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Every time a current player is declared a “future Immortal” by a journalist or former player, as if it is a formality, the ultimate status in rugby league becomes less important.
It’s not that we shouldn’t discuss players’ legacies, but the Immortals are the most exclusive club in sport, and should remain that way.
Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis have been labelled future Immortals for years, and in recent weeks I’ve seen Paul Gallen, Jarryd Hayne and even Wayne Bennett added to this ever burgeoning list.
It’s getting ridiculous and it needs to stop.
All are champions of the modern game, absolutely, but are they really worthy of the greatest honour in the game? Of the thousands of men who have played professional rugby league since World War II, just eight players – eight – have been named Immortals. It is the game’s highest honour, and yet today the term is bandied around like a casual compliment.
Let’s not forget that legendary footballers like Ken Irvine, Norm Provan and Mal Meninga have yet to be inducted to the Immortal pantheon. Three of the greatest to ever strap on a boot, all multiple-premiership winners, and members of the ARL Team of the Century, yet Immortality eludes them. If Paul Gallen became an Immortal, he would be like Hawkeye in The Avengers – sure, he tries hard and he’s good at what he does, but it’s kind of insulting to the rest of the group that he’s even there.
The biggest issue, of course, is that Andrew Johns was elevated too early. Don’t get me wrong, ‘Joey’ was incredible, an immense talent who achieved everything in the game and seemed destined to join the illustrious ranks of Immortality one day. But by inducting him as soon as he was eligible, it seems the selection panel have shot themselves, and the concept itself, in the foot.
Johns being inducted has virtually cut off the chances of Irvine, Provan and Meninga. So when someone describes Greg Inglis as a future Immortal, they are essentially saying that Inglis is a better player than three members of the Team of the Century. And Meninga was named at centre in the Team of the Century over two other Immortals (Graeme Langlands and Bob Fulton), so is Inglis better than them, too?
Darren Lockyer is sure to the next man elevated to Immortal status, and he too deserves to be there one day, but it seems to me that Johns’ induction has thrown the whole process out of order.
Realistically, Smith, Thurston and co. should only be discussed in relation to Immortality in about 15 years, after they’ve retired and the players who came before them have been given their dues.
Immortal status is still the greatest honour in rugby league, but it is in serious danger of being devalued and made irrelevant. Let’s not let that happen by telling every decent player in the NRL that they’re the next Wally Lewis or Reg Gasnier.
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