In pictures: John Topp Medal awarded to top match official
Emerging talent in the match officiating ranks will from now on be honoured with the John Topp Medal, which will be awarded to the referee of the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup grand final. The medal, which was announced at an event at RLCQ last night, honours Topp, who was a former Queensland Rugby League referees high performance coordinator. Topp also provided almost 20 years of service to match officiating. This year's recipient of the John Topp Medal is Matt Gannon. Photos: Colleen Edwards / QRL
QRL chief operating officer Rohan Sawyer. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
QRL High Performance Unit referee junior rep coach Tim Rutherford. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
Matt Gannon with John Topp. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
Matt Gannon, John Topp and touch judge Cody Kwik. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
Matt Gannon, John Topp and touch judge Cody Kwik. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
John Topp, Jacob Whitehouse and Nick Pelgrave share a laugh. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
Former State of Origin referee Eddie Ward. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
QRL High Performance Unit referee head coach Shayne Hayne. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
Intrust Super Cup referee Tyson Brough was one of many to provide video messages to thank John 'Toppy' Topp. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
John Topp reads out the match officials for the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup grand final - referee Matt Gannon, touch judges Cody Kwik and Connor Wilson and standby Sam Nosworthy. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
QRL High Performance Unit referee junior rep coach Tim Rutherford. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
Referee Jack Ebert. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
QRL office manager Bec Trimble. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
Queensland Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
