NRL boss Todd Greenberg stunned the sporting world at the SCG last night when he named five new Immortals: Dally Messenger, Frank Burge, Dave Brown, Norm Provan and Mal Meninga.
For the last few months, two new Immortals were to be selected from a ten-strong group – the first since the NRL took ownership last year of the Immortal status from the original owners Rugby League Week.
The publication made a right royal hash of its concept by inducting only eight Immortals in 37 years.
Obviously with that in mind, the NRL saw fit to up the ante to five to make up for lost time.
Earlier this week I suggested six, not believing for one minute the NRL would come to the party.
My six, in order, were Messenger, Ken Irvine, Meninga, Provan, Burge, and Ron Coote.
Former rugby league players Norm Provan (left) and Arthur Summons (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
That left Darren Lockyer, Duncan Hall, Dave Brown, and Brian Bevan from the ten candidates.
So where to from here?
The next induction will be in four years’ time. The current thinking is to drop Irvine, Hall, and Bevan from last night, to retain Lockyer and settle on a new group of contenders.
That would be unfair, as this is the first induction by the NRL and it should be a different ball game to the past.
My suggestion is for Lockyer, Irvine, Hall and Coote to be among the next ten, leaving Bevan out.
Darren Lockyer was pretty awesome. I mean, he’s got a highway named after him. Digital image by Colin Whelan © nrlphotos.com
For the final time, how can Bevan be an Australian Immortal when he never scored a try on Australian soil, nor did he ever play for NSW or Australia?
My six new contenders would be Harold Horder, Wally Prigg, Andrew Ettingshausen, Allan Langer, Brad Fittler, and Jack Gibson.
I’ve included Gibson because coaches must be added to the mix for the vital role they play in elite rugby league.
Horder played from 1912 to 1924, and his stats are phenomenal.
South Sydney – 102 tries from 77 games.
North Sydney – 50/50.
NSW – 23/9.
Australia – 11/13.
Totals – 186 tries from 161 games.
Prigg played from 1927 to 1939, debuted for NSW at 20, and was the first country boy from Newcastle to captain his country.
Individual stats weren’t kept in Newcastle, but Prigg was first picked for three Kangaroo tours.
Andrew Ettingshausen was another week-in, week-out elite footballer.
Cronulla – 165/324.
NSW – 10/30.
Australia – 14/29.
Totals – 189/383.
Allan Langer (1988-2002) was unlucky not to be included among last night’s contenders.
Broncos – 95/258.
Queensland – 11/37.
Australia – 5/25.
Totals – 111/320.
The same can be said of Fittler who played south of the border from 1989 to 2004.
Penrith – 31/119.
Roosters – 91/217.
NSW – 8/31.
Australia – 17/38.
Totals – 147/405.
Gibson coached from 1967 to 1987, winning five premierships – two in succession with Eastern Suburbs 1974-75, and three on the trot with Parramatta from 1981 to 1983.
Selecting five more Immortals in 2023 will take the total to 18, and from then on two every four years.
Never at any stage will the Immortals impact on the Hall of Fame which now has 106 members with the addition last night of Steve Menzies, Ricky Stuart, Gorden Tallis, Petero Civoniceva, Cliff Lyons and Mark Graham.
So congratulations Todd Greenberg on your first attempt.
You have done the Immortals, and the Hall of Fame, due justice overnight.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Im so glad the NRL made this decision. Much deserved to all the greats inducted
nerval
Guest
No doubt, AG074 but I feel it's worth noting the league origins of Mark Ella.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Good to see Mal named as an immortal. Awesome player.
AGO74
Guest
Well ok but I think with the immortal discussion we are talking about first grade rugby league, not juniors when there is lots of cross code players.
David webb
Guest
meninga wasn't even the best player in that Canberra side
wobbly
Guest
I nominate Geoff Robinson, Don McKinnon and the Sorensen's. The 70's is definately under represented.
Major Bumsore
Guest
And when you take into consideration Mal had 3 broken arms , and still set records ,you’d have to think he more than deserved the honour. I remember being in awe of both him and Wally back in the day, but I never felt any other players affected me as much ,and I’m a NSWelshman. A deadset legend of the game .
nerval
Guest
The Ella brothers certainly did play league, AG074. Mark Ella played it for 12 years before switching codes. In his own words: "The Koori Knockout grew out of a longstanding tradition amongst Sydney’s Aboriginal community of playing and watching rugby league, starting in the 1930s with the formation of the Redfern All Blacks and the La Perouse Panthers, who I played with for 12 years as a junior before heading across to rugby union." https://www.theroar.com.au/2014/10/04/indigenous-sport-will-shine-koori-knockout/
Nat
Roar Guru
Is that why a few may be disagreeing with you on this one Scott, you're criteria is suitable for a Dally M medalist which may not be enough to be characterised as an Immortal?
Nat
Roar Guru
Very true. My mistake.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Matt, I am saying I liked the idea of the best of the best when on field playing talent was the only criteria. Just like the Dally M voting, spine players have an edge, also with the Brownlow, it is midfielders. That said, I think Sam Burgess and Jason Taumalolo have a shot. SBW if he stayed.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
mushi, If Ricky Stuart, Laurie Daley and Mal were all available at the same time, Mal would be the cheapest to buy. Also, if one of those three (I could include Clyde) were a late out Mal would not chamge the betting as much as his 2 halfs would. So yes, he was not in the best 2 players in his team.
Davico
Roar Pro
Not sure you can say the others were WAY more dominant considering that 4 of the 13 played in the same side! Would they be looked at in the same way if the other guys were not in those great Dragon sides?
Big daddy
Guest
The fact that the NRL have both Bevan and Irvine and ron coote in their team of the century but not selected as immortals is a bit puzzling. I would have thought that their inclusion would set things straight and save the NRL a bit of embarrassment. If they picked 5 they could have easily made it 8.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yes, fully agree with you but, the Dally-M's are also not shown on FTA and this could partly be because of Ch-9, which had allot to do with it (which should be looked at for the future) as this was most certainly a missed opportunity for the NRL to bring NRL to the forefront of a diverse crowd, Maybe it will be done in 4 years time, when the immortals will selected again and/or the Dally-M's could be looked at also? But, I won't hold my breath lol
Mike Gordon
Roar Rookie
Dane Gagai DESERVEDLY won The Wally Lewis Medal last year-the first winger to achieve that-he was that amazing. If Irvine, who I know little about, did what Gagai did consistently over years, which his stats suggest he did, then he would have been out of this world.
Rod
Guest
Mal has waited long enough , given that Coote and Irvine are products of the 60/70’s they have most certainly waited long enough
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Suggesting that Slater is anywhere near Immortal status is laughable...
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Why was such a big award like this hidden on pay tv on a Wednesday night st the beginning of August? That’s my only gripe. Wasted opportunity to promote these legends to a much bigger audience on fta during either the origin of finals series.
Rod
Guest
The first have of Mals career he was faster and more devastating ball runner. Sometimes you don’t realise how influential a players is until he hangs up the boots . Raiders post Meninga despite the fact they had Stuart, Clyde,Daley, Furner , Croker and Mullins, were unable to win another comp without the big fella