9th Immortal

[Vee]

There are more than 20 players more worthy than Lockyer.

Name them.

 

[RazorRam0n]

Yes and no. Back in those days of the early to mid-1980s when Origin was just getting off the ground, Ron McAuliffe, President of the QRL, had all the Queensland based Origin players sign contracts which prevented them from going to clubs in the NSWRL if they wanted to play Origin.

we're talking lewis aren't we? lewis played alot more games 85 onwards than he did 80-84.

and we know where meninga rowdy choppy lidner jackson neibling brown were all playing by that point, not to mention ribot beaustead morris etc before them.

hazard a guess 50% at least of nswrl talent.

 

[Vee]

if immortals are inducted carelessly and in large volume the concept will be diluted and lose value.

Create a Hall of Fame for your Thurstons, Sterlings, Kennys,Langers, etc etc .

Immortals should be those that fundamentally changed the role of their position on the field or in some way made an everlasting mark on the game itself that would stand the test of time.

So, Cam Smith and Billy Slater then?

 

[Vee]

Lockyer's captaincy would push Slater back i think. You can even debate whether Thurston would get in ahead of Langer.

It's an interesting one. I can't go past Lewis but the choice between Lockyer and Slater is very tough. As great as Alfie was, Thurston just shades him for mine.

 

[Vee]

Sterlo should already be an Immortal.

Piss off. He couldn't see off Mortimer.

 

[Vee]

Found this old article from2015 by Steve Mascord about the Immortals. People may find it if some interest, or not, as the case may be - http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/10/16/mascord-everyone-care-much-immortals/

As usual, Mascord hits the nail on the head.

 

[hrundi99]

I agree the way it came out from Meninga didn't paint him in a good light at the time. The thing is that he would have been one of the better paid players in his time and it's up to him to decide how to manage his affairs. Also, no one was forcing him to sign contracts he wasn't happy with.

Yeah but even though he personalised it (which made it seem worse) he was talking about all of the players and what they were being paid.

I always thought MoL(great organisation BTW)existed for players who have fallen on hard times, not those that felt hard done by?

Your first point is correct but nevertheless the older guys got paid a pittance compared to today. If the young blokes today can't manage their money then how did the older blokes go? On top of that the treatment of injuries was inferior and therefore the older guys are more likely to have chronic problems. I remember seeing Pat Jarvis at Henson Park about 15 years ago and he was walking like he was about 75.

 

[Disinterested third party]

we're talking lewis aren't we? lewis played alot more games 85 onwards than he did 80-84.

and we know where meninga rowdy choppy lidner jackson neibling brown were all playing by that point, not to mention ribot beaustead morris etc before them.

hazard a guess 50% at least of nswrl talent.

I would stop now before you embarrass yourself any further. You sound like Ray Chesterton during the 80s when he could never work out why NSW were getting smashed nearly annually...

 

[RazorRam0n]

I would stop now before you embarrass yourself any further. You sound like Ray Chesterton during the 80s when he could never work out why NSW were getting smashed nearly annually...

what's that got to do with half your best players playing out of nswrl the premier comp?

 

[kdalymc]

Surely if you didn’t make it last time, you don’t make it this time. Other wise it’s simply “well Johnsy is better than you, but you can be an immortal too”

Thoughts ?

 

[Knight Vision]

So, Cam Smith and Billy Slater then?

From the players I've watched in my lifetime that are not already an immortal - Mal Meninga ( a giant of the game and easily the best centre of ever seen )

Our game has had some great players and a Hall of Fame should be created for them, Sterling, Langer, Kenny, Thurston, Fittler, Slater, etc but to induct all of these players into an immortal system would dilute it's meaning and prestige.

Immortal status should remain the elite of the very best.

 

[Knight Vision]

As usual, Mascord hits the nail on the head.

pretty much. Just like the catholic church declining into insignificance, find a few miracle beatify some people and declare a saint. Great for business.

Every business needs its heroes and this talk of Thurston ( for example ) being a " Immortal " is nothing more and nothing less than media hype and click bait.

 

[Tommy Smith]

From the players I've watched in my lifetime that are not already an immortal - Mal Meninga ( a giant of the game and easily the best centre of ever seen )

Our game has had some great players and a Hall of Fame should be created for them, Sterling, Langer, Kenny, Thurston, Fittler, Slater, etc but to induct all of these players into an immortal system would dilute it's meaning and prestige.

Immortal status should remain the elite of the very best.

Who's to say but for a few very nostalgic old fellas that Johnny Raper was better than those guys?

Wasn't he famous for cover tackles lol

I've no doubt that his reputation has been overly enhanced over time and I'd be willing to bet that Sterlo, Freddy and JT are superior footy players.

As JJ pointed out its highly amusing that Australia's weakest decade of the modern era contains the most Immortals.

That's blind nostalgia for you.

 

[Vee]

pretty much. Just like the catholic church declining into insignificance, find a few miracle beatify some people and declare a saint. Great for business.

Or the Army handing out VCs I hear.

 

[Knight Vision]

Or the Army handing out VCs I hear.

indeed, every war needs its heroes to whet the appetite of the working class canon fodder. Nothing like stirring some nationalistic fervor among your client base when your in the business of war.

 

[coolsteve]

From the players I've watched in my lifetime that are not already an immortal - Mal Meninga ( a giant of the game and easily the best centre of ever seen )

Our game has had some great players and a Hall of Fame should be created for them, Sterling, Langer, Kenny, Thurston, Fittler, Slater, etc but to induct all of these players into an immortal system would dilute it's meaning and prestige.

Immortal status should remain the elite of the very best.

From the players I've watched in my lifetime that are not already an immortal - Mal Meninga ( a giant of the game and easily the best centre of ever seen )

Our game has had some great players and a Hall of Fame should be created for them, Sterling, Langer, Kenny, Thurston, Fittler, Slater, etc but to induct all of these players into an immortal system would dilute it's meaning and prestige.

Immortal status should remain the elite of the very best.

never heard of Mick Cronin , eh ?

 

[Life's Good]

Yeah but even though he personalised it (which made it seem worse) he was talking about all of the players and what they were being paid.



Your first point is correct but nevertheless the older guys got paid a pittance compared to today. If the young blokes today can't manage their money then how did the older blokes go? On top of that the treatment of injuries was inferior and therefore the older guys are more likely to have chronic problems. I remember seeing Pat Jarvis at Henson Park about 15 years ago and he was walking like he was about 75.

I agree with where you’re coming from. It’s probably a matter of understanding IF the money existed in those days. I don’t think it did(I could be wrong).Things like injury management only consisted of deep heat & the magic sponge but as more money flowed into the game it has changed for the better on a number of fronts.

 

[AJB1102]

This thread tells me the NRL needs to promote the hall of fame better. Can't believe on a RL site like this so many members are unaware it exists.

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

I can’t remember the eligibility rules. Does a player have to be still living to be inducted? If not, then either Dally Messenger, Ferris Ashton or Albert Rosenfeld would be my pick.

Albert Rosenfeld and Brian Bevan are the leading candidates for Immortal IMO.

Next comes Mal Meninga, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston..

Norm Provan should not be considered. He was not of the calibre of Johns, Thurston etc. Norm Provan was famous for a business he ran after he retired. He sold a lot of washing machines and TVs to fans. That is why he is famous.

 

[Spot On]

Lots... of... simple... sentences.... Alby.

Keep it up.

Norm Provan is a no-brainer for the 9th.