In an opening round of serious rugby league injury carnage, it was refreshing to see Billy Slater back in action for the first time since the seventh round of last season when he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery.
The Storm’s champion fullback celebrated by delivering two long cut-out passes to send winger Marika Koroibete on his way to the tryline twice in the 18-16 win over the Dragons in Melbourne.
So no tries to Slater in his comeback game, but he’s the leading try scorer active in the NRL at the moment. He is currently on 172 tries, ahead of Manly’s fullback Brett Stewart on 162, and the Warriors’ Manu Vatuvei with 146.
Providing injury doesn’t interfere again, Slater has the NRL’s most prolific try-scoring forward Steve Menzies in his sights. That would leave only flying winger Kenny Irvine to become the code’s leading try-scorer of all-time.
Slater is on 172 tries from 278 games, Menzies 180 from 349 games for the Eagles, both Manly and Northern, and Irvine 212 in 236 games for North Sydney and Manly.
Statistically, that’s a try every 1.62 games for Slater, 1.94 for Menzies, and an incredible 1.11 for Irvine.
In Irvine’s case, seeing he scored 171 tries from just 176 games for North Sydney – a team who found a new way to lose just about every week – his strike rate was phenomenal
That he was a winger, and as far away from the general play as possible, this shows Irvine was the greatest winger in NRL history, bar none.
Desperate for a premiership that was never gong to happen with the Bears, Irvine switched to Manly in 1971 that caused an all-time high stink at the time.
He achieved his premiership wish in 1972 and 1973, scoring 41 tries in 60 games over three seasons.
Irvine was an express winger with an ability to leave defenders grasping at air. He had fans out of their seats in full flight – there was never a better sight.
The great was also a great bloke, who died all too young from leukaemia in 1990, aged 50.
He was an automatic selection as a winger in the Australian Team of the Century, so why isn’t he an Immortal?
That fact remains a black mark on the code’s rich history.
Irvine should have been inducted in 1981 with the first Immortals: Clive Churchill, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, and Bobby Fulton.
Billy Slater will be an Immortal, as will Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, and Greg Inglis.
It’s time to correct the Ken Irvine blunder.
Jason
Guest
100 yards not metres, that's 91.4 metres, in 1961 Irvine equalled the professional world record with a time of 9.3 seconds.
Steve from down south
Guest
Well said Jimbo, that's exactly why I was glad Melbourne let him go after the great unpleasantness of 2010. I personally find him a big game player and he doesn't seem as interested in day to day club matches
Shaun
Guest
I'm not sure on our 9 second comment Dean... the 10 second barrier was only broken in the mid 70s, by Olympic sprinters, on a track
Jimbo Jones
Guest
GI at centre - he's only good every 2nd game there after getting a rocket for not doing anything.. For me he doesn't show up often enough, and when the team needs him to be considered an immortal. An immense talent yes, but not worthy of becoming an immortal.
MAX
Guest
matth, I went to bed last night without having thanked you for your wonderful contribution(s) The subsequent walk down memory lane left me 'Sleepless in Pt Clare' but content in the knowledge that I had been fortunate to live in such decades of Rugby League greatness. My matth finder is set on permanent alert for more herculean efforts. Again, many thanks.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Brett Stewart is 2 year younger than Billy Slater. Billy averages 0.62 tries per game, Brett averages 0.73 tries per game. Stewart can possibly eclipse Irvine's record if he plays the next 4 years in decent health and maintains a reasonable strike rate. I have tried to find footage of Irvine online, but can only find tries where he outpaces his opponent on the wing. It's obvious that he was blisteringly quick, and at one time held the record for the 100 yard sprint at just over 9 seconds. What were his other skills like? Were they comparable to anyone in the modern era, as a point of reference?
nerval
Guest
That's because he isn't a better all-around full-back than Billy Slater. But at left centre? There's no one I've seen to touch Inglis.
pete bloor
Guest
I think you answered your own question as to why they stopped... No one cared (rightly or wrongly)
pete bloor
Guest
Its a club judged by whom they don't let in rather than who they do
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
My late father would agree with you David about Ken Irvine. They were great mates and my dad, who called footy on 3 TV channels would tell me about Ken's speed and also said that his brother David was even faster. ....................... We all agree that GI is a freak of a player and the rules of who is an "immortal" are basically a few blokes opinions, but it must be said that GI has never been good enough to claim the fullback spot on his own without injuries at the Storm, Qld or Aust.
nerval
Guest
That's great Mike! but what has that to do with David's article?
matth
Guest
Just to the poster above, and everytime we end up in a discussion about the "immortals", no one seems to know there actually is an official hall of fame, 100 greatest players and team of the century.
Joel Rigby
Guest
It is Channel Nine and NRL.com (and the Roar for that matter too, case in point this article?) that time after time bring up immortal talk and it is sickening, has no affiliation to NRL. Every time I read an article mentioning Thurston on NRL.com they put ... "and future immortal Johnathon Thurston" ... blllaah!... for sure these guys are just pretending to be stupid? http://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/27ed9491a01c73f3d7fa64575da31153/620x434.jpg?fit=scale&background=000000?fit=scale&background=000000 That is who owns RLW a german billionaire .... NRL.com and Channel nine hang your heads in shame.... and we will pretend we never herd of the concept.
David Lord
Expert
Congratulations matth, that's the longest post I've ever seen. But what's its message?
David Lord
Expert
MAX, the noise of the clicking turnstiles would have been deafening.
angus
Guest
ben barba looked likely after 2012 as well, he had like 70 tries and he was only 23 having scored 20+ in the previous two years
matth
Guest
They did this for 5 years and then for reasons known only to themselves they just ... gave up
Don
Roar Rookie
I'm talking more of an ongoing HOF like the AFL does. The NRL could adopt that model easily and have an event in GF week inducting the newbies. Add an Icon or Immortal every 5 years maybe?
nerval
Guest
"Brian Bevan is a legend, but did none of it in Australia." True, but what does it matter? He was an Australian! Nothing and no one is ever going to be able to change that. And English rugby league was in its Golden Age in an era when the English were dominant over Australia.
matth
Guest
Team of the Century (2007) 1. Clive Churchill 2. Brian Bevan 3. Reg Gasnier 4. Mal Meninga 5. Ken Irvine 6. Wally Lewis 7. Andrew Johns 8. Arthur Beetson 9. Noel Kelly 10. Duncan Hall 11. Norm Provan 12. Ron Coote 13. Johnny Raper Interchange: 14. Graeme Langlands 15. Dally Messenger 16. Bob Fulton 17. Frank Burge – Jack Gibson Coach