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Congratulations to Cameron Smith for winning his second Dally M medal.
Much like his much loved Queensland colleague Johnathan Thurston, he is widely and justifiably viewed as an immortal-in-waiting, with some speculation floating about that eventually they’ll be simultaneously conferred with the immortal title – sooner rather than later.
Both of these players would be superb and unarguable conferrals. It would be hard to argue that these two players are not the best in their positions of all time.
They both have eye-wateringly successful records, and are in many cases peerless both on the park, and equally as importantly, off the park. For Cameron Smith, there’s even a rare chance to marry up the numbers. The man who has worn the number nine jersey more than any other player being made the ninth immortal is neat.
(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
But both need to wait in line. As should Darren Lockyer for that matter (whose a good chance to be the ninth as well). Mal Meninga must be the next person to be conferred with the prestigious honour.
It frankly was a disgrace when Andrew Johns became the eighth immortal ahead of him, and doubly insulting they didn’t name him one on the same night (although, please do not interpret that as suggesting Andrew Johns doesn’t deserve the honour – he of course does).
For some reason, Meninga is not referred to as an ‘immortal-in-waiting’ in the same volume as Smith and Thurston (whose immortal-in-waiting tag nearly killed me when it was a drinking phrase for Thurston this origin series).
Meninga retired in 1994 leaving a playing resume to die for. two premierships for Souths (Brisbane) in the Brisbane Rugby League, three for Canberra in the NSWRL, 32 matches for Queensland (then a record), 46 matches for Australia (then a record), triple premiership captain, world cup winning captain.
Names in Australia’s 100 greatest players, the Queensland team of the century, the Canberra ‘dream team’, South’s team of the century, Australia’s team of the century. In fact, he’s never not been in the all-time team of any team he’s played for in Australia.
That’s his playing record.
His coaching record includes nine Queensland series wins out of ten (with eight in a row), a currently unbeaten start to his Australian coaching career and is a prohibitive favourite to become the first man to captain and coach a world cup winning team. While he never was a premiership winning coach, he did shepherd the Raiders with credibility.
He’s in the rugby league hall of fame (obviously), the Australian sports hall of fame, stands are named in his honour, and medals are named in his honour. Such is his ability to accumulate records, he holds the record for the shortest lived political career. Beat that.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
It would be wrong to suggest his playing record is better compared to the other eight immortals, players such as Andrew Johns, Wally Lewis and Reg Gasnier are superior players. But none of the eight are as complete as Meninga, across club, state and national levels. None made as successful a leap into coaching as well – Johns as an example, actively seeks to avoid the responsibilities of coaching.
I don’t know when the rugby league commission intends to announce the next one. Could be next week, could be next year, could be next decade. They don’t do it often, and nor should they. Either way, a ninth immortal will be announced eventually.
It must be Mal.
By the way, Meninga, Lockyer, Thurston, Smith (Slater, Cronk)…any chance a New South Welshman can get their surname added to this list anytime soon?
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