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25-692: 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 . After Todd's death a fund, the Lance Todd memorial Trophy Fund, was established by Australian journalist and rugby league official Harry Sunderland . The trophy's winner is selected by the members of the Rugby League Writers' Association present at

50-584: A tailor by trade. His father was John Todd who was a well known sporting identity in the Ōtāhuhu area, particularly in horse racing. At the time of his death in October, 1920 he was the vice president of the Otahuhu Trotting Club. Originally he played rugby union in the Ōtāhuhu area, with his senior debut being for the Suburbs club. They were a side made up of players who lived outside

75-603: A try in the 21–5 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1912 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1912–13 season at Weaste , Salford , on Wednesday 11 December 1912. At the end of the 1908–09 Northern Rugby Football Union season Todd played at centre in Wigan's victory over Oldham in the Championship Final. He was also a member of the first Wigan Rugby League Challenge Cup Final line-up, which they lost to Broughton Rangers in 1911. The Auckland Rugby League

100-623: A 10-mile radius of the city centre and struggled to practice for obvious reasons. They did often train in Otahuhu however. Todd joined the City club in 1905 and then moved to the Parnell club in 1906. He first made the Auckland side in 1905, making his debut against Hawke's Bay on 12 August where he scored a try and kicked 2 conversions in their win. In 1906 despite joining the Parnell club he went on

125-497: A formidable and successful team. During the 1930s Salford won three League Championships , five Lancashire League Championships, four Lancashire Cups , and was the coach in Salford 's 7–4 victory over Barrow in the 1938 Challenge Cup Final during the 1937–38 season at Wembley Stadium , London , in front of a crowd of 51,243.. He stayed at Salford until August 1940 when club directors decided not to renew his contract whilst

150-563: A two divisional system. This lasted only two years, and in the 1964–65 season they returned to one large division subdivided into county leagues. The play-offs were expanded to the top 16 teams and the Harry Sunderland Trophy was introduced as the man-of-the-match award for the decider. In the 1973–74 season they once again went back to two divisions. The play-off and the Yorkshire and Lancashire League were abandoned, and

175-573: A verdict of "accidental death". During World War II Todd was serving as a commandant to the Salford section of the Home Guard but it would be on a return home from duty in Oldham that the accident happened. A car he was driving swerved to avoid a collision with a tram, but crashed into a lamppost. Todd died along with his colleague Colonel Frank Sewell in the front passenger seat. Two passengers in

200-918: The Salford Community Stadium , home of the Salford Red Devils . As of 2023, no Salford player has won this award. The first winner of the trophy was Wakefield Trinity Centre , Billy Stott in 1945–46. 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. Five 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; Hull FC's Marc Sneyd in 2016 and 2017. Sneyd and Wellens are

225-402: The 1901–02 season, when the top clubs from each league resigned and formed a single new competition. The following season the remaining clubs in the Yorkshire and Lancashire Leagues were re-organised to form a second division . In 1905–06 the two divisions were re-combined into a single competition. Clubs played all the teams in their own county on a home-and-away basis, results counting towards

250-524: The 4 match City tour of Sydney where he played in 3 matches against Sydney University, Glebe, and South Sydney. Later in the year he played in a match for City Oddfellows (Manchester Unity town Oddfellows) against Goldfield Oddfellows. Todd was a member of the Franklin Lodge along with his brothers. He did not make the All Blacks but this was due to the tremendous talent in front of him and he

275-607: 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 and Chris McQueen have all won

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300-553: 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. 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 Paul Wellens ( St Helens ) and Leon Pryce ( Catalans Dragons ). † = Won Lance Todd Trophy whilst on losing team Lance Todd Lancelot Beaumont "Lance" Todd (26 May 1883 – 14 November 1942)

325-463: The captaincy, and he became an outstanding centre, making 186 appearances for the club. He was later joined by fellow tourist Massa Johnston and All Black Charlie Seeling . Lance Todd played at centre in Wigan 's 10–9 victory over Oldham in the 1908 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1908–09 season at Wheater's Field , Broughton , on Saturday 19 December 1908, and played at centre and scored

350-597: The country was at war with Germany. In 1933, as well his work at Salford, he became the Rugby League commentator for BBC Radio . "Mr Lance B. Todd presents running commentary on....." the rugby league game of the day was very common in the Radio listings during the 1930s. Lance Todd married Amy B. Samuels on 7 May 1911 at the Wigan Parish Church. Her father was Charles Samuels who was deceased prior to

375-555: The county title. In 1914, he transferred, unexpectedly, to Dewsbury for a fee of £450 – a huge fee at the time, (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £139,900 in 2013). He left Dewsbury during the First World War to serve with the ANZACs . In 1928 he became the team manager at Salford , achieving legendary status. Salford were close to folding when he joined but his management turned them into

400-485: The game. Until 1957 there was no permanent trophy, instead the winner was given a cash prize with which to buy themselves a memento. 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. The trophy is presented at a celebratory dinner at

425-577: 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

450-488: The re-formed Yorkshire and Lancashire Leagues. They also organised inter-county fixtures on an individual basis; all results were collated into a single table for the Championship. In order to even up the competition a top-four play-off series was used to determine the Championship. Apart from the interventions of the two world wars , this system was retained until the 1962–63 season, when the league briefly returned to

475-731: The rear seats of the car survived. Todd is buried in Wigan (Ince) cemetery. His work as a manager and as a radio commentator resulted in the Lance Todd Trophy being named after him. This trophy is awarded to the man of the match in the Challenge Cup Final. In 2007 Todd was inducted as one of the New Zealand Rugby League 's inaugural "Legends of League". coach - Lance Todd ( (c) unknown ) Rugby Football League Championship The Rugby Football League Championship First Division

500-626: The tour, received a life ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union . Todd had been involved in organising the tour and served on the Management Committee. During the tour he excelled at the game of rugby league , playing in four Test matches, and scoring eight tries in all games. He was one of five players who opted to stay in Great Britain at the tour's end. He was signed by Wigan after the tour for £400 and

525-751: The wedding. Charles and had been licensee of the Crofters Arms Hotel, and had been a well known rugby player and a famous sprinter when younger. They had a daughter, Patricia Elaine Todd in 1922 who died in 2004. Later in his life he managed the Silver Grid in King Street and the Ship Hotel in Millgate prior to his appointment as manager of Salford. Todd died in a motor accident on 14 November 1942. An inquest into his death determined

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550-594: Was a New Zealand-born rugby league footballer and manager of the early 20th century. As a player, he represented New Zealand in 1907 and 1908 and played in England for the Wigan and Dewsbury clubs. He later became the manager at Salford and led the club to three League Championships and one Challenge Cup victory. Todd attended Kings College which at that time was based in Remuera , Auckland , before later relocating to Ōtāhuhu . After leaving school Todd became

575-618: Was recognised by England's Northern Rugby Football Union as New Zealand's governing body for the game of rugby league, with Lance Todd to act as their delegate in England. In 1909 he refereed Auckland's first ever official match with Taranaki on 9 August at Victoria Park . Five weeks later he refereed the return match at the Recreation Ground in New Plymouth . During November 1910, he played twice for Lancashire , when his aggregate of two tries and two goals helped seal

600-514: Was still regarded as being a special player in the Auckland scene. He made his debut for Auckland in 1905, playing in 4 matches. Despite playing in several trial matches he did not play for Auckland again in 1906 or 1907, but did play in an inter-union match in 1906 and 3 Auckland B games over the 1906-07 period. He was picked for the professional All Blacks 1907–1908 rugby tour of Great Britain and Australia and subsequently, like all members of

625-632: Was the top division of rugby league in Great Britain between 1895 and 1996, when it was replaced by the Super League . The first season of rugby league (1895–96) saw all the breakaway clubs play in a single league competition. The addition of new teams and the problems of travelling led to the league being split in two for the following season; into the Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League . This arrangement lasted until

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