The Rothmans Medal was the premier individual award in both the State Leagues of New South Wales and Victorian Soccer and the New South Wales Rugby League and Brisbane Rugby League competitions, and later in the Australian Rugby League, which was given to the player voted by referees as the best and fairest in those competitions for the season. The award was established in both leagues in 1968, and ran until 1997 while in soccer 1970 was its first year and it ran until 1987. The NSL took the preeminent position in soccer in 1977 and the Rothmans Medal was superseded by the Johnny Warren Medal in 1990. In 1998, with the establishment of the National Rugby League, the Rothmans Medal was replaced by the Dally M Medal as the official Player of the Year award.