Clive Churchill Medal | Tips, Odds & Past Winners

Oct 7, 2026

The Clive Churchill Medal is the player-of-the-match award presented at the NRL Grand Final each year — rugby league's equivalent of the AFL's Norm Smith Medal.

Named after South Sydney Rabbitohs legend Clive Churchill, it goes to the player judged best afield on Grand Final day, regardless of which team wins. This is your hub for Clive Churchill Medal tips, odds, past winners and how to bet on the market.

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What Is the Clive Churchill Medal?

The Clive Churchill Medal is awarded to the best player afield in the NRL Grand Final each year. The judging panel of former players, coaches and journalists votes immediately after full-time, and the medal is presented on the Accor Stadium podium during the post-match presentation. It is presented on the same podium as the Provan-Summons Trophy.

First awarded in 1986, the medal can be won by a player from either side, including the losing team. Of the recent era, 2019’s Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders, lost to Sydney Roosters) and 2013’s Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles, lost to Sydney Roosters) are the most recent losing-side winners.

Who Was Clive Churchill?

Clive Churchill (1927 to 1985) is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in rugby league history. The “Little Master” played 158 games for South Sydney as their fullback from 1947 to 1958, won five premierships with the club and played 34 Tests for Australia, 24 of them as captain. He is one of only two rugby league players to have a stand named after him at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The medal was first presented in 1986, the year after his death.

Clive Churchill Medal Odds & 2026 Predictions

The Clive Churchill Medal market opens early in the NRL season and shifts heavily through the finals series. The historical pattern: the favourites are almost always halves, fullbacks and lock-forwards from the top-two ladder finishers. Spine players (halfback, five-eighth, hooker, fullback) account for the vast majority of winners.

2026 Grand Final: Roosters 19, Knights 18. James Tedesco won the medal, his first, as the Sydney Roosters captain and fullback in a one-point win over Newcastle. He ran for 385 metres, and the award sits alongside his 2019 Wally Lewis Medal and two Dally M Medals. Spine players have now won six of the last seven medals (Papenhuyzen, Cleary, Edwards, Cleary, Walsh and Tedesco), with Liam Martin in 2024 the exception. The full match report is in our NRL Grand Final results.

For futures-style positioning, check our NRL Premiership Odds page, because the favourites for the Premiership are usually the same teams whose spines dominate Clive Churchill betting.

For the Grand Final hub itself, with the date, venue, betting markets and full winners record book, see our NRL Grand Final tips and odds hub.

How to Bet on the Clive Churchill Medal

Clive Churchill Medal markets are priced by all major Australian bookmakers from early in the finals series, with odds tightening rapidly through the Preliminary Finals. Key approach for finding value:

Spine players from the favourite: Halfback, fullback or five-eighth from the team most likely to win the Grand Final is the safest historical play. Penrith spine players won three of the four Clive Churchills during the club’s 2021 to 2024 four-peat, Nathan Cleary twice and Dylan Edwards once, for exactly this reason.
Long shots from the underdog: When a clear underdog reaches the Grand Final, look for their attacking spine player at long odds. Losing-side winners are rare but pay handsomely.
Forwards in tight games: When the line suggests a low-scoring grind, a dominant lock or prop forward becomes a live chance: Liam Martin (Penrith, 2024) won in a 14-6 grind.
Each-way / top-3 markets: Some bookmakers offer top-3 finish markets that significantly improve probability of cashing.

Best Bookmakers for Clive Churchill Medal Betting

Our top-rated NRL bookmakers price the Clive Churchill Medal market deep, with odds across every player on both Grand Final teams. For full reviews and side-by-side comparisons, see our best NRL betting sites in Australia guide, or the newest betting sites in Australia for fresh signup offers.

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Clive Churchill Medal Winners: Recent Years

Clive Churchill Medal winners since 2010:

Year	Player	Team	Position	GF Result
2026	James Tedesco	Sydney Roosters	Fullback	Won 19-18
2025	Reece Walsh	Brisbane Broncos	Fullback	Won 26-22
2024	Liam Martin	Penrith Panthers	Second-row	Won 14-6
2023	Nathan Cleary	Penrith Panthers	Halfback	Won 26-24
2022	Dylan Edwards	Penrith Panthers	Fullback	Won 28-12
2021	Nathan Cleary	Penrith Panthers	Halfback	Won 14-12
2020	Ryan Papenhuyzen	Melbourne Storm	Fullback	Won 26-20
2019	Jack Wighton	Canberra Raiders	Five-eighth	Lost 14-8 (rare losing-side winner)
2018	Luke Keary	Sydney Roosters	Five-eighth	Won 21-6
2017	Billy Slater	Melbourne Storm	Fullback	Won 34-6
2016	Luke Lewis	Cronulla Sharks	Second-row	Won 14-12
2015	Johnathan Thurston	North Queensland Cowboys	Halfback	Won 17-16 (golden point)
2014	Sam Burgess	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Lock	Won 30-6
2013	Daly Cherry-Evans	Manly Sea Eagles	Halfback	Lost 26-18 (rare losing-side winner)
2012	Cooper Cronk	Melbourne Storm	Halfback	Won 14-4
2011	Glenn Stewart	Manly Sea Eagles	Lock	Won 24-10
2010	Darius Boyd	St George Illawarra Dragons	Wing/Fullback	Won 32-8

Notable: Penrith Panthers won all four Clive Churchill Medals during their 2021 to 2024 four-peat: Nathan Cleary (2021, 2023), Dylan Edwards (2022) and Liam Martin (2024). Cleary’s two medals make him the most-awarded current-era halfback.

Clive Churchill Medal FAQs

Who won the most recent Clive Churchill Medal?

James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters) won the 2026 Clive Churchill Medal as the Roosters beat the Newcastle Knights 19-18 in the Grand Final. Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos) won it in 2025.

Can a losing player win the Clive Churchill Medal?

Yes. The medal is judged on best afield regardless of result. The two most recent losing-side winners are Jack Wighton (Canberra, 2019) and Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly, 2013).

Who is the all-time leader for Clive Churchill Medals?

Norm Provan, with three. As part of rugby league’s centenary celebrations in 2008 the medal was awarded retrospectively back to 1954, and Provan was named best on ground in the 1957, 1958 and 1963 Grand Finals. Since the medal was first presented in 1986, Nathan Cleary (2021, 2023), Billy Slater (2009, 2017) and Bradley Clyde (1989, 1991) have each won it twice.

Why is it called the Clive Churchill Medal?

The award is named after Clive Churchill (1927 to 1985), regarded as one of the greatest players in rugby league history. He was South Sydney’s fullback through the 1950s, won five premierships and captained Australia in 24 of his 34 Tests, and the Clive Churchill Stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground is named after him. The medal was first presented in 1986, the year after his death.

What positions win the Clive Churchill Medal most often?

Spine players dominate: halfbacks, fullbacks and five-eighths account for the majority of winners. Halfbacks lead the position breakdown by some distance, reflecting their game-controlling influence in big matches. Forwards have won less frequently but still feature, especially in low-scoring or grinding Grand Finals.

When are Clive Churchill Medal odds available?

Most Australian bookmakers open Clive Churchill Medal markets ahead of the finals series. Lines tighten substantially after the Preliminary Finals once the two Grand Final teams are confirmed, with the favourite usually trading at $4 to $8 depending on the matchup.

Where can I bet on the Clive Churchill Medal?

All major Australian bookmakers price the Clive Churchill Medal market on Grand Final day. Compare bookmakers on our best NRL betting sites in Australia guide.