In my humble opinoin, Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns is the greatest rugby league player of all time. With such a lofty assessment of his ability and career, it will therefore come as no shock to read that I believe he should be nominated as a rugby league Immortal.
The Immortals are named by the code’s respected Rugby League Week magazine and recognise Australia’s best players of all time.
There are presently seven Immortals: Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Graeme Langlands, Wally Lewis and Arthur Beetson.
A meeting of eighteen rugby-league powerbrokers, including the living Immortals, will tomorrow decide the eighth member of the exclusive club.
That player will then be announced at the Men of League Gala Dinner during the week of the 2012 NRL grand final.
According to reports, there are three clear candidates: Norm Provan, Mal Meninga and Andrew Johns.
I never saw Provan play and therefore cannot comment on whether or not he is worthy of earning rugby-league’s highest honour.
However, there is a question one has to ask: if Provan was great enough to be considered an Immortal, why wasn’t he included 31 years ago when the Immortals concept was first established?
Seeing as Provan’s last playing year was in 1965, he was either dudded for inaugural selection in 1981 or the standards for inductions are being lowered.
If it’s the former, Provan should be inducted immediately, without further discussion or vote. If it is the latter, then I’m afraid he should miss out once again.
That leaves us to discuss the other favourites for selection, Mal Meninga and Andrew Johns.
These are two players I have watched a lot of and therefore feel more comfortable discussing the merits of their potential selection.
Personally, I think both Meninga and Johns should become Immortals.
I have no idea why just one player will be inducted.
Of the seven Immortals, only Beetson went in alone with four players selected in 1981 and two more in 1999. So why can’t two more be added?
Meninga fears his relationship with the media, specifically in New South Wales, will count against him come vote time. However, a look at the judges indicates he doesn’t have as much to worry about as first thought, barring a few obvious exceptions.
Along with the five living Immortals – Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, John Raper, Graeme Langlands and Wally Lewis – there will be thirteen other individuals that deliberate over the candidates.
These are Wayne Bennett, Ray Warren, John Grant, David Middleton, Ray Hadley, Phil Rothfield, Roy Masters, Geoff Prenter, Ian Heads, Norman Tasker, Tony Durkin, Martin Lenehan and Mitchell Dale.
I think Meninga will have more than enough support among that group to earn selection and it will be thoroughly deserved. Absolutely no one can question Big Mal’s credentials to join the Immortals.
However, there can also be little argument that Johns deserves the honour as well.
There are only two reasons why Johns should not be considered for the achievement and both can be neutered swiftly.
The first is that Johns only recently finished playing football.
However, seeming as its customary to select players at least five years after they have retired, and Johns last game was in round three in 2007, it’s a complete moot point.
The second reason not to immortalise Johns is because he is a confessed illicit-drug taker. Though not a drug cheat, it’s crucial to point this out.
While this certainly rules him out of any role-model awards, criteria for selecting Immortals states that candidates can only be judged on their playing ability alone.
Rugby League Week has confirmed that ‘on-field achievement’ is the sole criteria for determining entrants into the code’s most prestigious club.
And when it comes to on-field achievement, Johns is without peer.
Like Meninga, Johns’ career achievement list is long and distinguished, but a small sample of his accomplishments provides plenty of evidence for his inclusion:
249 first-grade games, all with the Newcastle Knights
23 State of Origins (six as captain)
24 Internationals for Australia (two as captain)
Eight Country Origin games
Two premierships, in 1997, 2001
State State of Origin series victories
Three Dally M Medals – 1998, 1999, 2002
Two Golden Boots – 1999, 2001
One Clive Churchill Medal – 2001
Four man-of-the-match awards in State of Origin
Second highest point scorer in Australian rugby league history
Judging a player’s standing in the game is fairly subjective.
But considering Johns was also named the halfback for the rugby league Team of the Century and the ‘Best Player of the Last 30 Years’ by Rugby League Week, I’m clearly not alone in my assessment of his greatness.
Darren Lockyer will surely be an Immortal once he has been retired for requisite five years, but both Meninga and Johns should be selected as Immortals now.
However, if it is stubbornly and illogically adjudicated that only one can enter this year, then it should probably be Meninga.
If Johns isn’t the following Immortal, though, then the concept is a complete farce.
troy
Guest
joey johns is one of the greatest rugby league players of all time. u think hes a bad role model for kids ur wrong. kids are going to want to be like joey johns regadless of him taking drugs. . daly cherry evans n people like ben barba would of grew up idolising joey. they didnt care about the drugs. they only watched him wen he dazzled around the footy field. wanting to be him. he deserves to be an immortal for the pure talent he had
Brad
Guest
Check out Johns v Langer head to head...interesting reading...
Brad
Guest
You all seem to forget that Johns used drugs 'illegal drugs' during his career. He should be stripped of all personal titles won and his career record. He should also be removed from commentary. What have we come to hailing a cheat/drug user a hero. Sad times I am afraid.
Knight Vision
Guest
what utter nonsense , you have absolutely no idea what your talking about do you? Ecstasy is a drug , a recreational drug that by no means what so ever would enhance a persons performance if anything it would have an adverse effect on a players fitness , it actually stays in the body for about 48 hrs so taken after the weekend game by the time he turned up for training the drug has gone from the body. please tell me where is the cheating? One things i have learned in life is those who make the most noise about a particular subject and try and tread the moral high ground are the ones with the most to hide. everyone on the planet is not perfect Jim and I would say neither are you.
The Big Show
Guest
amazonfan, you keep harping on about about Andrew Johns's achievements in the game of Rugby League but there are a plethora of players that achieved much more. What about naming more players from the st george 11 STRAIGHT GRAND FINAL VICTORIES or Dally Messenger or even Glenn Lazarus a man credited as being the greatest prop of all time and a far greater winner than Andrew Johns. Those men's on field performances easily overshadow Andrew Johns.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"amazonfan, I didn't think the consumption of alcohol was illegal." Yeh, because the only thing that matters is the law. That's just ridiculous. Although if you care about the law so much, what if Raper were to receive a DUI charge? "Even Graeme Langlands and Johnny Raper (two current immortals) are opposed to Andrew Johns being named an immortal and they would know a LOT MORE about the game of Rugby League than you." I don't care how much they know about Rugby League, THE RULES state that only on-field performance should be considered. I am sick to death of having this discussuon with you when you refuse to even respond to that. As for Raper being opposed to Johns being named an immortal because of drugs, if he indeed did have a problem with alcohol, then he's pretty hypocritical. Regardless, the rules are the rules, which you keep on ignoring!
The Big Show
Guest
amazonfan, I didn't think the consumption of alcohol was illegal. Even Graeme Langlands and Johnny Raper (two current immortals) are opposed to Andrew Johns being named an immortal and they would know a LOT MORE about the game of Rugby League than you.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
seeing as one immortal was known for drinking, is what I meant to write.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Two comments: 1)He took drugs. He's not a cheat, a thief, or a murderer. He just took drugs. That's all. Unless you are incredibly moralistic, or hypocritical (seeing as one immortal was known apparently known for drinking, and another immortal smoked, and cigarettes & alchohol have killed more people than drugs), then perhaps you should find something else to be outraged about? 2)The award's criteria is clear. You can talk about changing it, you can talk about adopting a new award, but to constantly talk about his drug taking, when the criteria is crystal clear, is completely absurd.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"didn't Andrew Johns racially velify Greg Inglis and Israel Folau at NSW origin training." Yes, but it's irrelevant. "What kind of message would that send to the indigenous and polynesian communities of Australia." it's irrelevant as character isn't taken into account. According to this article, 'Rugby League Week has confirmed that ‘on-field achievement’ is the sole criteria for determining entrants into the code’s most prestigious club.' You keep on mentioning off-field behaviour (first drugs, now racism), except the FACT is that they are not relevant! "Your views are a little bit short sighted and bias." Actually, they are neither. Not only am I not even from NSW- I'm Victorian- but I don't even like NRL! So you can't exactly accuse me of being biased. As for being short sighted, well, all I can say is that I didn't make the rules.
oikee
Guest
And that is how we justify things, we are not talking about role model awards, just the top award ever in rugby league, that is all. Our so-called showstopper, we allow thieves vagabonds and cheats. Thats ok, its not a role model award. This award would be better off being scrapped now than keep parading under the farse it is now. i bet, no come on, i bet with all money, Rugby Union, Soccer and AFL are all sitting back and saying, please rugby league, please make him a immortal, then for ever more we can point to rugby leagues role models, Joey the drug taker, fresh in the minds of the Australian public, but please, carry on, dont let me get in your way. People dont forget, yes they forgive, but dont push us, we will take you to question. The game is on the verge of losing credibilty, and nobody seems to care.
oikee
Guest
Joey has done many questionable things, but NSW fans refuse to admit such. The rugby league world had to forgive them both, both brothers for doing unquestionable things. We forgave them, but to now try to immortalise Joey. NSW will push to far, it wont harm anyone but the game, they cant seem to get this throught to themselves. Like Andrea above, they just want to attack, attack, play the person, beat them down maybe nobody will notice. Tell you what, they make Joey a immortal, they will know about, because people do have morals, and you can only push so far before mice bcome men. Once Joey is immortilised, thats it for me, the award means nothing. I recall this from somewhere, a saying, "Please forgive them for they dont know what they do" this has never been truer for right now in time for rugby league. Immortal is for life, you cant undo this, all i have to say.
The Big Show
Guest
amazonfan, didn't Andrew Johns racially velify Greg Inglis and Israel Folau at NSW origin training. What kind of message would that send to the indigenous and polynesian communities of Australia. Your views are a little bit short sighted and bias.
The Big Show
Guest
You forgot to add racist to that list, Lad. Pretty sure he racially velified Greg Inglis and Israel Folau during a NSW training session.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"Oh really amazonfan are drug users human beings i thought they were some different species altogether." Based on your comments you would think that! 'He is nothing but a drug user and should be treated like one' "You choose to ignore the FACT that Andrew Johns admitted to using drugs for over 10 years and was never punished and now he should be admitted to the most prestige club in the NRL," You choose to ignore the FACT that the immortals are for on-field performance only! "I don’t think so." It doesn't matter whether you think so or not. That is a fact, which you seem unable to accept! Oh, and can I assume that you now realize your expert talk to be nonsense?
The Big Show
Guest
Oh really amazonfan are drug users human beings i thought they were some different species altogether. You choose to ignore the FACT that Andrew Johns admitted to using drugs for over 10 years and was never punished and now he should be admitted to the most prestige club in the NRL, I don't think so.
Stevo
Guest
Nope , that's all it is, made up by journos too give them something to write about
Stevo
Guest
Every one forgets he was pretty crap in more than a few origins, pretty sure he got dropped at one point and then brought back at hooker, hardly what you would call a dominant half
Stevo
Guest
Canadian snow boarder had his gold medal stripped
amazonfan
Roar Guru
The idea that you can only be an expert if you've played the game is complete and total nonsense. Playing the game gives you insight from a player's perspective, but that's all. It does not give you increased knowledge, and not only have many experts never played the game, but many players are idiots. Furthermore, we can take this into non-sporting areas. Nobody here have been involved in politics (that I know of) yet these non-politicians select the federal political team every three years. Based on your logic, perhaps you should withdraw from selecting. As for drugs being illegal, it's irrelevant. Which you undoubtedly know, but choose to ignore. Oh, and for your information, drug users are human beings, just like you and me.