The Clive Churchill Medal represents one of Australian Rugby League's most prestigious individual honours. It is awarded annually to the standout performer in the NRL Grand Final, meaning it is an award that a lot of players won’t even get the opportunity to vie for.
This means there is a special place in Rugby League history reserved for those who have managed to win the Clive Churchill Medal, let alone those who have won it twice.
Since its inception in 1986 to commemorate the passing of the great Clive Churchill, only three players have ever won the award twice: Canberra's Bradley Clyde (1989 and 1991), Melbourne Storm's Billy Slater (2009 and 2017) and Penrith's Nathan Cleary (2021 and 2023).
Nearly as rare is the Churchill being awarded to a member of the losing side on Grand Final day. Only four men have taken home the medal despite their side going down in the big dance. They are Bradley Clyde in 1991, Brad Mackay in 1993, Daly Cherry-Evans in 2013, and Jack Wighton in 2019.
From dramatic comebacks to dominant displays, the Clive Churchill Medal has been claimed by legends who've defined the NRL Grand Final’s biggest moments. Here they are, in all their glory.
List of Clive Churchill Medal Winners
1986 – Peter Sterling (Parramatta Eels)
1987 – Cliff Lyons (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
1988 – Paul Dunn (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
1989 – Bradley Clyde (Canberra Raiders)
1990 – Ricky Stuart (Canberra Raiders)
1991 – Bradley Clyde (Canberra Raiders)
1992 – Allan Langer (Brisbane Broncos)
1993 – Brad Mackay (St George Dragons)
1994 – David Furner (Canberra Raiders)
1995 – Jim Dymock (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
1996 – Geoff Toovey (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
1997 – Robbie O'Davis (Newcastle Knights)
1998 – Gorden Tallis (Brisbane Broncos)
1999 – Brett Kimmorley (Melbourne Storm)
2000 – Darren Lockyer (Brisbane Broncos)
2001 – Andrew Johns (Newcastle Knights)
2002 – Craig Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters)
2003 – Luke Priddis (Penrith Panthers )
2004 – Willie Mason (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
2005 – Scott Prince (Wests Tigers)
2006 – Shaun Berrigan (Brisbane Broncos)
2007 – Greg Inglis (Melbourne Storm)
2008 – Brent Kite (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
2009 – Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
2010 – Darius Boyd (St. George Illawarra Dragons)
2011 – Glenn Stewart (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
2012 – Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
2013 – Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
2014 – Sam Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
2015 – Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
2016 – Luke Lewis (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
2017 – Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
2018 – Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)
2019 – Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders)
2020 – Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm)
2021 – Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
2022 – Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)
2023 – Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
2024 – Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
2025 - Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)