The history of the Paul Broughton Medal

Named after Gold Coast Titans inaugural chairman and rugby league icon Paul Broughton OAM, the annual player of the year medal recognises outstanding individual playing performances round by round throughout the regular NRL season.

Judged by the coaching staff, a 3-2-1 vote is awarded at the conclusion of each weekly fixture and the player with the highest number of votes at season's end is bestowed with the prestigious honour.

Forward enforcer Luke Bailey holds the honour as the most awarded player, having won the medal in 2007, 2010 and 2011; closely followed by Ryan James who has won two, as well as current captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui with back-to-back awards in the past two years.

Bailey shared the medal in the Titans' inaugural season with Gold Coast general manager of football Anthony Laffranchi.

Moeaki Fotuaika and Brian Kelly are the only two current Titans to have won the honour - the prop winning the award as a teenager in 2019, storming to victory and holding off a raft of experienced teammates, whilst Kelly was rewarded for his influence in the club's famous final five game triumph in 2020.

Anthony Don is the only winger to win the medal, with Titans leading try scorer claiming the award in 2017.

History shows that forwards traditionally poll well, with eight from the pack claiming the gong (Bailey, Laffranchi, Nate Myles, Greg Bird, Luke Douglas, Ryan James, Fotuaika and Fa'asuamaleaui), while two hookers have also won (Nathan Friend and Beau Falloon).

Kelly became just the third member of the backline to claim best and fairest honours, joining Don and Preston Campbell (2008) in the history books.

Who will win in 2023? 

Can Fa'asuamaleaui become the first player to win the top gong three years in a row, will Fotuaika clinch his second title or will the club see a new champion emerge?

Keep up-to-date with the night via the Titans' live blog here.

Past winners