🔥 Trending Wally Lewis Medal: Origin III and the Player of the Series

The Wally Lewis Medal is an annual award presented to the player judged as the best performer in the State of Origin series, Australia's premier rugby league competition between New South Wales and Queensland ⁷. The medal was officially introduced in 2004, but the name "Wally Lewis Medal" was also used for Queensland's Player of the Origin Series from 1992 to 2003 ¹⁰. It is named after Queensland rugby league legend Wally Lewis, who was a dominant figure in the Origin arena during the 1980s ⁷.

Recent Winners of the Wally Lewis Medal

The Wally Lewis Medal is a highly prestigious individual honor in Australian rugby league. Recent recipients include:

• 2026: Nathan Cleary

New South Wales Blues halfback Nathan Cleary was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal for the Player of the Series in 2026. He silenced critics by leading NSW to a stunning series victory and was named man of the match in both Game 1 and Game 3 of the series ⁴⁵⁹. This was Cleary's first time winning the medal ⁹.

• 2025: Tom Dearden

Tom Dearden received the Wally Lewis Medal in 2025 for his outstanding performances in Games 2 and 3, helping Queensland come back from a 1-0 deficit to win the series ³⁶⁸. Dearden's selection was initially seen as a gutsy decision, but he proved his worth with a man-of-the-match performance in the decisive Game 3 ⁸.

The award recognizes consistent excellence and impact throughout the highly competitive State of Origin series ⁷.