NRL fans debate Wally Lewis detail after Angus Crichton's State of Origin heroics for NSW

NRL fans are questioning whether the Wally Lewis Medal should have a more neutral name after NSW player Angus Crichton won the gong named after a Queensland legend on Wednesday night. The player of the series in State of Origin is awarded the Wally Lewis Medal, and the great man presents the award every year.

But fans were left wondering on Wednesday night whether the honour should be named after a NSW legend as well. The medal is named after Wally Lewis because the Maroons champion has the most man of the match awards in Origin history.

But it made for slightly jarring scenes when Crichton won the prestigious medal named after a Queensland icon. The issue hasn't been raised over the last few years because the medal went to a Queensland player in 2022 and 2023.

But when Crichton won it on Wednesday night, it had many questioning why a NSW legend's name isn't also on the medal. There's no doubt Crichton wouldn't have felt any less honoured, but surely Lewis would have preferred to be handing it to a Maroons player.

Some suggested Blues greats Peter Sterling or Benny Elias should share the honour with Lewis, or modern day greats like Andrew Johns or Brad Fittler. "I still hate that the player of the series gets the Wally Lewis medal. Why wouldn't it be named after a state legend from both sides?" one person wrote on social media.

Another person wrote: "Absolutely ridiculous. No NSWelshman in their right mind wants a Wally Lewis medal. Moronic decision by the NRL that." While a third commented: "Wally Lewis medal can't really have that same impact for Blues players, even given the name and achievements behind it." However others argued it should remain due to Lewis' accomplishments in the Origin arena - which haven't been matched to the same extent by a NSW player.

Angus Crichton's incredible bounce back to State of Origin hero

Crichton's triumph as player of the Origin series marked an incredible redemption for the Sydney Roosters forward. Crichton opened up on being diagnosed with bipolar disorder last year after he suffered a horrible dip in form, and he started this season in reserve grade.

But he has since bounced back in a big way and is arguably the form second-rower of the NRL competition. He had another stormer on Wednesday night, but he admitted he thought he might have broken his neck in a tackle on Reece Walsh that went wrong in the opening minutes.

"I almost broke my neck. It was pretty sore. My head was fine and I didn't have a concussion at all, but I crunched my neck pretty badly," Crichton said after the game. "At the time I thought I had properly injured it.

"I felt shooting pain in my neck which is never a good sign, but there was no way I was missing out on that game. I had to nurse it through the rest of the game. I was happy to get through the rest of the game."

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Crichton was forced to leave the ground for a concussion test, but terrorised the Queensland defence when he came back on. "I was pissed off (when ordered off for the HIA) because, without sounding arrogant, I felt like I was in a mood and ready to go," he said.

"My job was to try and get at [Daly Cherry-Evans], and get quick play-the-balls around those guys. I have a lot of respect for that bloke, I played Aussies with him, he's a champion player and bloke, but it's nice to finally get one over him.

"I've come a long way. I need to keep going now. You play footy for these moments. (My partner Chloe) has been my rock. It's the first time I've been with someone who has helped me become the best version of myself. The first game she came to was the World Cup final (in 2022) ... she's gone from there, to reserve grade at Henson Park, she's stuck by me through it all."

with AAP