Rugby league icons Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer are unanimous in their thinking: Mal Meninga should be crowned the next Immortal.
The debate has begun on who will claim rugby league’s most prestigious honour after the NRL confirmed up to two Immortals are certain to be unveiled later this year.
Lewis, who is already part of the eight, had no hesitation in declaring who would get his vote – and it stems from a career where he often feared the giant centre.
“When you have a look at his record, it’s going to be hard for somebody to get over the top of him,” Lewis said of Meninga.
“If you’re playing against Mal on the field, you were hoping that you were on the other side of him and he was going to be running at somebody else.
“I always used to advise my players, don’t ever upset Mal Meninga. Talk to him, tell him we’ll have a beer after the game, anything along those lines.
“But don’t tell him he can’t play, or you’ve got a better player on your side.
“He was tough, uncompromising and one of those players – if you ever picked a team of players that you wanted to go into battle with, Mal Meninga’s name would be there.”
Lockyer, who has also been widely tipped to join the exclusive group, also believed Meninga deserves the right to be handed the accolade.
“Wally Lewis was my childhood hero, (but) he’s already an Immortal,” Lockyer said.
“So a guy going around at the same time that’s done a hell of a lot on the field, whether it be for Queensland, Australia, Canberra or Souths or Brisbane, it’s hard to go past Mal.”
Lewis said the only other contenders that could go past Meninga were players from the pre-World War II era, who are only now being considered for the honour.
After buying the intellectual property rights from Rugby League Week magazine last year, the NRL opted to stretch its net to players all the way back to the game’s foundation in 1908.
That opens the door for the likes of Dally Messenger and Dave Brown to be recognised.
“(Provan’s) photo and image has been used as a promotion for rugby league for some time. I’m sure rugby league wouldn’t waste a talent like that,” Lewis said.
“And to have such an incredible record like he had certainly deserves a fair consideration.”
Rod
Guest
Mal is one my favourite players. I believe all players who made the team of the century should be classed as immortals , given they were regarded as the best of the best in their respective positions
Greg
Guest
Thurston has never captained QLD or Australia either, your point?
The Koomz
Guest
Stuart never Captained Australia or NSW
Greg
Guest
Unlike his team mates Stuart and Daley Meninga never even won a Dally M medal....or a Clive Churchill medal...Stuart won both and was a better player than Meninga
The Barry
Roar Guru
Wouldn’t that make his name Meninga Meninga...? ?
Graham
Roar Rookie
Don't overlook Norm Provan. He played in an era when they weren't full time professionals, working a job full time and training 3 x a week, perhaps coached by the captain. Not like the support today's players get. 10 grand final wins ( 5 as captain coach ) was not a bad effort by Norm. Norm played in the forwards and sometime they get overlooked. Raper and Beetson are the only forwards of the current 8 Immortals. I think forwards have contributed more than 2/8 ths towards the immortality of our great game. Even the score this year to 3/10 ths working towards 6/13 th I can imagine Lewis, Meninga, Johns etc. on an NRL trophy like Provan and Summons. Lockyer was a great player but I can't see people looking up to him as we would the others. Don't let the fact that 3 out of 8 current immortals were Dragons go against Norm. Consider him on his own merits Meninga and Provan for new Immortals Graham
The Barry
Roar Guru
Lockyers rug could be an immortal...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Paul D...I think that’s a great point about letting the dust settle. I think it should be obligatory for there to be a cooling off period. Or just scrap the immortals altogether. I think Lockyer was a wonderful player. The first time I ever saw him play I called that he’d be a great. But I don’t think he’s quite at that immortal level. I think Lewis was a better 5/8 and Slater a better fullback so he doesn’t make Queensland’s all time origin team. I think Slater is the best fullback I’ve seen but I’m not convinced of immortal status. But you know what, we shouldn’t even be having this conversation. All of these guys - and more - are great players and deserve to be recognised rather than having us talk them down for why they don’t belong in the elite group. We’ve set up a situation where “only” making the hall of fame is somehow a failure. And if you look at my response above to Paul D and Alan’s response to me, a lot of the time this comes down to “are not, are too, are not...” sort of arguments.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I'm not sure Slater is really immortal caliber. I know he's getting a lot of hype lately but he wasn't exactly the best of the best for much of his career and faces much less competition at fullback now then he did for much of his early career where he was up against the likes of Hunt, Stewart, Minochello, Lockyer etc etc
Paul D
Roar Guru
As someone else said below, I think he was an exceptional player, but not an immortal To use an example from another sport, a bit like Greg Chappell. When he retired everyone said he was the best since Bradman. 30 years later and Border, Ponting, Waugh and Smith have probably all gone past him. I’m just saying that we should let the dust settle a bit and get a longer perspective regarding Lockyer.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Wy not Locky? he set most of the records that Smith is now being credited for breaking
Tommy
Guest
Meninga 'what has Rugby League ever done for me' Meninga an immortal No thaks
Emcie
Roar Guru
I wasn't old enough to apreciate Meninga's playing abilities, but the only guys since then that I would include in in immortals would be Johns (already in obviously) and Lockyer, with Smith and Thurston being the only current players worth considering. I think any more than that and you start blurring the line between great and exceptional
Beastie
Roar Rookie
Once again showing your vast knowledge on the subject. It has been the criteria from day 1 which was way back in 1981, 31 years before Johns was admitted. If you have a problem with the selection criteria, take it up with the NRL, or the 13 judges & the current living immortals because they all had a vote on it, in which they all agreed to make Johns an Immortal.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Johnno, keep stroking the poster of Lockie in your bedroom and repeating "everything will be alright"
Paul D
Roar Guru
A ruling brought in solely so NSW could get some of their "outstanding" moral candidates like Langlands and Johns up no doubt
Alan
Guest
Except for them not being anywhere near as good.
Beastie
Roar Rookie
Agree 100%. Locky was the best player in the world in 2 completely different positions. Hard to go past.
Beastie
Roar Rookie
Learn what the criteria is for being an immortal. It is ONLY based on the players on-field contributions. People shouldn't comment if they don't understand the subject.
Johnno
Guest
Wow Paul D very harsh on Locky, he's way better than Terry Lamba was(who was good to). Loocky is above Daley and Fitler to(get over it) and certainly in the class of wally lewis/thurston/cam smith/billy slater, you really have no idea about footy it seems, you are way out of line in your opinions of Locky who has leigtimate claims to be the best rugby league player "ever" or the last 50 years...