Jared_the_Dragon
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Looking over the current Immortals side has me thinking which recent players could one day make the cut? I know many people consider it a travesty that Big Mal hasn't been inducted to the current 8 that are there but I assume one day he will get the nod. But who else do we think will one day make it? Here's some of my picks...
Current Immortals: Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Graeme Langlands, Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson, Andrew Johns
Future Possibilities:
Mal Meninga
Pros: Great player, most points + appearances for Australia, top point scorer in Origin, in Australian RL HoF, never lost an Origin series as coach, captained Australia to wins and won premierships with Canberra, One club player
Cons: Immortals team already has 2 centres
VERDICT: Unlucky to miss out due to lack of spots
Darren Lockyer
Pros: One club player, captain of QLD, Australia and Broncos, captained all three teams of series wins and premierships, was a legend at two positions (fullback and in the halves), Australian, QLD rep
Cons: Has no coaching experience
VERDICT: Bench Spot
Jonathan Thurston
Pros: Multiple Dally M's, took team almost by himself to Grand final
Cons: never won a grand final, can be a little inconsistent
VERDICT: Hardest decision here but misses out due to being a current player, having no premierships and Johns being slightly better
Allan Langer
Pros: One club player, multiple premierships with Broncos, rep player with Australia and QLD
Cons: Unproven as coach
VERDICT: Misses out on spot
Dean Young
Pros: captained Dragons to first premiership as joint venture, no other hookers in current immortals team, has versatility, Australian, New South Wales and country rep
Cons: Was injured a lot, unproven as coach
VERDICT: Makes side due to lack of other hookers in contention, may lose spot when Cameron Smith retires - although clouds over if Smith ever won a legit premiership will abound
Petero Civinoceva
Pros: Great player, rep player for QLD and Australia, captained club side Penrith, won multiple premierships
Cons: Could have been one club player but left to play for Panthers, skill deteriorated towards the end
VERDICT: Misses out, maybe bench spot?
Mark Gasnier
Pros: Great player, one club NRL player, won premiership with Dragons, Australian and NSW rep
Cons: Already another Gasnier in side, played Rugby Union, sometimes went missing in game
VERDICT: Close, but just misses out
Michael O'Connor
Pros: Australia and NSW rep, most tries and points ever for NSWm won premierships and captained Sea Eagles
Cons: played rugby union, has only coached in rugby union
VERDICT: Makes team
Brad Fittler
Pros: Won premierships with both Panthers and Roosters, rep with NSW and Australia, captained Roosters to premiership
Cons: Unproven as coach, not as good as Wally
VERDICT: Misses out
Peter Sterling
Pros: Won premierships with Eels, captained Eels, great player, rep player for NSW and Australia
Cons: Unproven as coach
VERDICT: Misses out
Steve Roach
Pros: Big strong forward, Australian and NSW rep
Cons: Never won a premiership
VERDICT: Just makes run on side
Stacey Jones
Pros: Life member of the New Zealand Warriors, took team almost single handed to a grand final, top points, tries and appearances for Warriors
Cons: Never won a premiership, New Zealander, often inconsistent
VERDICT: Misses out
Phil Gould
Pros: runner-up in grand final, most successful NSW origin coach ever, coached bulldogs and panthers to premierships
Cons: had lots of injuries, may not have played enough FG
VERDICT: Makes starting side
Glenn Lazarus
Pros: Won premierships with three different clubs, NSW, Aus rep, captained teams to premiership victory, Ricky Stuart labelled him "the best front-rower ever to play the game of rugby league"
Cons: None
VERDICT: Makes the run on side
So eventually the Immortals side could look something like this:
Fullback (1): Clive Churchill
Wingers (2): Graeme Langlands / Michael O'Connor
Centres (2): Reg Gasnier / Bob Fulton
Five-Eighth (1): Wally Lewis
Halfback (1): Andrew Johns
Props (2): Arthur Beetson / Glenn Lazarus
Hooker (1): Dean Young
Second-Rowers (2): Steve Roach / Phil Gould
Lock (1): Johnny Raper
Bench spots: Darren Lockyer, Petero
That's a pretty amazing side if I do say so myself.
Thoughts and feedback welcome...
Current Immortals: Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Graeme Langlands, Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson, Andrew Johns
Future Possibilities:
Mal Meninga
Pros: Great player, most points + appearances for Australia, top point scorer in Origin, in Australian RL HoF, never lost an Origin series as coach, captained Australia to wins and won premierships with Canberra, One club player
Cons: Immortals team already has 2 centres
VERDICT: Unlucky to miss out due to lack of spots
Darren Lockyer
Pros: One club player, captain of QLD, Australia and Broncos, captained all three teams of series wins and premierships, was a legend at two positions (fullback and in the halves), Australian, QLD rep
Cons: Has no coaching experience
VERDICT: Bench Spot
Jonathan Thurston
Pros: Multiple Dally M's, took team almost by himself to Grand final
Cons: never won a grand final, can be a little inconsistent
VERDICT: Hardest decision here but misses out due to being a current player, having no premierships and Johns being slightly better
Allan Langer
Pros: One club player, multiple premierships with Broncos, rep player with Australia and QLD
Cons: Unproven as coach
VERDICT: Misses out on spot
Dean Young
Pros: captained Dragons to first premiership as joint venture, no other hookers in current immortals team, has versatility, Australian, New South Wales and country rep
Cons: Was injured a lot, unproven as coach
VERDICT: Makes side due to lack of other hookers in contention, may lose spot when Cameron Smith retires - although clouds over if Smith ever won a legit premiership will abound
Petero Civinoceva
Pros: Great player, rep player for QLD and Australia, captained club side Penrith, won multiple premierships
Cons: Could have been one club player but left to play for Panthers, skill deteriorated towards the end
VERDICT: Misses out, maybe bench spot?
Mark Gasnier
Pros: Great player, one club NRL player, won premiership with Dragons, Australian and NSW rep
Cons: Already another Gasnier in side, played Rugby Union, sometimes went missing in game
VERDICT: Close, but just misses out
Michael O'Connor
Pros: Australia and NSW rep, most tries and points ever for NSWm won premierships and captained Sea Eagles
Cons: played rugby union, has only coached in rugby union
VERDICT: Makes team
Brad Fittler
Pros: Won premierships with both Panthers and Roosters, rep with NSW and Australia, captained Roosters to premiership
Cons: Unproven as coach, not as good as Wally
VERDICT: Misses out
Peter Sterling
Pros: Won premierships with Eels, captained Eels, great player, rep player for NSW and Australia
Cons: Unproven as coach
VERDICT: Misses out
Steve Roach
Pros: Big strong forward, Australian and NSW rep
Cons: Never won a premiership
VERDICT: Just makes run on side
Stacey Jones
Pros: Life member of the New Zealand Warriors, took team almost single handed to a grand final, top points, tries and appearances for Warriors
Cons: Never won a premiership, New Zealander, often inconsistent
VERDICT: Misses out
Phil Gould
Pros: runner-up in grand final, most successful NSW origin coach ever, coached bulldogs and panthers to premierships
Cons: had lots of injuries, may not have played enough FG
VERDICT: Makes starting side
Glenn Lazarus
Pros: Won premierships with three different clubs, NSW, Aus rep, captained teams to premiership victory, Ricky Stuart labelled him "the best front-rower ever to play the game of rugby league"
Cons: None
VERDICT: Makes the run on side
So eventually the Immortals side could look something like this:
Fullback (1): Clive Churchill
Wingers (2): Graeme Langlands / Michael O'Connor
Centres (2): Reg Gasnier / Bob Fulton
Five-Eighth (1): Wally Lewis
Halfback (1): Andrew Johns
Props (2): Arthur Beetson / Glenn Lazarus
Hooker (1): Dean Young
Second-Rowers (2): Steve Roach / Phil Gould
Lock (1): Johnny Raper
Bench spots: Darren Lockyer, Petero
That's a pretty amazing side if I do say so myself.
Thoughts and feedback welcome...
