How Harry Sunderland earned his reputation in Rugby League
Born in Queensland, Australia, Harry Sunderland’s first job was as a journalist at the fantastically named Toowoomba Chronicle. From 1913-1922 he worked as Queensland Rugby League secretary and his administration skills are credited with the growth of Rugby League in Queensland despite the First World War. In 1925, he returned to the QRL and managed the Kangaroo tours of England in 1929-30, 1933-34 and 1937-38.
He returned to England with Wigan in 1938 to take up the role of Secretary/Manager at Central Park. His salary of £400 a year with added bonus (£3 for a win, £2 for a draw). After leaving Wigan during the Second World War, he returned to journalism where he worked for the Daily Mail and the BBC as a Rugby League commentator.
Harry Sunderland Trophy Facts
Harry Sunderland Trophy at the Grand Final
Winners List
| 2021 | Grand Final | Kevin Naiqama | St. Helens |
| 2020 | Grand Final | James Roby | St. Helens |
| 2019 | Grand Final | Luke Thompson | St. Helens |
| 2018 | Grand Final | Stefan Ratchford† | Warrington |
| 2017 | Grand Final | Danny McGuire | Leeds |
| 2016 | Grand Final | Liam Farrell | Wigan |
| 2015 | Grand Final | Danny McGuire | Leeds |
| 2014 | Grand Final | James Roby | St. Helens |
| 2013 | Grand Final | Blake Green | Wigan |
| 2012 | Grand Final | Kevin Sinfield | Leeds |
| 2011 | Grand Final | Rob Burrow | Leeds |
| 2010 | Grand Final | Thomas Leuluai | Wigan |
| 2009 | Grand Final | Kevin Sinfield | Leeds |
| 2008 | Grand Final | Lee Smith | Leeds |
| 2007 | Grand Final | Rob Burrow | Leeds |
| 2006 | Grand Final | Paul Wellens | St. Helens |
| 2005 | Grand Final | Leon Pryce | Bradford |
| 2004 | Grand Final | Matt Diskin | Leeds |
| 2003 | Grand Final | Stuart Reardon | Bradford |
| 2002 | Grand Final | Paul Deacon† | Bradford |
| 2001 | Grand Final | Michael Withers | Bradford |
| 2000 | Grand Final | Chris Joynt | St. Helens |
| 1999 | Grand Final | Henry Paul† | Bradford |
| 1998 | Grand Final | Jason Robinson | Wigan |
| 1997 | Premiership Final | Andrew Farrell | Wigan |
| 1996 | Premiership Final | Andrew Farrell | Wigan |
| 1995 | Premiership Final | Kris Radlinski | Wigan |
| 1993-94 | Premiership Final | Sam Panapa | Wigan |
| 1992-93 | Premiership Final | Chris Joynt | St. Helens |
| 1991-92 | Premiership Final | Andy Platt | Wigan |
| 1990-91 | Premiership Final | Greg Mackey | Hull |
| 1989-90 | Premiership Final | Alan Tait | Widnes |
| 1988-89 | Premiership Final | Alan Tait | Widnes |
| 1987-88 | Premiership Final | David Hulme | Widnes |
| 1986-87 | Premiership Final | Joe Lydon | Wigan |
| 1985-86 | Premiership Final | Les Boyd | Warrington |
| 1984-85 | Premiership Final | Harry Pinner | St. Helens |
| 1983-84 | Premiership Final | John Dorahy | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 1982-83 | Premiership Final | Tony Myler | Widnes |
| 1981-82 | Premiership Final | Mick Burke | Widnes |
| 1980-81 | Premiership Final | Len Casey | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 1979-80 | Premiership Final | Mal Aspey | Widnes |
| 1978-79 | Premiership Final | Kevin Dick | Leeds |
| 1977-78 | Premiership Final | Bob Haigh | Bradford Northern |
| 1976-77 | Premiership Final | Geoff Pimblett | St. Helens |
| 1975-76 | Premiership Final | George Nicholls | St. Helens |
| 1974-75 | Premiership Final | Mel Mason | Leeds |
| 1973-74 | Premiership Final | Barry Philbin | Warrington |
| 1972-73 | Championship Final | Mike Stephenson | Dewsbury |
| 1971-72 | Championship Final | Terry Clawson | Leeds |
| 1970-71 | Championship Final | Bill Ashurst† | Wigan |
| 1969-70 | Championship Final | Frank Myler | St. Helens |
| 1968-69 | Championship Final | Bev Risman | Leeds |
| 1967-68 | Championship Final | Gary Cooper | Wakefield Trinity |
| 1966-67 | Championship Final | Ray Owen | Wakefield Trinity |
| 1965-66 | Championship Final | Albert Halsall | St. Helens |
| 1964-65 | Championship Final | Terry Fogerty | Halifax |
† = denotes a player who won the trophy but played on the losing team in the final.