{"id":400130,"date":"2026-01-08T17:03:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T17:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/400130\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T17:03:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T17:03:29","slug":"nrl-world-heartbroken-after-death-of-much-loved-icon-joyce-churchill-aged-99","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/400130\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL world heartbroken after death of much-loved icon Joyce Churchill, aged 99"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tributes are flowing for NRL<\/a> icon Joyce Churchill who has died at the age of 99.<\/p>\n

The ARLC and the NRL issued a statement yesterday, saying they were \u201cdeeply saddened\u201d by Joyce\u2019s death who was a \u201cstaunch and passionate supporter of rugby league\u201d.<\/p>\n

Joyce was the wife of rugby league legend Clive Churchill \u2014 who has the NRL\u2019s medal for best on ground in a grand final named after him.<\/p>\n

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Clive, a champion fullback who was one of the four original Immortals, died in 1985.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe legacy of the Clive Churchill Medal will live on thanks to the extraordinary contributions of Clive and Joyce Churchill,\u201d the NRL said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe send our deepest condolences to Joyce Churchill\u2019s family and friends, as well as those who were touched by her generosity and support.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SamSam Burgess receives the Clive Churchill medal from Joyce after the 2014 grand final. Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

In 2014, Joyce Churchill presented the Clive Churchill Medal for the last time to Sam Burgess after his grand final heroics (he played almost the entire game with a badly broken cheek-bone and eye-socket).<\/p>\n

The match is famous as it broke a 43-year premiership drought for the Churchill club, the Rabbitohs.<\/p>\n

In an emotional touch, Joyce wore the red and green pork-pie hat that was worn by Clive in grand finals when he was coaching South Sydney.<\/p>\n

In a statement, the South Sydney Rabbitohs said they were also in \u201cdeep mourning\u201d after Joyce\u2019s death, who carried the historic name \u2018Churchill\u2019 with \u201cdignity and grace\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cMrs Churchill was the wife of former Rabbitohs fullback, Clive \u2018The Little Master\u2019 Churchill, who many believe is still the best player that has ever played the greatest game of all,\u201d the club said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMrs Churchill was born Joyce Ivy Martin on 24 November 1926 and lived a remarkable life for almost a full century. The couple were married on 31 January 1959 in the registrar general\u2019s office, Sydney, and had a son, Rodney Churchill, who also played lower grades for the Rabbitohs in 1978, as a winger.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer husband passed away in 1985 after a courageous battle with cancer. His funeral at St Mary\u2019s Cathedral featured a coffin draped in a Rabbitohs jersey, which drew thousands of mourners.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Clive Churchill Medal has been awarded to the best player in grand finals since 1986.<\/p>\n

And Joyce has been on stage to proudly present the medal on many occasions.<\/p>\n

After she stood down from medal duties, her son, Rodney, then presented it for a number of years.<\/p>\n

Joyce was inducted as a South Sydney Football Club life member in 2006.<\/p>\n

Rabbitohs chairman, Nick Pappas, said: \u201cToday, our club is in deep mourning for a woman who carried the historic name \u2018Churchill\u2019 with dignity and grace.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will always remember Joyce as a woman of great humility and principle who cherished the club her late husband Clive will always be synonymous with.<\/p>\n

\u201cPersonally, I regard the moment I pinned a life member\u2019s badge on Joyce\u2019s lapel as one of the special highlights, indeed privileges, of my term as chairman of our great club. We will miss you, Joyce.\u201d<\/p>\n

The club said: \u201cOn behalf of everyone connected with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, we offer our deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mrs Joyce Churchill.\u201d<\/p>\n

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