The next Immortal: The facts

 
Tex Redmund Roar Rookie

By , 21 Jun 2012 Tex Redmund is a Roar Rookie

Tagged:
 , , , ,

    125 Have your say

    Popular article! 2,521 reads
    The next Immortal: The facts + enlarge image

    Mal Meninga and the Maroons (AAP)

    Related coverage

    Sports Highlights

    Watch more sports news video


    Debate around the next Immortal has re-emerged and sadly become quite emotive based upon state lines. Lets try to take emotion out of the equation, and look at two players often mentioned.

    Player A – retired with the most appearances, and most points for the Australian national team, and became the top-point scorer for his State in State of Origin history.

    At a point in time, he had played most Tests for Australia (45), scored most points for Australia – 272 in tests and 551 in all matches, achieved most Kangaroo tours of Great Britain and France – four in 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994, and most Kangaroo tours as Captain – 2 in 1990 and 1994.

    Player B – is one of only two players to have won the Golden Boot Award more than once and is the only player to have won the Dally M Medal three times.

    He finished his career as the highest points scorer in Australian first grade premiership history with 2,176 points.

    From the moment he was selected in his preferred position in Origin, he was either not selected at all or overlooked in that position for another player (and being selected in a different position) on more occasions than he was selected in his preferred position.

    The data itself is pretty comparable, other than the number of occasions each player was deemed elite enough to captain their country – the highest accolade imaginable.

    Player A Player B
    Club Club
    Team Pld T G FG P Team
    Pld
    T
    G
    FG
    P
    England
    31
    28
    8
    0
    128
    		 England
    3
    1
    12
    1
    29
    Australia
    166
    74
    283
    2
    864
    		 Australia
    249
    94
    917
    22
    2176
    Total
    197
    102
    291
    2
    992
    		 Total
    252
    95
    929
    23
    2205
    Premierships
    3
    		 Premierships
    2
    Representative Representative
    Team Pld T G FG P Team Pld T G FG P
    Origin 32 6 69 0 161 Origin
    23
    4
    37
    4
    94
    Australia 46 21 96 0 272 Australia
    24
    7
    78
    0
    184
    Captain Captain
    Origin 9 Origin
    6
    Tests 23 Tests
    2

    When the achievements in text are considered however, Player A has a clear, clear advantage in regards to achievements at the highest level.

    When this is taken with the context that Player B was, from the time of his Origin debut, actually overlooked entirely or overlooked from playing in his specialist position on more occasions than he was seen as the number one player in his position – the answer becomes clear that Player A is a significantly better candidate as being the next Immortal.

    How an Immortal could so often be seen as a lesser option at the highest level in his specialist position is beyond me.

    Player A = Mal Meninga, Player B = Andrew Johns.

    For reference, Geoff Toovey and Brett Kimmorley were both often preferred to Andrew Johns at half for NSW, with Johns often selected at hooker.

    Passionate about your league? Then sign up to The Roar's brand new daily league email, delivering Roaring articles directly to you day-in, day-out. You'll love it!
    Click here to join now!

    Looking to join The Roar team? We're searching for an experienced Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. Yes, this does mean you get to work with the site all day long! If you're a digital media sales star, we want to hear from you. Apply now.