Lance Todd Trophy voting revealed - how many media selected Leeds Rhinos' Richie Myler as Challenge Cup final man of the match

Full-back Richie Myler beat Leeds Rhinos teammate and captain Luke Gale to the Challenge Cup final man of the match award by four votes.
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Myler became the 77th winner of the Lance Todd Trophy after helping Rhinos to a 17-16 victory over Salford Red Devils at Wembley.

He received 12 votes in the poll, conducted as always by members of the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Association, although on this occasion there was some online voting from those not in the stadium, because of the restrictions on media access.

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Gale, whose drop goal five minutes from the end earned his side a dramatic victory, received eight votes.

Richie Myler, right, celebrates with the Lance Todd Trophy as Richard Agar and Luke Gale show off the Challenge Cup. Picture by Mike Egerton PA.Richie Myler, right, celebrates with the Lance Todd Trophy as Richard Agar and Luke Gale show off the Challenge Cup. Picture by Mike Egerton PA.
Richie Myler, right, celebrates with the Lance Todd Trophy as Richard Agar and Luke Gale show off the Challenge Cup. Picture by Mike Egerton PA.

The other players to receive votes were Leeds’ two-try winger Ash Handley and Salford full-back Niall Evalds, who each had two nominations.

While Myler became the eighth Leeds player to win the Lance Todd Trophy, after Jeff Stevenson (1957), Steve Pitchford (1977), Leroy Rivett (1999), Gary Connolly (2003), Kevin Sinfield (2005), Ryan Hall (2014) and Tom Briscoe (2015).

The award was introduced in 1946 in tribute to New Zealander Lance Todd who had come to England as a Wigan player, but became the driving off-field force of the Salford club in the pre-War years, culminating in their only Wembley win.

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He was killed in a road accident during World War Two at the age of 59. Recipients were originally given cash with which to purchase their own memento, until in 1956 the Red Devils Association, which represents ex-Salford players, decided to pay for a permanent trophy.

Leeds' Stevenson of Leeds was the first recipient in 1957.

No Salford player has ever won the award.

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