Who was the first rugby league player to win the Golden Point Clive Churchill Medal?

Johnathan Thurston was the first player to win the Clive Churchill Medal in an NRL grand final decided by golden point. He received the award after North Queensland’s 17–16 victory over Brisbane in 2015.

The 2015 decider was tied 16–16 after 80 minutes, making it the first NRL grand final to use golden-point extra time. Thurston then kicked the winning field goal, securing the Cowboys’ first premiership. His performance made him both the match-winning kicker and the game’s best player by official award.

The Clive Churchill Medal is named after the former Australian fullback and is presented to the player judged best in the NRL grand final. It is not limited to the winning team in principle, although winners have generally come from the premiers. Thurston had previously won the medal in 2007.