The Tom Bergin Trophy was an award given to the man-of-the-match in the annual Championship Grand Final. The award is named after Tom Bergin, a former president of the Rugby League Writers' Association and former editor for the Salford City Reporter. The trophy was first awarded in the Second Division Premiership Final of the 1986–87 season.

In 1998, the Divisional Premiership final was replaced with a play-off system, and the trophy continued to be used as a man-of-the-match award for the Grand Final of the second division. The trophy was last awarded in 2014 to Martyn Ridyard.[1]

Following the introduction of the Super 8s in the 2015 season, the Championship Grand Final was replaced by the Million Pound Game, and the trophy was no longer used. Despite the reintroduction of the Grand Final in 2019, the award was not reinstated.

Recipients

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Season Recipient Team Opponent Ref
1986–87 Gary Ainsworth Swinton Hunslet
1987–88 Des Foy Oldham Featherstone Rovers
1988–89 Mark Aston Sheffield Eagles Swinton
1989–90 Mike Ford Oldham Hull Kingston Rovers
1990–91 Steve Kerry Salford Red Devils Halifax
1991–92 Daryl Powell Sheffield Eagles Oldham
1992–93 Paul Newlove Featherstone Rovers Workington Town
1993–94 Dean Marwood Workington Town London Crusaders
1994–95 Martin Wood Keighley Cougars Huddersfield
1995–96 Not awarded Not awarded Not awarded
1996 Cliff Eccles Salford Reds Keighley Cougars
1997 Craig Weston Huddersfield Giants Hull
1998 Richard Chapman Featherstone Rovers Wakefield Trinity [2]
1999 Latham Tawhai Hunslet Hawks Dewsbury Rams [2]
2000 Mick Higham Leigh Centurions Dewsbury Rams [2]
2001 Phil Cantillon Widnes Vikings Oldham [2]
2002 Chris Thorman Huddersfield Giants Leigh Centurions [2]
2003 Gavin Clinch Salford City Reds Leigh Centurions [2]
2004 Neil Turley Leigh Centurions Whitehaven [2]
2005 Brad Davis Castleford Tigers Whitehaven [2]
2006 Ben Cockayne Hull Kingston Rovers Widnes Vikings
2007 Danny Brough Castleford Tigers Widnes Vikings
2008 ?
2009 Ben Black Halifax Barrow Raiders
2010 Tommy Saxton Featherstone Rovers Halifax
2011 Liam Finn Featherstone Rovers Sheffield Eagles
2012 Michael Knowles Sheffield Eagles Featherstone Rovers
2013 Dominic Brambani Sheffield Eagles Batley Bulldogs
2014 Martyn Ridyard Leigh Centurions Featherstone Rovers [1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ridyard scoops prestigious honour". Leigh Journal. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "LHF Healthplan National League One Grand Final". sportfocus. 6 October 2006. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.