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{{Short description|Australian rugby league medal}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{infobox sports award
| name           = Rothmans Medal
| current_awards = 
| image          = 
| imagesize      = 150px
| caption        = 
| description    = The [[best and fairest]] player in the [[New South Wales Rugby League]] and the [[Brisbane Rugby League]]
| presenter      = 
| country        = Australia
| year           = [[1968 Rothmans Medal|1968]] (Rothmans Medal)<br>[[1997 Provan-Summons Medal|1997]] (Provan-Summons Medal)
| year2          = 1997
| holder         = 
| website        = }}

The '''Rothmans Medal''' was the premier individual award in the [[New South Wales Rugby League]] and [[Brisbane Rugby League]] competitions, and later in the [[Australian Rugby League]], which was given to the player voted by referees as the best and fairest in those competitions for the season, first awarded in 1968. With the establishment of the [[National Rugby League]] in 1998, the Rothmans Medal was replaced by the [[Dally M Medal]] as the official Player of the Year award.

==History==
The Rothmans Medal was the first official player-of-the-year award to be established in rugby league in Australia. The medal was sponsored by [[Rothmans International]], a tobacco production company. There were two Rothmans Medals awarded each year: one for the best player in the [[New South Wales Rugby League]], and one for the best player in the [[Brisbane Rugby League]].

The voting for the Rothmans Medal was done by the match-day referee. After each match, he awarded three votes to the best player, two votes to the second-best player, and one vote to the third-best player. This is the same basic format as the modern day Dally M, except that the votes are now determined by the media.

The two Rothmans Medals were first awarded in 1968, and were awarded each year until 1996. In 1997, the Rothmans Medal in New South Wales became known as the Provan-Summons medal, because all tobacco advertising and sponsorship was prohibited in Australia in 1992, under the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992; the medal then disappeared altogether in 1998 with the merger of the [[Australian Rugby League]] and the [[Super League (Australia)|Australian Super League]]. The Queensland Rothmans Medal was also last awarded in 1996, as the [[Queensland Cup]] superseded the [[Brisbane Rugby League]] as Queensland's premier rugby league competition in 1997.

==Rothmans Medal winners==
===New South Wales===

Note: includes Provan-Summons Medal winner in 1997.

{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! Year
! Winner
! Position
! Team
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1968|1968]]
|[[Terry Hughes (rugby league)|Terry Hughes]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1969|1969]]
|[[Denis Pittard]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|South Sydney|23}} [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1970|1970]]
|[[Kevin Junee]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1971|1971]]
|Denis Pittard
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|South Sydney|23}} [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1972|1972]]
|[[Tommy Raudonikis]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|{{leagueicon|Western Suburbs Magpies|23}} [[Western Suburbs Magpies|Western Suburbs]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1973|1973]]
|[[Ken Maddison]]
|{{Rlp|SR}}
|[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1974|1974]]
|[[Graham Eadie]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|[[Image:Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Manly Sea Eagles|Manly-Warringah]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1975|1975]]
|[[Steve Rogers (rugby league)|Steve Rogers]]
|{{Rlp|CE}}
|[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1976|1976]]
|[[Ray Higgs]]
|{{Rlp|SR}}
|[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1977|1977]]
|[[Mick Cronin (rugby league)|Mick Cronin]]
|{{Rlp|CE}}
|[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1978|1978]]
|Mick Cronin
|{{Rlp|CE}}
|[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1979|1979]]
|[[Ray Price (rugby)|Ray Price]]
|{{Rlp|LK}}
|[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1980|1980]]
|[[Geoff Bugden]]
|{{Rlp|PR}}
|{{leagueicon|Newtown|23}} [[Newtown Jets|Newtown]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1981|1981]] 
|[[Kevin Hastings]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1982|1982]]
|[[Greg Brentnall]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|[[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Canterbury Bulldogs|Canterbury]]
|-
|[[NSWRFL season 1983|1983]]
|[[Michael Eden]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1984|1984]]
|[[Terry Lamb]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|[[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Canterbury Bulldogs|Canterbury]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1985|1985]]
|[[Wayne Pearce]]
|{{Rlp|LK}}
|{{leagueicon|Balmain|23}} [[Balmain Tigers|Balmain]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1986|1986]]
|[[Mal Cochrane]]
|{{Rlp|HK}}
|[[Image:Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Manly Sea Eagles|Manly-Warringah]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1987|1987]]
|[[Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)|Peter Sterling]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1988|1988]]
|[[Barry Russell (Cronulla)|Barry Russell]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1989|1989]]
|[[Gavin Miller]]<br>[[Mark Sargent]]
|{{Rlp|SR}}<br />{{Rlp|PR}}
|[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla]]<br>[[Image:Newcastle colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Newcastle Knights|Newcastle]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1990|1990]]
|[[Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)|Peter Sterling]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Parramatta colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1991|1991]]
|[[Ewan McGrady]]
|{{Rlp|HB|FB}}
|[[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Canterbury Bulldogs|Canterbury]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1992|1992]]
|[[Allan Langer]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Brisbane Broncos|Brisbane]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1993|1993]]
|[[Ricky Stuart]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|{{leagueicon|Canberra|23}} [[Canberra Raiders|Canberra]]
|-
|[[NSWRL season 1994|1994]]
|[[David Fairleigh]]
|{{Rlp|SR}}
|{{leagueicon|North Sydney|23}} [[North Sydney Bears|North Sydney]]
|-
|[[Australian Rugby League season 1995|1995]]
|[[Paul Green (rugby league)|Paul Green]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|[[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Cronulla Sharks|Cronulla]]
|-
|[[Australian Rugby League season 1996|1996]]
|[[Jason Taylor (rugby league)|Jason Taylor]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|{{leagueicon|North Sydney|23}} [[North Sydney Bears|North Sydney]]
|-
|[[Australian Rugby League season 1997|1997]]
|[[Brad Fittler]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|[[Image:Eastern Suburbs colours.svg|23x23px]] [[Sydney Roosters]]
|}

===Queensland===
<ref>{{cite news|last=Pramberg|first=Bernie|title=Winding back the clock|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/winding-back-the-clock/story-e6frep5x-1111112466514|access-date=26 July 2011|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]]|date=3 November 2006}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! Year
! Winner
! Position
! Team
|-
|1968
|Wayne Head
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|{{leagueicon|Wests Panthers|23}} [[Wests Panthers|Western Suburbs]]
|-
|1969
|[[Johnny Brown (rugby league)|Johnny Brown]]
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|{{leagueicon|Norths Devils|23}} [[Norths Devils|Northern Suburbs]]
|-
|1970
|Graeme Atherton
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|Souths Magpies|23}} [[Souths Logan Magpies|Southern Suburbs]]
|-
|1971
|Len Brunner
|{{Rlp|SR}}
|{{leagueicon|Wynnum-Manly|23}} [[Wynnum-Manly Seagulls|Wynnum-Manly]]
|-
|1972
|Marty Scanlan
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|Fortitude Valley Diehards|23}} [[Fortitude Valley Diehards|Valleys]]
|-
|1973
|John Eales<!-- Note: this is not the same John Eales who captained the Wallabies in rugby union during the 1990s -->
|{{Rlp|CE}}
|{{leagueicon|Easts Tigers|23}} [[Easts Tigers|Eastern Suburbs]]
|-
|1974
|Jeff Fyfe
|{{Rlp|LK}}
|{{leagueicon|Easts Tigers|23}} [[Easts Tigers|Eastern Suburbs]]
|-
|1975
|Steve Calder
|{{Rlp|LK}}
|{{leagueicon|Norths Devils|23}} [[Norths Devils|Northern Suburbs]]
|-
|1976
|[[Darryl Brohman]]
|{{Rlp|PR}}
|{{leagueicon|Norths Devils|23}} [[Norths Devils|Northern Suburbs]]
|-
|1977
|Alan Currie
|{{Rlp|LK}}
|{{leagueicon|Easts Tigers|23}} [[Easts Tigers|Eastern Suburbs]]
|-
|1978
|[[Ian Pearce (rugby league)|Ian Pearce]]
|{{Rlp|FB}}
|{{leagueicon|Redcliffe Dolphins|23}} [[Redcliffe Dolphins|Redcliffe]]
|-
|1979
|Neville Draper
|{{Rlp|LK}}
|{{leagueicon|Norths Devils|23}} [[Norths Devils|Northern Suburbs]]
|-
|1980
|Peter Lehman
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|Past Brothers|23}} [[Past Brothers|Brothers]]
|-
|1981
|[[Chris Phelan]]
|{{Rlp|LK}}
|{{leagueicon|Souths Magpies|23}} [[Souths Logan Magpies|Southern Suburbs]]
|-
|1982
|[[Tony Currie (rugby league)|Tony Currie]]
|{{Rlp|FB|CE}}
|{{leagueicon|Wests Panthers|23}} [[Wests Panthers|Western Suburbs]]
|-
|1983
|Trevor Paterson
|{{Rlp|SR}}
|{{leagueicon|Easts Tigers|23}} [[Easts Tigers|Eastern Suburbs]]
|-
|1984
|[[Cavill Heugh]]
|{{Rlp|PR}}
|{{leagueicon|Easts Tigers|23}} [[Easts Tigers|Eastern Suburbs]]
|-
|1985
|[[Ian French]]
|{{Rlp|SR}}
|{{leagueicon|Wynnum-Manly|23}} [[Wynnum-Manly Seagulls|Wynnum-Manly]]
|-
|1986
|[[Bryan Niebling]]<br>[[Scott Tronc]]
|{{Rlp|SR|PR}}<br />{{Rlp|SR|PR}}
|{{leagueicon|Redcliffe Dolphins|23}} [[Redcliffe Dolphins|Redcliffe]]<br>{{leagueicon|Souths Magpies|23}} [[Souths Logan Magpies|Southern Suburbs]]
|-
|1987
|[[Gene Miles]]
|{{Rlp|CE}}
|{{leagueicon|Wynnum-Manly|23}} [[Wynnum-Manly Seagulls|Wynnum-Manly]]
|-
|1988
|Kevin Langer
|{{Rlp|HB}}
|{{leagueicon|Wests Panthers|23}} [[Wests Panthers|Western Suburbs]]
|-
|1989
|[[Neil Tierney]]
|{{Rlp|PR}}
|{{leagueicon|Wynnum-Manly|23}} [[Wynnum-Manly Seagulls|Wynnum-Manly]]
|-
|1990
|Trevor Benson
|{{Rlp|CE|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|Redcliffe Dolphins|23}} [[Redcliffe Dolphins|Redcliffe]]
|-
|1991
|[[Darryl Duncan]]
|{{Rlp|FE}}
|{{leagueicon|Norths Devils|23}} [[Norths Devils|Northern Suburbs]]
|-
|1992
|[[Jason Hanrahan]]
|{{Rlp|PR}}
|{{leagueicon|Souths Magpies|23}} [[Souths Logan Magpies|Southern Suburbs]]
|-
|1993
|[[Paul Green (rugby league)|Paul Green]]<br>Steve Mills
|{{Rlp|HB}}<br />
|{{leagueicon|Easts Tigers|23}} [[Easts Tigers|Eastern Suburbs]]<br>{{leagueicon|Wests Panthers|23}} [[Wests Panthers|Western Suburbs]]
|-
|1994
|Steve Bryant
|{{Rlp|PR}}
|{{leagueicon|Past Brothers|23}} [[Past Brothers|Brothers]]
|-
|1995
|Graham Cotter
|{{Rlp|PR}}
|{{leagueicon|Redcliffe Dolphins|23}} [[Redcliffe Dolphins|Redcliffe]]
|-
|1996
|Alan Wieland
|{{Rlp|LK|SR}}
|{{leagueicon|Wests Panthers|23}} [[Wests Panthers|Western Suburbs]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081009071450/http://www.qrl.com.au/qrl_history/award_winners.php Rothmans Medal at qrl.com.au]

{{Rothmans Medallists}}
{{NRL}}

[[Category:1968 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1968]]
[[Category:Australian sports trophies and awards]]
[[Category:Rugby league trophies and awards]]
[[Category:Tobacco advertising]]
[[Category:British American Tobacco]]