Who should be the eighth rugby league Immortal?

Ray Price was twice voted Best and Fairest in Sydney 1st Grade Rugby.

johns defence and aggresion in defence speak for them selves. i never feared for him because teams tried to take him out of it even without the ball. if anything i feared for the forwards when he was around because you know he was there looking for someone or something to do like smash the big blokes to lift the team. and the best thing is he did it because he loved it and it showed in the way he played. meninga is great but without guys like ricky stuart creating the space for him he would be just another centre until origin came around and he had to be a man. and lets not forget johns did it week in week out with a handful of errors over his carreer. were as mal had patches and odd games were he was just filling the number playing the role. johns was and is the best overall complete package anyone has seen to date. not just a bloke who could run when given space. no doubt johns should leap frog him but i am still of the oppinion we need a hall of fame and the players in it also get a vote as to who goes into the IMMORTALS as they are the ones who played against them and will know who they found the hardest to play against for 80 min.

My father-in-law, a former Queensland league representative fullback and goal kicker in the early 60's, and played along side and against some of the best Queensland and New South Wales players of that era, and has often stated, that some of the best footballers he ever played with or against at club level, didn't necessarily reach their goal of representative status, but, regardless of their lack of achievements where highly respected and are fondly remembered ... His favourite quote when he is least amused about ones behaviour, demeanour or the reasoning and or decisions of some is ... "You can't put brains into monuments" ... He has gone down to make the most of a GF experience and was at one of the tables at the NRL Footy Show tonight and will be attending a function for the Men of League, where no doubt he will catch up with some of his former footy mates ... I'll be very interested to hear their adjudication on this topic ... Sadly, Fatty Vautin, for whatever reason, felt he had to defend the honour of his footballer friend, remembered for a myriad of reasons and nothing as nearly as important as the greatest reward bestowed on a rugby league hero in the modern era, based on the utmost respect of everyone in rugby league land, so it seems, and for nothing more then his nous, talent and a long record ... He can now claim his fame as an "Immortal" of the greatest game of all to his resume' - So, the deed is done, the suspense almost killed us, and it's more than obvious that the opinions of the fans of the game, is all for nought ... The Gods blessed Joey Johns tonight, and, in my humble opinion, sense and sensibility went straight down the toilet ...

Told ya. This was the biggest certainty of the year. As soon as they announced that they were doing it this year, there was no doubt who it was going to be.

Didn't realise this is a commercial decision by a nondescript magazine. Perhaps a bit like New Idea's list of best/worst dressed?

Yeah, that'd be the way to go, especially if the existing Immortals made the choices and presentation, sorta like Allan Border presenting the Allan Border Medal.

I made a comment in another article about making a Hall of Fame based on the NFL style one, with Immortals reviewed only from players who have already been admitted to the hall of fame. We just do not celebrate how many great players we have in the game, and making an Immortal list really does not celebrate our champion players enough. Guys like Steve Mortimer should be in a Hall of Fame, but really he isn't good enough to be considered an Immortal. Our entry point for champion players to be considered as such is just way too high.

Maybe instead of continually adding players they should leave the existing "Immortals" as they are as "foundation immortals", and create a new tier based Immortal structure for each decade or generation. That way the genuinely great players get the acknowledgement they deserve ~ Greatest Players of the 70's, 80's, 90's etc as a sub-tier to "Immortal".

i don't agree with andrew johns, with the countless accusations oif drug abuse, further enhancing his on field contributions this tarnishes his reputation, Meninga has proved himself with his leadership, coaching prowess and his ability to comeback from two broken arms and still be one of the best centres in the world ever. And he did it with no performance enhancing drugs or being high on illicit drugs.

The fact that Mal Meninga is even being considered an immortal is ridiculous in itself. He was pretty surprised to be named in the team of the century and rightly so. Steve Rogers is generally considered to be a superior centre and no one is pushing for Rogers' inclusion. Immortal status is on playing career only and as impressive as his was I think a fair amount of the push is also to do with his 7 straight Origin victories as coach. Johns was the most dominant player since Lewis and the most revolutionary. Lockyer can also be considered an Immortal in waiting.Like a few current players such as Smith,Inglis, Slater and Thurston who have also had the Immortal tag bandied about by an easily excited media, Mal deserves to be in the hall of fame but Immortal is for those who were one step above greatness.

Can't agree - When I think of Andrew Johns, my first thoughts are more about his goal kicking, rather then what billiance he displayed in any one position or that I ever recall anyone bringing to my notice - There's no doubt he could kick, but, even on that score, I wouldn't place him as #1 of the best punters to play the game ... As far as leading a team or being instrumental in pulling a rabbit out of a hat, in the last minute, when one single moment of brilliance became league folk law - When one single spontaneous moment is deemed the gift of "a genius", "a hero", "King" , "Emporer" or even "Princely", for that matter - But maybe a Knight ??? An act of courage or scoring a try, that was not simply outstanding, but mind-boggling - A physical impossibility ... Not sure I have ever heard Andrew Johns referred to in exceptional terms, and certainly not as they prefer in this modern era of league, where terms of endearment such as "super-star", "super-man" or "super-human" that league commentators freely throw around, and which should strictly relate to the "super-heroes" of the big screen, not our sporting heroes ... Goodness knows how the likes of Proven and Coote would have delt with the adulation so freely dished out to every "new kid on the block" ... Those rugby league players of the past who graced rugby league grounds, paddock, and fields more than 100 years ago, 50 years ago, 25 years ago or even 5 years ago, where have they gone ??? Where are they today ??? From fame to obscurity, and stone mothersly broke, for the most part, but regardless of that, it's their prowess in the game that deems greatness, with little reward for contribution in the here after, and any discrepencies, misdeamenours, and or slips from grace, are so easily wiped from the slate ... An "Immortal" of any sport, should have at the very least been noted for a meriad of things, including exceptional talent and league ability, reached the highest heights at club and representative levels, respected their peers and their fans, be blessed with enough brains and brawn, and remembered not only for their versatility, but with enough leadership qualities to take a game by the throat, and lead their team to victory, and do that so consistently, that the fans know when the play is on, well before the opposition ... And, even more importantly, the elite of rugby league, let alone someone of "Immortal" status, should be excemplorary on and off the field, which is the very reason such a privilege, reward and honour should not be handed out like lollies in a candy store ...

but oikee who was a better player?

immortals are not decided on sheer stats

Norm Provan ~ Sticks has 10 straight Grand Final victories, and is on the Telstra trophy for the NRL Grand Final winners. If it was a game of 500, Norm has 10 No Trumps

You people who argue against Lockyers brilliance are clueless . I love Manly and NSW just so you can't accuse me of bias . Lockyer was the man who revolutionized the way the modern fullback plays . How short are your memories ?? After a glittering career as a running , kicking , ball playing fullback he than reinvented himself in a totally different position as a 5/8. You tell me how many players past or present have done that as well as he?? Hooker and Half Back that Johns played doesn't compare to the change that Lockyer underwent and did so for such an extended time . He was an outstanding footballer

Do we really need this immortal concept? We know all the players mentioned above were great. Their records speak for themselves and pages of comments over the years reinforce their status. Can't we just leave it at that? Seems there are more losers in this than winners.

Oikee and Jz your comments are spot on Lockyear the best player to have played the modern game and his stats are the best of any player that has played the game.He was magnificent on and off the field and was the most highly respected player durring his playing carrer by his team mates at the broncos,Queensland and Kangaroos.not to mention all coach staff,comentators and fans. I have no doubt we will have to wait a very long time find a player that was the diffrence for his team as locky was.I respect king Wally but i suggest Locky is also a king. If an imortal title is reserved for the very best to of played the game he is more than a certainty there is no debate. King Locky your all ready an imortal

Ken Kearney should be a priority, although he sadly passed away in 2006. He revolutionised defensive structures and was voted in the top 100 players of all time. He won five Grand Finals as Captain (four of them as Captain-Coach). He was a successful Australian captain and dual International who paved the way for St George's 11 straight GF victories. Mal and Joey need to wait a little longer in my humble opinion..

Only time will tell ,who knows what's in the future ,he is still one of the best i have ever seen in all my years ,the sheer toughness of the guy was unbelievable ,and he just never stopped trying ,he would certainly get my vote ..........