title: Col Pearce Medal
text: # Col Pearce Medal
  
  The Col Pearce Medal is awarded each year (annually) to the referee judged as being the best referee over the entire National Rugby League (NRL) season in Australia.
  
  ## History
  
  The award is named after Col Pearce, who was a rugby league referee that referee'd from 1946 until 1968. He referee'd in 343 top grade matches, including 6 Grand Finals. He also referee'd in 9 Test Matches, including 3 World Cup matches. He also helped coach the referee's for much of his later life. Tony Archer has referred to him as the doyen of Referee's.
  
  The idea of a medal for best referee was created by Robert Finch, as he thought there was little recognition given to the best referee in any season.
  
  ## Winners
  
  | Year | Winner |
  | - | - |
  | 2004 | Tim Mander |
  | 2005 | Paul Simpkins |
  | 2006 | Steve Clark |
  | 2007 | Tony Archer |
  | 2008 | Tony Archer |
  | 2009 | Shayne Hayne |
  | 2010 | Tony Archer |
  | 2011 | Shayne Hayne |
  | 2012 | Ben Cummins |
  | 2013 | Shayne Hayne |
  | 2014 | Gerard Sutton |
  | 2015 | Gerard Sutton |
  | 2016 | Ben Cummins |
  | 2017 | Matt Cecchin |
  | 2018 | Gerard Sutton |
  | 2019 | Gerard Sutton |
  | 2020 | Gerard Sutton |
  
  ## Multiple Winners
  
  | Medals | Referee | Years |
  | - | - | - |
  | 5 | Gerard Sutton | 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
  | 3 | Tony Archer | 2007, 2008, 2010 |
  | 3 | Shayne Hayne | 2009, 2011, 2013 |
  | 2 | Ben Cummins | 2012, 2016 |
  