Karyn Murphy Medal to be awarded to women’s grand final player of the match
JUST as the name Clive Churchill is etched in men’s rugby league history, with his name on the medal awarded to the best on ground on grand final day, so too will the name Karyn Murphy live on.
Women's sport
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JUST as the name Clive Churchill is etched in men’s rugby league history, with his name on the medal awarded to the best on ground on grand final day, so too will the name Karyn Murphy live on.
An emotional Murphy was told on Monday that the best player in this year’s inaugural NRL Women’s Premiership grand final would receive the Karyn Murphy Medal.
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One of the women’s game’s greatest players and a pioneer for it to be where it is today, Murphy was honoured to have her name gracing the medal but also aware of others who had given so much to rugby league as well.
“Obviously I’m truly humbled to have that recognition,” Murphy said.
“It is a huge honour and I know the significance of the medal with the Clive Churchill, such an icon of the game. To have my name on the women’s Premiership medal is just very special.
“But I do feel uncomfortable, if you like, that it is my name on the medal with the huge history that has been behind the women’s game that not a lot of people know about the amazing players who have played the game.
“In that way, I guess I do feel a little bit uneasy that it can only be one. But a huge honour that I have got it.”
The naming of the medal went through a stringent voting process. Fourteen former Jillaroos who had played at least 15 Tests gave an initial 3, 2, 1 vote for who they thought should have the award named after them.
From there, the top five were put to an independent panel made up of men and women who have played and still have an active role in the women’s game.
They discussed each candidate then did a vote themselves, with Murphy the clear winner.
Murphy, a former police officer who now works with the NRL’s integrity unit, was overjoyed to see how far the game has come from her playing days and marks the Jillaroos’ first World Cup win in 2013 as the turning point and foundation for the semi-professional league that starts on Saturday.
She looks forward to grand final day in October when she will be able to award the first ever Karyn Murphy Medal recipient.
“I know how emotional I was (when I was told) so I can only imagine that it will be a really emotional day to see the girls and also have the opportunity to have that medal on the player of the match.”