australia, v. New Zealand)
1970  Frank Mylar (Great Britain)
1974  Graeme Langlands (Australia, v. Great Britain)
1978  Bob Fulton (Australia, v. New Zealand)
1979  George Peponis (Australia, v. Great Britain)

1984  Wally Lewis (Australia, v. Great Britain)
1988  Ellery Hanley (Great Britain)
...others?
Sydney/National Best and Fairest

The Rothman's medal was awarded to the Best and Fairest player in the Sydney Premiership. After each match the referee cast a vote, and at the end of the preliminary rounds the votes were tallied and the medal awarded. Players who were sent off and convicted of an offence became inelligable for the award.

The Rothman's Medal was replaced from 1997 by the Provan-Summons medal. Australia's laws against tobacco sponsorship of sport made it impossible to continue to use the name Rothman's. Norm Provan and Arthur Summons are the two people featured on the Optus Cup sculpture.

Rothmans' Medal:

1968  20  Terry Hughes (Cronulla Sutherland)
1969  21  Denis Pittard (South Sydney)
1970  19  Kevin Junee (Eastern Suburbs)
1971  21  Denis Pittard (South Sydney)
1972  20  Tom Raudonikis (Western Suburbs)
1973  23  Ken Maddison (Cronulla Sutherland)
1974  25  Graham Eadie (Manly Warringah)
1975  23  Steve Rogers (Cronulla Sutherland)
1976  22  Ray Higgs (Parramatta)
1977  25  Mick Cronin (Parramatta)
1978  32  Mick Cronin (Parramatta)
1979  28  Ray Price (Parramatta)
1980  22  Geoff Bugden (Newtown)
1981  29  Kevin Hastings (Eastern Suburbs)
1982  28  Greg Brentnall (Canterbury Bankstown)
1983  21  Mike Eden (Eastern Suburbs)
1984  26  Terry Lamb (Canterbury Bankstown)
1985  23  Wayne Pearce (Balmain)
1986  25  Mal Cochrane (Manly Warringah)
1987  30  Peter Sterling (Parramatta)
1988  29  Barry Russell (Cronulla Sutherland)
1989      Gavin Miller (Cronulla Sutherland)
          and Mark Sargent (Newcastle) (tie)
1990  24  Peter Sterling (Parramatta)
1991  23  Ewan McGrady (Canterbury Bankstown)
1992      Allan Langer (Brisbane)
1993  30  Ricky Stuart (Canberra)
1994  33  David Fairleigh (North Sydney)
1995  24  Paul Green (Cronulla Sutherland)
1996  26  Jason Taylor (North Sydney)

Nokia Provan-Summons Medal:

1997  40  Brad Fittler (Sydney City)
1998      Andrew Johns (Newcastle)

A Rothmans' Medal is/was also awarded to the Best and Fairest player in the Brisbane Premiership.

Rothman's Medal:

1968      Wayne Head (Southern Suburbs)
1969      John Brown (Northern Suburbs)
1970      Graham Atherton (Southern Suburbs)
1971      Len Brunner (Wynnum-Manly)
1972      Marty Scanlan (Fortitude Valley)
1973      John Eales (Eastern Suburbs)
1974      Jeff Fyffe (Eastern Suburbs)
1975      Steve Calder (Northern Suburbs)
1976      Darryl Brohman (Northern Suburbs)
1977      Alan Currie (Eastern Suburbs)
1978      Ian Pearce (Redcliffe)
1979      Neville Draper (Northern Suburbs)
1980      Tony Obst (Redcliffe)
1981      Chris Phelan (Southern Suburbs)
1982      Tony Currie (Western Suburbs)
1983      Trevor Paterson (Eastern Suburbs)
1984      Cavill Heugh (Eastern Suburbs)
1985      Ian French (Wynnum-Manly)
1986      Bryan Niebling (Redcliffe)
          and Scott Tronc (Southern Suburbs)
1987      Gene Miles (Wynnum-Manly)
1988      Kevin Langer (Western Suburbs)
1989      Neil Tierney (Wynnum-Manly)
1990      Trevor Benson (Redcliffe)
1991      Darryl Duncan (Northern Suburbs)
1992      ?
1993      Paul Green
1994      Steve Bryant (Past Brothers)
1995      Graham Cotter (Redcliffe)
1996      ?
1997      ?
Dally M Awards

Named for the great Dally Messenger, these awards are presented to the best players and coaches in the Sydney Premiership, as determined by a team of experts from the Daily Mirror newspaper (now Daily Telegraph Mirror).

The winners of the best player award (Gold Dally M) are:

1980      Robert Laurie (South Sydney)
1981      Steve Rogers (Cronulla Sutherland)
1982      Ray Price (Parramatta)
1983      Terry Lamb (Western Suburbs)
1984      Michael Potter (Canterbury Bankstown)
1985      Greg Alexander (Penrith)
1986      Peter Sterling (Parramatta)
1987      Peter Sterling (Parramatta)
1988      Gavin Miller (Cronulla Sutherland)
1989      Gavin Miller (Cronulla Sutherland)
1990      Cliff Lyons (Manly Warringah)
1991      Michael Potter (St George)
1992      Gary Freeman (Eastern Suburbs)
1993      Ricky Stuart (Canberra)
1994  86  Cliff Lyons (Manly Warringah)
1995 104  Laurie Daley (Canberra)
1996  97  Allan Langer (Brisbane)
1997      Not awarded
1998      Andrew Johns (Newcastle)

The full award list:

1993
Gold Dally M: Ricky Stuart (Canberra); Silver Dally M: Ian Roberts (Manly Warringah); Bronze Dally M: Mitch Healey (Cronulla Sutherland); Fullback: Rod Silva (Eastern Suburbs); Wing: Noa Nadruku (Canberra); Centre: Brad Fittler (Penrith); Five-eighth: Terry Lamb (Canterbury); Halfback: Ricky Stuart (Canberra); Prop: Ian Roberts (Manly Warringah); Hooker: Steve Walters (Canberra); Second rower: Bob Lindner (Illawarra); Lock: Jim Dymock (Canterbury Bankstown); Captain: Michael Potter (St George); Coach: Chris Anderson (Canterbury); Player's Player: Ricky Stuart (Canberra); Rookie: Jack Elsegood (Manly Warringah); Representative player: Paul Sironen (City Origin, NSW, Australia); Top pointscorer: Daryl Halligan (North Sydney); Top tryscorer: Noa Nadruku (Canberra); Junior Dally M: Kris Flint (St Gregory's College, Campbelltown).
1994
Gold Dally M: Cliff Lyons (Manly Warringah); Silver Dally M: Jim Serdaris (Western Suburbs); Bronze Dally M: Allan Langer (Brisbane); Fullback: Brett Mullins (Canberra); Wing: Daryl Halligan (Canterbury Bankstown); Centre: Andrew Ettingshausen (Cronulla Sutherland); Five-eighth: Cliff Lyons (Manly Warringah); Halfback: Allan Langer (Brisbane); Prop: Ian Roberts (Manly Warringah); Hooker: Jim Serdaris (Western Suburbs); Second rower: Steve Menzies (Manly Warringah); Lock: Brad Fittler (Penrith); Captain: Mal Meninga (Canberra); Coach: Peter Louis (North Sydney); Player's Player: Bradley Clyde (Canberra); Rookie: Steve Menzies (Manly Warringah); Representative player: Ben Elias (Balmain); Top pointscorer: Daryl Halligan (Canterbury Bankstown); Top tryscorer: Steven Renouf (Brisbane); Junior Dally M: Michael Withers (John Paul II, Marayong).
1995
Gold Dally M: Laurie Daley (Canberra); Silver Dally M: Cliff Lyons (Manly Warringah), Andrew Johns (Newcastle) (tie); Fullback: Matthew Ridge (Manly Warringah); Wing: Sean Hoppe (Auckland); Centre: Jamie Ainscough (Newcastle); Five-eighth: Laurie Daley (Canberra); Halfback: Andrew Johns (Newcastle); Prop: Danny Lee (Cronulla Sutherland); Hooker: Steve Walters (Canberra); Second rower: Steven Menzies (Manly Warringah); Lock: Jim Dymock (Sydney Bullogs); Captain: Paul Langmack (Western Suburbs); Coach: John Lang (Cronulla Sutherland); Player's Player: Terry Lamb (Sydney Bullogs); Rookie: Mathew Rogers (Cronulla Sutherland); Representative player: ???; Top pointscorer: Matthew Ridge (Manly Warringah); Top tryscorer: Steven Menzies (Manly Warringah); Junior Dally M: Nathan Cayless (Parramatta Marist Brothers).
1996
Gold Dally M: Allan Langer (Brisbane); Silver Dally M: Laurie Daley (Canberra); Bronze Dally M: Jim Dymock (Parramatta); Fullback: Tim Brasher (Sydney Tigers); Wing: Noa Nadruku (Canberra); Centre: Andrew Ettingshausen (Cronulla Sutherland); Five-eighth: Laurie Daley (Canberra); Halfback: Allan Langer (Brisbane); Prop: Paul Harragon (Newcastle); Hooker: Jim Serdaris (Manly Warringah); Second rower: David Fairleigh (North Sydney); Lock: Jim Dymock (Sydney Bullogs); Captain: Laurie Daley (Canberra); Coach: David Waite (St George); Player's Player: Laurie Daley (Canberra); Rookie: Glen Morrison (Sydney Tigers); Top pointscorer: Jason Taylor (North Sydney); Top tryscorer: Noa Nadruku (Canberra); Junior Dally M: Chris Smith (John Paul II Marayong).
1996
No awards made
Rising Star Award

Each week throughout the regular season a panel of judges selects a player in his first season in the Sydney Premiership. The player must be under 23 years of age and have played less than six first grade games prior to the start of the year. At the end of the league proper the judging panel picks one of the 22 selected players as the outstanding player of the year.

Norwich Rising Star:

1992  Matthew Rodwell (Newcastle)
1993  Jack Elsegood (Manly Warringah)
1994  Matthew Seers (North Sydney)
1995  John Hopoate (Manly Warringah)
1996  Ben Kennedy (Canberra)

ARL Rookie of the Year:

1997  Scott Cram (Illawarra)

?

1998  Trent Barrett (Illawarra)
Clive Churchill Medal

Awarded to the Man of the Match in the Sydney/National Premiership grand final in memory of 'The Little Master'.

1986  Peter Sterling (Parramatta)
1987  Cliff Lyons (Manly Warringah)
1988  Paul Dunn (Canterbury Bankstown)
1989  Bradley Clyde (Canberra)
1990  Ricky Stuart (Canberra)
1991  Bradley Clyde (Canberra)
1992  Allan Langer (Brisbane)
1993  Brad Mackay (St George)
1994  David Furner (Canberra)
1995  Jim Dymock (Sydney Bulldogs)
1996  Geoff Toovey (Manly Warringah)
1997  Robbie O'Davis (Newcastle)
1998  ???
Sun-Herald Best and Fairest Player

The Sun-Herald made this award from its inception in 1949 up until the mid 1970s. Each week it would choose the three best players in each match, awarding them 3, 2 and 1 point respectively. At the end of the preliminary rounds the player or players with the most points would win a trophy and a cash prize.

In 1952 the mid-season departure ot the Kangaroos led to the awarding to two prizes, one for the best player up to that point and one for the best player at the end of the season.

1949  22  Keith Froome (Newtown)
1950  23  Keith Holman (Western Suburbs)
1951      Keith Holman (Western Suburbs)
1952      Clive Churchill (South Sydney),
      17  Jim Gillon (North Sydney)
1953      Barry Stenhouse (Canterbury Bankstown)
1954  23  Norm Provan (St George)
1955  18  Bill Marsh (Balmain)
1956  22  Keith Holman (Western Suburbs)
1957  22  Harry Wells (Western Suburbs)
1958  20  Keith Holman (Western Suburbs),
          Rex Mossop (Manly Warringah) (tie)
1959  22  Fred Nelson (South Sydney)
1960  22  Johnny Raper (St George)
1961  17  Brian Carlson (North Sydney)
1962  20  Laurie Fagan (Balmain)
1963  22  Johnny Raper (St George)
1964  15  Richie Powell (South Sydney)
1965  23  Ken Thornett (Parramatta)
1966      Peter Provan (Balmain),
          Ron Lynch (Parramatta),
          Billy Smith (St George) (3 way tie)
1967  21  Johnny Raper (St George)
1968  26  Dennis Ward (Manly Warringah)
1969  26  Les Johns (Canterbury Bankstown)
1970  22  Graeme Langlands (St George)
1971  22  Kevin Hogan (Cronulla Sutherland),
          Denis Pittard (South Sydney) (tie)
1972  31  Mark Harris (Eastern Suburbs)
1973  21  Denis Pittard (South Sydney),
          Garry Dowling (Canterbury Bankstown)
1974  25  Garry Dowling (Canterbury Bankstown),
          Tom Raudonikis (Western Suburbs)
Rugby League Week Player of the Year

Each week Rugby League Week rates the performance of each player in the Sydney Premiership out of ten. At the end of the preliminary rounds, all but the worst five of these scores are added together, and the player with the highest score wins the award.

1970       Tommy Bishop (Cronulla Sutherland)
1971       Bob Grant (South Sydney)
1972       John Ballesty (Eastern Suburbs)
1973       Johnny Mayes (Manly Warringah)
1974       Arthur Beetson (Eastern Suburbs)
1975       Bob Fulton (Manly Warringah)
1976       Ray Higgs (Parramatta)
1977       Michael Cronin (Parramatta)
1978       Geoff Gerard (Parramatta)
1979       Ray Price (Parramatta)
1980       Kevin Hastings (Eastern Suburbs)
1981       Kevin Hastings (Eastern Suburbs)
1982       Kevin Hastings (Eastern Suburbs)
1983       Phil Sigsworth (Manly Warringah)
1984       Peter Sterling (Parramatta)
1985       Ray Price (Parramatta)
1986       Peter Sterling (Parramatta)
1987       Peter Sterling (Parramatta)
1988       Ben Elias (Balmain)
1989       Gavin Miller (Cronulla Sutherland)
1990       Mal Meninga (Canberra)
1991       Ewan McGrady (Canterbury Bankstown)
1992       Paul Langmack (Western Suburbs)
1993       Steve Walters (Canberra)
1994       Cliff Lyons (Manly Warringah)
1995  129  Laurie Daley (Canberra)
1996  136  Allan Langer (Brisbane)
1997       Brad Fittler (Sydney City)
1998  149  Andrew Johns (Newcastle)

From 1975 they also rated and gave an award for the Brisbane Premiership. The Brisbane award cut out in 1988 when the Broncos entered the Sydney Premiership.

1975       Des Morris (Eastern Suburbs)
1976       John Lang (Eastern Suburbs)
1977       Bunny Pearce (Redcliffe)
1978       Bunny Pearce (Redcliffe)
1979       Gary Prickett (Western Suburbs)
1980       Tony Obst (Redcliffe)
1981       Wally Lewis (Fortitude Valley)
1982       Dennis Cook (Northern Suburbs)
1983       Mark Crear (Western Suburbs)
1984       Cavill Heugh (Eastern Suburbs)
1985       Henry Foster (Past Brothers)
1986       Bryan Niebling (Redcliffe)
1987       Clinton Mohr (Past Brothers)

Prior to 1978 players were rated out of five, and fives were quite common. From 1978 players have been rated out of ten, and tens are rarely given. Players who have scored tens:

26 Mar 1978  Terry Randall (Manly Warringah) v St George
 2 Apr 1978  Geoff Foster (Western Suburbs) v St George
 2 Apr 1978  Larry Corowa (Balmain) v Newtown
23 Jul 1978  Graham Murray (Parramatta) v St George
29 Mar 1980  Robert Laurie (South Sydney) v St George
27 Apr 1980  John Dowling (St George) v North Sydney
12 Apr 1981  Peter Leis (Redcliffe) v South Sydney
 2 Aug 1981  Wally Lewis (Fortitude Valley) v Wynnum Manly
 9 Aug 1981  Johnny Gibbs (Manly Warringah) v Cronulla Sutherland
19 Jun 1982  Greg Brentnall (Canterbury Bankstown) v Manly Warringah
 3 Apr 1983  Kevin Hastings (Eastern Suburbs) v Penrith
16 Mar 1986  Peter Sterling (Parramatta) v St George
26 May 1987  Peter Sterling (Parramatta) v Eastern Suburbs
       1991  Bradley Clyde (Canberra) v Western Suburbs
       1995  Brad Fittler (Australia) v New Zealand
30 Jun 1997  Greg Florimo (North Sydney) v Manly Warringah

NSW Player of the Year

Ernie Christensen was editor of the official Rugby League Year Book. Each year he chose the player he thought was the best in NSW. It was a much appreciated honour.

1946  Lionel Cooper (Eastern Suburbs)
1947  Bobby Lulham (Balmain)
1948  Len Smith (Newtown)
1949  Clive Churchill (South Sydney)
1950  Clive Churchill (South Sydney)
1951  Keith Holman (Western Suburbs)
1952  Clive Churchill (South Sydney)
1953  Jack Rayner (South Sydney)
1954  Roy Bull (Manly Warringah)
1955  Ken Kearney (St George)
1956  Keith Holman (Western Suburbs)
1957  Norm Provan (St George)
1958  Keith Holman (Western Suburbs)
1959  Reg Gasnier (St George)
1960  Johnny Raper (St George)
1961  Reg Gasnier (St George)
1962  Arthur Summons (Western Suburbs)
1963  Ian Walsh (St George)
1964  Johnny Raper (St George),
      Reg Gasnier (St George) (tie)
1965  Ken Thornett (Parramatta)
1966  Billy Smith (St George)
1967  Les Johns (Canterbury Bankstown)
1968  Ron Coote (South Sydney)
1969  Ron Coote (South Sydney)
1970  Graeme Langlands (St George)
1971  Graeme Langlands (St George)
1972  Bob Fulton (Manly Warringah)
1973  Bob Fulton (Manly Warringah)
1974  Ron Coote (Eastern Suburbs)
1975  Arthur Beetson (Eastern Suburbs)
1976  Ron Coote (Eastern Suburbs)
1977  Mick Cronin (Parramatta)

No players were nominated after 1977.

Rugby League Players of the Year

When David Middleton started editing the official Rugby League series of books in 1988, he continued the tradition, though he chooses to name 5 players rather than just one.

(The years below are those of the volume, which actually covers the games from the preceeding year.)

1988  Hugh McGahan (Eastern Suburbs),
      Michael O'Connor (Manly Warringah),
      Wayne Pearce (Balmain),
      Dale Shearer (Manly Warringah),
      Peter Sterling (Parramatta)
1989  Ben Elias (Balmain),
      Garry Jack (Balmain),
      Allan Langer (Brisbane),
      Wally Lewis (Brisbane),
      Gavin Miller (Cronulla Sutherland)
1990  Gary Belcher (Canberra),
      Bradley Clyde (Canberra),
      Mal Meninga (Canberra),
      Gavin Miller (Cronulla Sutherland),
      Kerrod Walters (Brisbane)
1991  Gary Belcher (Canberra),
      Glenn Lazarus (Canberra),
      Cliff Lyons (Manly Warringah),
      Mal Meninga (Canberra),
      Peter Sterling (Parramatta)
1992  Greg Alexander (Penrith),
      Bradley Clyde (Canberra),
      Allan Langer (Brisbane),
      Ewan McGrady (Canterbury Bankstown),
      Mal Meninga (Canberra)
1993  Gary Freeman (Eastern Suburbs),
      Allan Langer (Brisbane),
      Glenn Lazarus (Brisbane),
      Steve Renouf (Brisbane),
      Steve Walters (Canberra)
1994  Mark Coyne (St George),
      Brad Mackay (St George),
      Ricky Stuart (Canberra),
      Kerrod Walters (Brisbane),
      Steve Walters (Canberra)
1995  Bradley Clyde (Canberra),
      Greg Florimo (North Sydney),
      Brett Mullins (Canberra),
      Dean Pay (Canterbury Bankstown),
      Ricky Stuart (Canberra)
1996  Laurey Daley (Canberra),
      Brad Fittler (Penrith),
      Andrew Johns (Newcastle),
      Gary Larson (North Sydney),
      Steven Menzies (Manly Warringah)
1997  Brad Fittler (Sydney City),
      Paul Harragon (Newcastle),
      Robbie O'Davis (Newcastle),
      John Simon (Parramatta),
      Geoff Toovey (Manly).

He also selects a best team:

1988  Gary Belcher (Canberra); Dale Shearer (Manly Warringah),
      Michael O'Connor (Manly Warringah), Peter Jackson (Canberra),
      Steve Morris (Eastern Suburbs); Cliff Lyons (Manly Warringah),
      Peter Sterling (Parramatta); Ian Roberts (South Sydney),
      Royce Simmons (Penrith), Peter Tunks (Canterbury Bankstown),
      Les Davidson (South Sydney), Hugh McGahan (Eastern Suburbs),
      Wayne Pearce (Balmain).
1989  Garry Jack (Balmain); John Fergusson (Canberra),
      Michael O'Connor (Manly Warringah), Peter Jackson (Canberra),
      Andrew Ettingshausen (Cronulla Sutherland);
      Wally Lewis (Brisbane), Allan Langer (Brisbane);
      Paul Dunn (Canterbury Bankstown), Ben Elias (Balmain),
      Sam Backo (Canberra), Paul Sironen (Balmain),
      Gavin Miller (Cronulla Sutherland), Wayne Pearce (Balmain).
1990  Gary Belcher (Canberra); Michael Hancock (Brisbane),
      Tony Currie (Brisbane), Mal Meninga (Canberra),
      John Fergusson (Canberra); Phil Blake (South Sydney),
      Ricky Stuart (Canberra); Steve Roach (Balmain),
      Kerrod Walters (Brisbane), Glenn Lazarus (Canberra),
      Paul Sironen (Balmain), Gavin Miller (Cronulla Sutherland),
      Bradley Clyde (Canberra).
1991  Gary Belcher (Canberra); Michael Hancock (Brisbane),
      Mal Meninga (Canberra),
      Andrew Ettingshausen (Cronulla Sutherland),
      John Fergusson (Canberra); Cliff Lyons (Manly Warringah),
      Peter Sterling (Parramatta); Steve Roach (Balmain),
      Ben Elias (Balmain), Glenn Lazarus (Canberra),
      Paul Sironen (Balmain), John Cartwright (Penrith),
      Bob Lindner (Western Suburbs).
1992  Michael Potter (St George); Rod Wishart (Illawarra),
      Mal Meninga (Canberra), Andrew Ettingshausen (Cronulla Sutherland),
      Willie Carne (Brisbane); Peter Jackson (North Sydney),
      Allan Langer (Brisbane); Craig Salvatori (Eastern Suburbs),
      Steve Walters (Canberra), Martin Bella (Manly Warringah),
      David Gillespie (Western Suburbs), Mark Geyer (Penrith),
      Bradley Clyde (Canberra).
1993  Michael Potter (St George); Willie Carne (Brisbane),
      Steve Renouf (Brisbane), Paul McGregor (Illawarra),
      Michael Hancock (Brisbane); Brad Fittler (Penrith),
      Allan Langer (Brisbane); Glenn Lazarus (Brisbane),
      Steve Walters (Canberra), Mark Sargent (Newcastle),
      John Cartwright (Penrith), Trevor Gillmeister (Brisbane),
      Bradley Clyde (Canberra).
1994  Michael Potter (St George); Willie Carne (Brisbane),
      Mark Coyne (St George), Brad Fittler (Penrith),
      Noa Nadruku (Canberra); Kevin Walters (Brisbane),
      Ricky Stuart (Canberra); Ian Roberts (Manly Warringah),
      Steve Walters (Canberra), Glenn Lazarus (Brisbane),
      Bob Lindner (Illawarra), Paul Sironen (Balmain),
      Brad Mackay (St George).
1995  Brett Mullins (Canberra); Rod Wishart (Illawarra),
      Steve Renouf (Brisbane), Ruben Wiki (Canberra),
      Sean Hoppe (North Sydney); Greg Florimo (North Sydney),
      Ricky Stuart (Canberra); John Lomax (Canberra),
      Steve Walters (Canberra), Ian Roberts (Manly Warringah),
      Dean Pay (Canterbury Bankstown), Bradley Clyde (Canberra),
      Brad Fittler (Penrith).
1996  Tim Brasher (Balmain); Rod Wishart (Illawarra),
      Steven Renouf (Brisbane), Terry Hill (Manly Warringah),
      Sean Hoppe (Brisbane); Laurie Daley (Canberra),
      Andrew Johns (Newcastle); David Gillespie (Manly Warringah),
      Steve Walters (Canberra), Mark Carroll (Manly Warringah),
      Gary Larson (North Sydney), Steven Menzies (Manly Warringah),
      Brad Fittler (Penrith).
1997  Robbie O'Davis (Newcastle); Darren Albert (Newcastle),
      Craig Innes (Manly Warringah), Terry Hill (Manly Warringah),
      Jack Elsegood (Manly Warringah); Brad Fittler (Sydney City),
      John Simon (Parramatta); Paul Harragon (Newcastle),
      Geoff Toovey (Manly Warringah), Mark Carroll (Manly Warringah),
      Adam Muir (Newcastle), Luke Ricketson (Sydney City),
      Nik Kosef (Manly Warringah).
NSW Country Player of the Year
1965  Laurie Moraschi (Griffith, Group 20)
1966  Terry Pannowitz (Maitland, Newcastle)
1967  Allan Thomson (Lakes United, Newcastle)
1968  Allan Thomson (Lakes United, Newcastle)
1969  Fr. John Cootes (Western Suburbs, Newcastle)
1970  Les Hutchings (Condobolin, ?)
1971  Dick Jeffery (Glen Innes, ?)
1972  Brian Burke (Maitland, Newcastle)
1973  John Donnelly (Gunnedah, ?)
1974  Mick Cronin (Gerrigong, Group 7)
1975  Steve Hewson (Queenbeyan United, Canberra)
1976  Peter Kennedy (Forbes, ?)
1977  Barry Pearson (Western Suburbs, Illawarra)
1978  Ray Brown (Griffith Waratahs, Group 20)
1979  Pat Smith (Maitland, Newcastle)
1980  Perry Haddock (Erina, Central Coast)
1981  Terry Regan (Cessnock, Newcastle)
1982  Willie Tarry (Cessnock, Newcastle)
1983  Paul Feild (Cootamundra, Group 13)
1984  Ross Gibson (Wyong, Central Coast)
1985  Peter Hawthorne (Griffith, Group 20)
1986  Neil Moy (Parkes, ?)
1987  Steve Walters (Lakes United, Newcastle)
1988  Chris Cummings (Aberdeen, Group 21)
1989  Mark Ryan (Moree, Group 4)
1990  Paul Danes (Wagga Magpies, Group 13)
1991  Richard Jones (South Newcastle, Newcastle)
1992  Trevor Crow (South Newcastle, Newcastle)
1993  Warren Douche (Erina, Central Coast)
1994  Brian Quinton (Kurri Kurri, Newcastle)
1995  Jamy Forbes (Cessnock, Newcastle)
1996  Brett Gallard (Orange CYMS, Group 10)
1997  ???
Queensland Country Player of the Year
1982  Michael Grimsey (Biloela)  [Dally M]
NSW Country Origin Player of the Year

Awarded at the end of each year to the most outstanding player in the Sydney competition who started their playing career in country New South Wales.

1992  Laurie Daley (Canberra)
1993  Paul Harragon (Newcastle)
1994  John Simon (Illawarra)
1995  Paul Harragon (Newcastle)
1996  Paul Harragon (Newcastle)
1997  ?
NSW Rugby League Writers' Player of the Year

I don't know much about this award.

...others?
1993  Ricky Stuart (Canberra)
1994  Ricky Stuart (Canberra)
...others?
Discovery of the Year

I don't know much about this award.

...others?
1993  Jack Elsegood (Manly Warringah)
1994  Steven Menzies (Manly Warringah)
...others?
Coach of the Year

This was awarded to the best coach of the year in the Sydney Premiership as chosen initially by journalists and later by a vote of all first grade coaches. The award was scrapped after arguments over the merits of the winners caused the sponsers to withdraw.

The award was revivied in 1997.

1971  Ian Walsh (Parramatta)
1972  Ron Willey (Manly Warringah)
1973  Jack Gibson (Newtown)
1974  Don Parish (Western Suburbs)
1975  Jack Gibson (Eastern Suburbs)
1976  Terry Fearnley (Parramatta)
1977  Harry Bath (St George)
1978  Roy Masters (Western Suburbs)
1979  Ted Glossop (Canterbury Bankstown)
1980  Ted Glossop (Canterbury Bankstown)
1981  Warren Ryan (Newtown)
1982  Jack Gibson (Parramatta)
1983  Laurie Freier (Eastern Suburbs)
1984  Warren Ryan (Canterbury Bankstown)
1985  Roy Masters (St George)
1986  George Piggins (South Sydney)
1987  Arthur Beetson (Eastern Suburbs)

1997  Phil Economidis (Gold Coast)
Rugby League Week Hall of Fame

In 1992 Rugby League Week published a list of the top 100 rugby league players, as selected by a panel of six judges. The top ten were automatically inducted into the RLW Hall of Fame. Since 1995 three new players have been added each year. The judges for 1996 were Ken Arthurson, Ian Heads and Tony Durkin.

Initial Inductees:
      Clive Churchill, John Raper, Reg Gasnier,
      Dally Messenger, Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton,
      Wally Lewis, Vic Hey, Dave Brown, Duncan Thompson
1995  Peter Sterling, Arthur Beatson, Harold Horder
1996  Michael Cronin, Tom Gorman, Keith Holman
Metropolitan Cup Player Awards
Buckley Medal Winners:

1990  Andrew Devlin (Bankstown)
1991  Danny Farrar (St Marys)
1992  Shane Kelly (Newtown)
1993  Jason Croker (Moorebank)
1994  Tony Wall (Mt Pritchard)
1995  Trevor Schodel (Newtown)
1996  Gary Lester (Illawarra Red Devils)
1997  ?


Rookie of the Year:

1990  Andrew Willis (Western Suburbs)
1991  Lee Oudenryn (Mt Pritchard)
1992  Tim Blasczak (Newtown)
1993  Jamie Tighe (Hills District)
1994  Brett Hyde (Hills District)
1995  Chris Tolar (Guildford)
1996  Steve Bosse (Illawarra Red Devils)
1997  ?
Super League Awards

Super League Player of the Year:

Telstra Medal

1997  Laurie Daley (Canberra)

Super League Coach of the Year:

1997  Wayne Bennett (Brisbane)