Until last season, the winning player was awarded the Harry Sunderland Trophy, but earlier this month the governing body announced that, from this season, the player of the match will instead be presented with the Rob Burrow Award.
The Harry Sunderland Trophy was first awarded in 1965 following Sunderland’s death the previous year. The award was made at the behest of the then members of the Rugby League Writers’ Association.
In the 1965 Championship Final, Halifax overcame Wigan, and Terry Fogerty, Adam’s father, who was a Halifax player, was the first recipient of the medal.
After following a successful heavyweight boxing career in which he won 18 of 19 matches, his son, who also played for Warrington, Halifax, and St Helens, feels that the manner the choice was made has essentially disregarded the award’s history.
Adam Fogerty writes in a letter to this newspaper, “It has surprised me to learn that the Harry Sunderland Trophy has been renamed virtually overnight with very little apparent consultation. I don’t believe that Mr. Sunderland or his remaining family members have been contacted.”
“The proper method for affixing Rob’s name on the trophy is have been to announce that the Rob Burrow Award will take its place the next season and that this will be the final year the Harry Sunderland Trophy is given out, retiring it with grace during that season.
The Harry Sunderland Trophy may have been retired from the pitch and the new Rob Burrow trophy could have been passed over at a handover ceremony attended by as many previous winners of the award as possible.
“In my opinion, this decision demonstrates a lack of respect for our game’s history and the previous players that have won this award by merely announcing what amounts to a name change and not giving it the recognition it deserves.”
“I am incredibly impressed by Rob and the amazing ways he and Kevin Sinfield are raising awareness and funds to combat the devastating effects of MND.
It’s not about Rob in this. This relates to the choice to retire the Harry Sunderland Trophy from circulation and the way it was revealed in a hurried and, in my opinion, disrespectful manner towards the great players who have truly established its heritage and reputation as the prize for the best individual performance in the largest game in sports.
“So, before it’s too late, please make this right and give the Harry Sunderland Trophy and the 52 outstanding players who have won this honour their due respect.”
Leave a Reply