The immortal concept in rugby league was introduced in 1981. As of now there are eight immortals.
These former players are Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, John Raper, Graeme Langlands, Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson and Andrew Johns.
Many have argued that the fact the group is so exclusive, makes the immortal concept so special.
However the reality is in rugby league there too few immortals.
The fact Ken Irvine is not an immortal borders on disgraceful. Despite playing in a struggling North Sydney side for most of his career he still managed 171 tries in 176 matches. He scored a total of 212 tries in first grade – 32 ahead of second best Steve Menzies.
Irvine scored at better than a try a match for NSW (30 tries in 24 matches) and Australia (33 tries in 31 matches).
What more does he have to do?
Mal Meninga went on four Kangaroo tours, two as captain. He won three premierships at the Raiders and appeared 32 times for Queensland. His winning try in the second Test of the 1990 Kangaroo tour will be replayed for many years to come. He won 90 per cent of Origin series as coach of Queensland and has just been named as Australian coach.
Norm Provan and Peter Sterling should already be immortals. There is no reason to keep them waiting. They will one day be named. Let them enjoy it while they are alive.
There doesn’t need to be a huge intake. But the four previously mentioned should have been included by now.
There should be 12 immortals with immediate effect.
Beardan
Roar Guru
3 years later, there are 13.
b
Guest
Agreed. Lockyer was a very good player, like so many others, but he was no legend. Mal was in a whole different class, right up there with the best the game has shown us. Irvine's omission has been controversial since the concepts inception, and probably the biggest argument against the value of the immortal tag. If Lockyer was to be included, than at least 2 dozen others would have to be let in as well, all fine players, but not the very best of all time.
b
Guest
So in your world Meninga and Irvine are the same as Stuart and Lockyer, or Smith?
Joel Rigby
Guest
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Rugby_League_Hall_of_Fame This is the RL Hall of Fame, get behind it and get over this RLW immortal gimmick ...
Tom
Guest
EJ, the "he does it so it is ok" is a statement one expects from a 10 year old. The proper answer to that statement is "no, it is still not ok".
Joel Rigby
Guest
Immortals should not be recognised, the NRL should not pay RLW for it, and the NRL should start up a "Hall of Fame" type concept of their own, simple and non controversial
Joel Rigby
Guest
lol at using aura as a base to be an immortal lol you guys are nuts
Joel Rigby
Guest
The magazine title is a joke in itself and not recognised by RLIF
Joel Rigby
Guest
lol @ immortals with Johns added so quickly is tainted is a joke and not taken seriously, the NSWRL agenda is strong
simmo green
Guest
The game continues it's descent in terms of creativity and adventure. Don't hold your breath waiting for a standout, Thurston may well be the last
Bearfax
Guest
As a player JH I agree completely. Lockyer had much more influence over a game than Meninga ever had. But I guess one has to take into consideration Meninga's coaching career and success. That tends to even it up some. But I would chose Lockyer for an immortal before Meninga at this stage.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Whatever eventually happens, it needs to be owned by the NRL...not a tabloid Rugby league magazine whose tone at times sounds disturbingly like The Faily Telegraph.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Meninga over Lockyer? Geez, I disagree with that in the extreme.
JGK
Roar Guru
Although in the US sports there is a growing concept of "first ballot Hall of Famer" which is for people who get in the HoF on their first eligibility and so are somehow seen as better than other HoFers.
JGK
Roar Guru
Lockyer's claims are inferior to those of Irvine, Proven and Mal (and a few others).
Adam Bishop
Roar Pro
I think the allure of the Immortal tag is the fact that it is such an exclusive club. I agree you can create an argument for many more players but we should be maintaining a tough criteria to get in. This is the very point of the concept.
Beardan
Roar Guru
I got Lee Crooks!
Richard Maybury
Guest
I think that Johns inclusion surprised most of us. It was wrong in my view. One of the best ways to decide on immortal status is to get 10 ordinary RL fans from outside of Australia and ask them to name 10 great Australian players who have been retired more than 10 years. You will get a very short list but if those guys stick in the minds of foreigners then they are truely greats. If you doubt this works, do it for the pommy players at the pub tonight and see what you get.
Klee gluckman
Guest
Mal is an interesting one. On one hand he couldn't get into the Australian starting line up in 1986 with Miles and Kenny ranked above him. But then again he played 15 years on international league, and was still at that level after 15 years, he went on 4 kangaroo tours, and won three premierships. His longetivity is to be commended.
Beardan
Roar Guru
Go away fiddlesticks. Click elsewhere. There are other people you can annoy.