Len Brunner completing a lap of honour with the Rothmans Medal
Once again, the prestige award for First Grade players in the Brisbane Rugby League Premiership Competition was the Rothmans Gold Medal valued at $600 donated by Rothmans of Pall Mall since 1963.
Every week, in each Premiership match played, the three “Best and Fairest” players were awarded 3, 2 and 1 Points in order of merit. These points were awarded by the officiating Referee in each match, the votes sealed and the envelopes opened at the conclusion of the Third and Final Round of Club Fixtures finishing on the weekend of 21st and 22nd August.
As in previous years the attention was focused on fair play, one stringent condition of the award being that a player suspended or cautioned after being sent from the field of play was automatically eliminated from the contest.
The Rugby Leagues’ Club at Lang Park was again the venue for count-down held on Monday evening 23rd August, with a capacity crowd in attendance to witness all the excitement and drama of the big occasion.
1971 Rothmans Medallist Len Brunner surrounded by the Wynnum Manly Cheergirls
A tense atmosphere was evident, as the envelopes were opened, checked and the votes announced progressively over the Public Address System which was relayed to all section, of the Club. Each vote was recorded on a large scoreboard, to the accompaniment of pithy comment by Compere Billy J. Smith of Colour Radio 4IP. The count concluded at 8.45 p.m. (105 minutes) with 89 players receiving votes compared with 93 in 1970.
Wynnum-Manly forward Len Brunner was announced the winner of the fourth Rothmans Gold Medal with 24 points. The first 12 places were L. Brunner (W.-M.) 24, G Veivers (S.S.) 19, I. Thinee (Red.) 17, J. White (W.S.) 16 R. Threlfo (F.V) 15, G. Lena (Bros.) 14. W. Abdy (Bros.) 13, N. Clarke (F.V.) 11, I. Robson (W.S.) 11, P. Stapleton (N.S) 11, M. Kowal (S.S.) 11, P. Videroni (N.S.) 11.
His Excellency, The Governor of Queensland Sir Alan Mansfield, presents Len Brunner the winner of 1971 Rothmans Medal at Lang Park on August 29th
Len Brunner joins the three previous winners (Wayne Head 1968, Johnny Brown 1969, Graham Atherton 1970) on the Honour Board in the Rugby League Club. On Wednesday, 25 August 1977, Len was guest of honour at the Official Dinner held at the Rugby League Club, attended by the Hon. Sir Gordon Chalk, M.L.A., Deputy Premier of Queensland and other parliamentary colleagues, Mr. Percy Tucker, M.L.A., representing the Opposition, The Lord Mayor of Brisbane. Alderman Clem Jones. Mr., Rod Foster, Rothmans Queensland Sales Manager and also Rugby League Officials, Dignitaries and Representatives of Press, Radio and Television.
The following Sunday, 29th August. His Excellency, The Governor of Queensland, Sir Alan Mansfield. K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., officially presented Len with the Gold Medal, in the company of Mr. Barry Shepherd, their State Manager of Rothmans and Mr. Bill Hunter, President of the Brisbane Rugby League.
Story Source: BRL Annual Report 1971
Photo Sources: Brunner Family Collection
