The NRL has made a shock decision to include pre-war stars Dally Messenger, Dave Brown and Frank Burge alongside latter day giants Mal Meninga and Norm Provan as new Immortals.
After the league planned only to name two inductees a call was made to select three additional players and for the first time, they were chosen from the game’s early years.
The quintet’s inclusion boosts the membership of rugby league’s most elite group to 13.
Meninga and Provan were voted in by judges Wally Lewis, Bob Fulton, Andrew Johns, Wayne Bennett, Phil Gould and Ray Warren before the additional three founding players were recognised.
“It was an opportunity the game could not afford to miss and the Immortals now reflect the full history of rugby league – from 1908 to the present,” NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
The five include the code’s first star in Messenger, the winner of the most premierships with Provan, State of Origin’s most successful coach in Meninga as well as the record-holders for the most tries in a match and season in Burge and Brown respectively.
Messenger is credited with generating the growth and popularity of the code after joining from the Australian rugby union team for the founding year of the competition in 1908.
He featured heavily in Eastern Suburbs’ three-peat premiership years of 1911, 1912 and 1913 as a star centre and long-range goalkicker.
He is already recognised with the Dally M Award named in his honour.
Burge is arguably the game’s greatest attacking forward, having scored 137 tries in 138 matches for Glebe between 1911 and 1926 and another nine in 16 appearances for St George in 1927.
He scored a record of eight tries in a premiership match for Glebe against University in 1920 while he played 29 matches for NSW and 13 Tests for Australia.
Brown was also one of the game’s most celebrated try-scorers.
He crossed for a record 38 three-pointers from just 15 games for Easts in 1935 and scored 45 points in a match against Canterbury, which is also still a record.
Known as the Bradman of league, he finished with 93 tries in 94 games for the tri-colours to go with his two premierships and the honour of being Australia’s youngest Test captain.
Provan is already recognised on the NRL’s premiership trophy, standing alongside Arthur Summons in the game’s most famous image.
However the second-rower was a star in his own right between 1951 and 1965, his 10 premierships at the Dragons made even more impressive by the fact he won the last five as captain-coach.
Meninga is the youngest of the inductees after finishing with three premierships and 74 tries in 166 games for Canberra to go with his 45 Tests and 42 State of Origins between 1982 and 1994.
His success has since transferred into the coaching box, where he led Queensland to eight-straight series wins and took the Kangaroos to a World Cup success last year.
Immortals
Clive Churchill (1981), Bob Fulton (1981), Reg Gasnier (1981), Johnny Raper (1981), Graeme Langlands (1999), Wally Lewis (1999), Arthur Beetson (2003), Andrew Johns (2012), Dally Messenger (2018), Dave Brown (2018) Frank Burge (2018), Norm Provan (2018) and Mal Meninga (2018).
Don
Roar Rookie
Yet when the Team of the Century was selected Mal made it as a starting centre and Bozo and Langlands were on the bench... And we are going to struggle to pick any more Immortals if the criteria is that they have to have been the best in their position ever. We already had 2 fullbacks & 2 five eights before last night. No. Mal deserved it. For one minute just put aside the NSWRL comp where he was a star, and consider; His early career in the BRL His career as a QLD player His career as an Australian representative His time at St Helens Now let’s add his stellar NSWRL competition efforts back onto the list. When Mal played on that Kangaroo tour in 1982 he was a revelation. The game had seen big centres before but not with his raw speed, power and great handling. Even QLD had it’s share of big centres at the time with Miles and Close but Mal was far superior. Before he really bulked up at Canberra Mal was also very quick. And ask Laurie Daley and the other Canberra backs how Mal made things easier for them because the opposing backs left space by double and triple teaming up on Mal.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
I thought it was a fantastic decision, especially selecting Burge, who had a massive influence on game. The only area I demurred was leaving Ken Irvine out, but hopefully they can rectify that in the future. Apart from that I was pleasantly surprised and happy with the decision. Well done NRL.
At work
Roar Rookie
You should stop referring to Mals coaching career as it plays no part in his credentials as an immortal. Plus being the coach of that Qld team which will one day be represented by 3-4 immortals (Lockyer, Smith, Thurston & possibly Slater), I mean come on now surely anyone could have ‘coached’ that team.
Matt H
Roar Guru
You just wait!
Chris Morrison
Guest
I really liked 4/5 of the players inducted into the immortal list but have to say I don’t agree with Mal Meningas inclusion. Mal Meninga should be a shoe in for Hall of fame in my opinion but not at immortal level. I believe the immortals should only be the best ever to play, had a significant impact on rugby league and the way it is played today. Reg Gasnier is already an immortal and was a centre. I could be wrong but Bozo also played centre and 5/8th so we already have the two best centres ever to date and that doesn’t include Greg Inglis who is easily the best centre to ever play the game. I don’t think we should have Mal Meninga in as the best modern centre ever when we all know that Inglis is already better than him and in he same era.
The Barry
Roar Guru
There was a world war 11...? ?
Matt H
Roar Guru
I doubt that any true rugby league fan would disagree with this decision. My first reaction when they announced it was relief, followed by annoyance that they didn't show career packages for the three in question in the telecast. A 10 to 1 ratio of Hall of Fame to Immortal feels about right to me. And one or two a decade also feels right. They can now close the book on pre-WW11, as these three were the standouts in that era. As for Provan and Meninga, after seeing the career summaries in the telecast it just emphasised that any one of the nominees would have been worthy (with the exception of Brian Bevan who doesn't meet the criteria), so I am more than fine with these two and glad Norm Provan is still alive to be given the honour. Now for 2022... JT, Smith and Slater will still be ineligible (you have to be retired for 5 years to enter the Hall of Fame, and you need to be in the Hall of Fame to become an immortal - all very sensible rules). So in that case you will be looking again at Duncan Hall, Ken Irvine and Ron Coote (everyone gets three shots at nomination from now before becoming ineligible. Lockyer would almost be a certainty. And if there is any justice there will be at least three other nominees being Laurie Daley, Brad Fittler and Alan Langer. As for the Hall of Fame, big Gordie was getting chocked up, it shows how much the honour means. From now as I understand it there will be regular future entries with a strictly defined process and criteria. Players - 2 to 4 per year Couaches and referees - 1 to 2 per four year cycle. Surely Wayne Bennett is first, with Jack Gibson and Phil Gould to follow. Contributors - 1 to 3 per two year cycle. You'd be looking at Ken Arthurson, Frank Facer, but I would also love this category to include unsung heroes, like people who have given their lives for Country or Junior Rugby League. All up last night gave me a most unusual feeling, a burst of pride for our great game.
Sau
Guest
Hi guys I am from PNG and have been following the game my whole life. Put me down as a Newcastle Knights tragic. For once the NRL has made a decision that appears to be the right one. It was borderline sacrilege that Dally Messenger was not an immortal until last night. Criticize Todd Greenberg all you want but he should be congratulated for honoring the pre-war players. A pity though that Ken Irvine and Brian Bevan will now never be immortals but that just says something about the class of all the nominees. That being said there is one player I think that should be inducted into the hall of fame in due course and that is Benji Marshall. Benji added flair and excitement to the code and has inspired countless kids all over the world with his footwork, speed and sheer brilliance. I think the game as we know it today would be a little less brighter had it not been for Marshall. How many of todays superstars modeled their games after Benji? Guys like Kaylan Ponga and Shaun Johnson might have been lost to other codes without players like Marshall.
jimmmy
Guest
Agree with the addition of the prewar guys especially Frank Burge. What a record that guy has. I also like th fact that three of the the inductees are forwards. Dominant forwards ( Artie and Raper excepted) have not been given the credit they deserve. I must admit I am not that keen on Mal being there. As a QLDer I love the guy and what a classy centre he was, but an immortal.? His stature in the game is unquestioned but on playing ability alone I don’t reckon he is quite there . Still a good result overall and the list now looks a lot more balanced .
AGO74
Guest
I agree with the decision to select Messenger, Burge and Brown. Being rigid and adhering to the process should never override what is the right thing to do such as in this case. For mine the other two immortals are spot on as well despite the credential of the other nominees. Well done to all.
Nomoregal
Guest
Thought it was a good and reasonable outcome
The Barry
Roar Guru
I agree 100% Adam. To suggest there’s only 13 players in the 110 year history of rugby league in Australia that are classed as the best of the best is hardly diluting the award. The original concept was too exclusive and this is a great move in the right direction. Rugby league fans can’t get behind anything. Even when it’s celebrating the greatest players of all time there are @rse hats that feel the need to bag everything. Well done to the NRL and to the panel. This was a great decision and every one of the players inducted completely deserves their spot. Congratulations to the hall of fame inductees as well. Lyons, Menzies, Graham, Tallis, Petero and Stuart who were all outstanding players and deserve their recognition.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
"The decision to right the wrongs by inducting the pre-war players, especially Dally Messenger, is the best decision the NRL has made in a while." Agree. 100%. While my vote would have gone elsewhere, I like the fact that the NRL now owns the concept and has honoured the historic guys. Just adds a sense of continuity and impartiality about the whole thing, hopefully minimising the possibility of the concept being undermined by Rugby League's pettiness and ongoing attempts to destroy itself. Club lines, State lines, ARL/Superleague lines...you name it, we've fought with each other about it... No Hadley and co on the panel was a great move in this direction. Now its time to get him off TV. How many people turn the sound down on those Thursday night games...?
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
The decision to right the wrongs by inducting the pre-war players, especially Dally Messenger, is the best decision the NRL has made in a while. I don't buy into this idea that this has diluted the concept. Out of 106 Hall of Famers, only 13 are immortals. We now won't see another player become an immortal for another 4 years. Just this once, can the rugby league community support and acknowledge these greats of the game, and stop whinging.