{{Short description|Trophy in rugby league during Challenge Cup}} {{infobox sports award | name = Lance Todd Trophy | image = Lance todd trophy logo.gif | imagesize = | caption = | description = Challenge Cup <br/>Final man of the match | presenter = Reds Devils Association | country = United Kingdom | year = 1945–46 | mostrecent = Jack Farrimond<ref>{{cite web |title=French's cup return 'had been planned for a while' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cvgzylqw0wzo |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2026}}</ref> | website = }} The '''Lance Todd Trophy''' is a trophy in rugby league, awarded to man of the match in the annual Challenge Cup Final.<ref name="rfllance">{{cite web |url= http://www.rugby-league.com/the_rfl/about_the_rfl/history__heritage/lance_todd_trophy |publisher= Rugby Football League |title=Lance Todd Trophy |author=RFL |access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref>
Introduced in 1945–46, the trophy was named in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War.<ref>{{cite web|title=The History Of Rugby League|url=http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/rugby/superleague/history.php|work=Rugby League Information|publisher=napit.co.uk|access-date=2 January 2014}}</ref> After Todd's death a fund, the Lance Todd memorial Trophy Fund, was established by Australian journalist and rugby league official Harry Sunderland.<ref name=RLJ68>{{Cite journal|last=Morris|first=Graham|date=Autumn 2019|title=Lance Todd Trophy; the first decade of awards: 1946-1956|journal=Rugby League Journal|issue=68|pages=24}}</ref> The trophy's winner is selected by the members of the Rugby League Writers' Association present at the game. Until 1957 there was no permanent trophy, instead the winner was given a cash prize with which to buy themselves a memento.<ref name=RLJ68/> In 1956 the Red Devils Association, the official body representing ex-Salford players, decided to pay for a permanent trophy to be awarded to the winner and the first recipient of the new trophy was Jeff Stevenson in 1957.<ref name=RLJ68/> The trophy is presented at a celebratory dinner at the Salford Community Stadium, home of the Salford Red Devils. As of 2026, no Salford player has won this award.<ref name="rfllance"/>
The first winner of the trophy was Wakefield Trinity {{rlp|CE}}, Billy Stott in 1945–46.<ref name="rfllance"/><ref name="bbclance">{{cite news |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/6954237.stm |publisher= BBC |title=Lance Todd Trophy winners |author=BBC Sport |date=2008-08-26 |access-date=2009-05-08}}</ref> St. Helens' Sean Long made history in 2006 becoming the first player to win the Lance Todd Trophy three times, having won in 2001 and 2004. Long's record was equalled by Warrington's Marc Sneyd in 2025,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Willacy |first1=Gavin |title=Marc Sneyd won his personal battle but Warrington lost the cup final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2025/jun/09/marc-sneyd-lance-todd-trophy-warrington-lost-cup-final-hull-kr |publisher=The Guardian |date=9 June 2025}}</ref> having previously won the trophy with Hull F.C. in 2016 and 2017. Four players have won the trophy twice: Warrington's Gerry Helme in 1949–50 and 1953–54; Wigan's Andy Gregory in 1987–88 and 1989–90; and Martin Offiah in 1991–92 and 1993–94; St. Helens' Paul Wellens in 2007 (jointly) and 2008. Sneyd and Wellens are the only players to win the award in consecutive finals.
Halifax's former Australian international fullback Graham Eadie and Wigan's 1984-85 Australian import stand-off Brett Kenny are the only players to win both the Lance Todd Trophy and the Clive Churchill Medal as the player of the match in the Sydney Premiership Grand Final. Eadie won the Lance Todd in 1986–87 and was (retrospectively) twice awarded the Churchill after Manly-Warringah's premiership wins in 1976 and 1978 while 1984–85 trophy winner Kenny was retrospectively awarded the Churchill for Parramatta's Grand Final wins in 1982 and 1983.
The first player to win the trophy on the losing side was Frank Whitcombe of Bradford Northern in the 1947–48 final against Wigan; he was also the first forward to win the award. Robbie Paul, Gary Connolly, Kevin Sinfield, Niall Evalds, Chris McQueen and Marc Sneyd have all won the award since 1996, despite each of them finishing on the losing side.
The youngest player to win the trophy was Huddersfield's Peter Ramsden who won it on his 19th birthday in 1952–53.<ref>{{Cite news | last = news.bbc.co.uk | title = Cup final facts | work = BBC Sport | place = UK | publisher = BBC | date = 11 May 2004 | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/3705131.stm | access-date = 6 March 2011}}</ref>
The trophy has been shared on two occasions, first in 1964–65 by Ray Ashby (Wigan) and Brian Gabbitas (Hunslet), and most recently in 2007 by St Helens duo Paul Wellens and Leon Pryce.
==Winners== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Season !! Recipient !! Team !! Position |- |1945–46 | Billy Stott | {{leagueicon|Wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity | {{rlp|CE}} |- |1946–47 | Willie Davies | {{leagueicon|Bradford|16}} Bradford Northern | {{rlp|SO}} |- |1947–48 | Frank Whitcombe † | {{leagueicon|Bradford|16}} Bradford Northern | {{rlp|PR}} |- |1948–49 | Ernest Ward | {{leagueicon|Bradford|16}} Bradford Northern | {{rlp|CE}} |- |1949–50 | Gerry Helme | {{leagueicon|Warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1950–51 | Cec Mountford | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|SO}} |- |1951–52 | Billy Ivison | {{leagueicon|Workington|16}} Workington Town | {{rlp|LF}} |- |1952–53 | Peter Ramsden | {{leagueicon|Huddersfield|16}} Huddersfield Giants | {{rlp|SO}} |- |1953–54 | Gerry Helme | {{leagueicon|Warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1954–55 | Jack Grundy | {{leagueicon|Barrow|16}} Barrow Raiders | {{rlp|SR}} |- |1955–56 | Alan Prescott | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|PR}} |- |1956–57 | Jeff Stevenson | {{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1957–58 | Rees Thomas | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1958–59 | Brian McTigue | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|SR}} |- |1959–60 | Tommy Harris † | {{leagueicon|Hull|16}} Hull F.C. | {{rlp|HK}} |- |1960–61 | Dick Huddart | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|SR}} |- |1961–62 | Neil Fox | {{leagueicon|Wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity | {{rlp|CE}} |- |1962–63 | Harold Poynton | {{leagueicon|Wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity | {{rlp|SO}} |- |1963–64 | Frank Collier | {{leagueicon|Widnes|16}} Widnes Vikings | {{rlp|PR}} |- | rowspan=2|1964–65 | Ray Ashby | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|FB}} |- | Brian Gabbitas † | {{leagueicon|Hunslet|16}} Hunslet | {{rlp|SO}} |- |1965–66 | Len Killeen | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|WG}} |- |1966–67 | Carl Dooler | {{leagueicon|Featherstone|16}} Featherstone Rovers | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1967–68 | Don Fox † | {{leagueicon|Wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity | {{rlp|PR}} |- |1968–69 | Mal Reilly | {{leagueicon|Castleford|16}} Castleford Tigers | {{rlp|LF}} |- |1969–70 | Bill Kirkbride | {{leagueicon|Castleford|16}} Castleford Tigers | {{rlp|SR}} |- |1970–71 | Alex Murphy | {{leagueicon|Leigh|16}} Leigh Centurions | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1971–72 | Kel Coslett | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|LF}} |- |1972–73 | Steve Nash | {{leagueicon|Featherstone|16}} Featherstone Rovers | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1973–74 | Derek Whitehead | {{leagueicon|Warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves | {{rlp|FB}} |- |1974–75 | Ray Dutton | {{leagueicon|Widnes|16}} Widnes Vikings | {{rlp|FB}} |- |1975–76 | Geoff Pimblett | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|FB}} |- |1976–77 | Steve Pitchford | {{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | {{rlp|PR}} |- |1977–78 | George Nicholls † | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|PR}} |- |1978–79 | David Topliss † | {{leagueicon|Wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity | {{rlp|SO}} |- |1979–80 | Brian Lockwood | {{leagueicon|Hull KR|16}} Hull Kingston Rovers | {{rlp|PR}} |- |1980–81 | Mick Burke | {{leagueicon|Widnes|16}} Widnes Vikings | {{rlp|FB}} |- |1981–82 | Eddie Cunningham † | {{leagueicon|Widnes|16}} Widnes Vikings | {{rlp|CE}} |- |1982–83 | David Hobbs | {{leagueicon|Featherstone|16}} Featherstone Rovers | {{rlp|SR}} |- |1983–84 | Joe Lydon | {{leagueicon|Widnes|16}} Widnes Vikings | {{rlp|CE}} |- |1984–85 | Brett Kenny | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|SO}} |- |1985–86 | Bob Beardmore | {{leagueicon|Castleford|16}} Castleford Tigers | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1986–87 | Graham Eadie | {{leagueicon|Halifax|16}} Halifax | {{rlp|FB}} |- |1987–88 | Andy Gregory | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1988–89 | Ellery Hanley | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|LF}} |- |1989–90 | Andy Gregory | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|FB}} |- |1990–91 | Denis Betts | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|SR}} |- |1991–92 | Martin Offiah | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|WG}} |- |1992–93 | Dean Bell | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|LF}} |- |1993–94 | Martin Offiah | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|WG}} |- |1994–95 | Jason Robinson | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|WG}} |- |1996 | Robbie Paul† | {{leagueicon|Bradford|16}} Bradford Bulls | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1997 | Tommy Martyn | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|SO}} |- |1998 | Mark Aston | {{leagueicon|Sheffield|16}} Sheffield Eagles | {{rlp|SH}} |- |1999 | Leroy Rivett | {{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | {{rlp|WG}} |- |2000 | Henry Paul | {{leagueicon|Bradford|16}} Bradford Bulls | {{rlp|SO}} |- |2001 | Sean Long | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|SO}} |- |2002 | Kris Radlinski | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|FB}} |- |2003 | Gary Connolly † | {{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | {{rlp|FB}} |- |2004 | Sean Long | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|SO}} |- |2005 | Kevin Sinfield † | {{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | {{rlp|LF}} |- |2006 | Sean Long | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|SH}} |- | rowspan=2| 2007 | Paul Wellens | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|FB}} |- | Leon Pryce | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|SO}} |- | 2008 | Paul Wellens | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | {{rlp|FB}} |- | 2009 | Michael Monaghan | {{leagueicon|Warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves | {{rlp|HK}} |- | 2010 | Lee Briers | {{leagueicon|Warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves | {{rlp|SO}} |- | 2011 | Jeff Lima | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|PR}} |- | 2012 | Brett Hodgson | {{leagueicon|Warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves | {{rlp|FB}} |- | 2013 | Matty Smith | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|SH}} |- | 2014 | Ryan Hall | {{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | {{rlp|WG}} |- | 2015 | Tom Briscoe | {{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | {{rlp|WG}} |- | 2016 | Marc Sneyd | {{leagueicon|Hull|16}} Hull F.C. | {{rlp|SH}} |- |2017 | Marc Sneyd | {{leagueicon|Hull|16}} Hull F.C. | {{rlp|SH}} |- |2018 | Tony Gigot | {{leagueicon|Catalans|16}} Catalans Dragons | {{rlp|FB}} |- |2019 |Daryl Clark |{{leagueicon|Warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves | {{rlp|HK}} |- |2020 |Richie Myler |{{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | {{rlp|FB}} |- |2021 |Niall Evalds † |{{leagueicon|castleford|16}} Castleford Tigers | {{rlp|FB}} |- |2022 |Chris McQueen † |{{leagueicon|huddersfield|16}} Huddersfield Giants | {{rlp|SR}} |- |2023 |Lachlan Lam |{{leagueicon|Leigh|16}} Leigh Leopards | {{rlp|SH}} |- | 2024 | Bevan French | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|SO}} |- | 2025 | Marc Sneyd † | {{leagueicon|Warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves | {{rlp|SH}} |- | 2026 | Jack Farrimond | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | {{rlp|SO}} |}
† = Won Lance Todd Trophy whilst on losing team
===Awards by club=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9;" ! Club ! Number of winners |- | {{leagueicon|Barrow|16}} Barrow Raiders | 1 |- | {{leagueicon|Bradford|16}} Bradford Bulls | 4 |- | {{leagueicon|Castleford|16}} Castleford Tigers | 4 |- | {{leagueicon|Catalans|16}} Catalans Dragons | 2{{efn|name="Joint07"}} |- | {{leagueicon|Featherstone|16}} Featherstone Rovers | 3 |- | {{leagueicon|Halifax|16}} Halifax | 1 |- | {{leagueicon|Hunslet|16}} Hunslet | 1{{efn|name="Joint65"}} |- | {{leagueicon|Hull|16}} Hull F.C. | 3 |- | {{leagueicon|Hull KR|16}} Hull Kingston Rovers | 1 |- | {{leagueicon|Huddersfield|16}} Huddersfield Giants | 4 |- | {{leagueicon|Leeds|16}} Leeds Rhinos | 8 |- | {{leagueicon|Leigh|16}} Leigh Leopards | 2 |- | {{leagueicon|Sheffield|16}} Sheffield Eagles | 1 |- | {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St Helens | 12{{efn|name="Joint07"|includes joint award in 2007}} |- | {{leagueicon|Wakefield|16}} Wakefield Trinity | 4 |- | {{leagueicon|Warrington|16}} Warrington Wolves | 8 |- | {{leagueicon|Widnes|16}} Widnes Vikings | 5 |- | {{leagueicon|Wigan|16}} Wigan Warriors | 19{{efn|name="Joint65"|includes joint award in 1965}} |- | {{leagueicon|Workington|16}} Workington Town | 1 |}
===Winners by playing position=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9;" ! Position ! Number of winners |- | {{rlp|CE}} | 5 |- | {{rlp|FB}} | 15{{efn|name="Joint07"}}{{efn|name="Joint65"}} |- | {{rlp|HK}} | 3 |- | {{rlp|LF}} | 6 |- | {{rlp|PR}} | 8 |- | {{rlp|SH}} | 17 |- | {{rlp|SR}} | 7 |- | {{rlp|SO}} | 15{{efn|name="Joint07"}}{{efn|name="Joint65"}} |- | {{rlp|WG}} | 7 |}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==See also== *Harry Sunderland Trophy *Man of Steel Award *Clive Churchill Medal
==References== {{reflist}} * ''[http://wigan.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=990 Lance Todd Wigan Career Page] on the Wigan RL Fansite''.
{{Lance Todd Trophy winners}} {{Challenge Cup}}
Category:Challenge Cup finals Category:Rugby league trophies and awards