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NRL Hall of Fame 2024 + 14th Immortal

Messages
15,497
Mal Reilly 100%. Not sure about the criteria, Mark Graham might already be there? If not, 100% ahead of Benji.

Mark Graham is already a member of the NRL Hall of Fame, as you suspected -


Though I agree with you about the recencvy bias. I could suggest Hugh McGahan as a top flight Kiwi who merits consideration.
 
Messages
15,497
Call me Cam retired at the end of 2020 yeah? Not quite 5 years.

Yes, but he is at least retired. It does smack of "we want to induct them all in one group" which is kind of annoying. Why have an eligibility criteria if you are ging to ignore it? Makes me think he'll be named an Immortal. Heck of a good player, but his demenour on field when he played, as far as most fans could see, will make him an unpoular pick as many think him a grub of the highest order.
 
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greg

Juniors
Messages
597
Burgess is the first Pom but a lot of people that followed the game back in the 70s say Reilly is very unlucky not to be named. Apparently he was one of the reasons Manly ended their 25 year drought and was one of the toughest forwards.

Graham was the first Kiwi to be named
Watched a lot of Mal Reilly when I was young. Absolute gun player. Also coached the knights to a premiership. Should definitely be in.
 

Vee

First Grade
Messages
5,634
Watched a lot of Mal Reilly when I was young. Absolute gun player. Also coached the knights to a premiership. Should definitely be in.
I love the story of Reilly coaching the Johns brothers new to FG and full of themselves. Introduced a machine called The Rhino or The Gauntlet(?), a series of weighted bags, swings and pulleys that a player had to run through getting smashed from pillar to post and trying to keep his balance and keep going. Joey went first, a bit apprehensive, and got knocked on his arse at the first obstacle. The rest were stepping back and trying to avoid catching the coach's eye when Mal stepped up, over 60 years old and with two creaky old bung knees and bullocked his way through to the amazement of the watching "elite" athletes. A lesson in toughness for the hard
 

Scootsie

Juniors
Messages
184
Well it’s all blowing up on the NRL with Brohman asking why Les Boyd got a gig. I must say I’m inclined to agree with him. I remember that Origin game like it was yesterday. If anybody did that in today’s game they’d be gone for life and probably sued for everything they’ve got.

I hate awards because someone’s always going to miss out, and some numpty is going to get a gig ( Benny Elias?).

John Dorahy, Mal Reilly, Alan Thompson, Rod Reddy, Steve Edge, Big Del, Sam Backo……….there are just too many equally worthy candidates.
 

Mr. Shaman

First Grade
Messages
8,374


Rugby league hard man Les Boyd has fired back at long-time enemy Darryl Brohman over his criticism of his induction into the NRL Hall of Fame, declaring: “I couldn’t give a f..k.”

Boyd was one of 11 players announced in the class of 2024 on Wednesday.

But his inclusion sparked a furious response from Brohman, the man whose jaw Boyd broke during a State of Origin match in 1983 which led to a 12-month suspension.

A renowned straight shooter, Boyd on Thursday hit back, claiming his elbow on Brohman has given the 2GB Continuous Call Team panel member 40 years of notoriety.

“He should be grateful that I did it, otherwise no-one would remember him,” Boyd said.

“Honestly, I couldn’t give a f. k. Let him worry about it. He’s the one who can’t let it go. I’m over it. It’s in the past.”

After the hit, Brohman didn’t play again in the 1983 season. He has maintained the injury cost him Australian representation.

It’s why the pair have shared a 41-year dislike of one another.

“About six or seven years ago, I was sitting at Gundagai races with one of my mates and he (Brohman) was sitting at a table across from me,” Boyd said.

“He came up to me and said he felt uncomfortable and that he would come over and say ‘g'day’.

“I said ‘don’t feel uncomfortable, enjoy the races, I don’t give a ‘f..k’ and I walked away. That’s the only time I’ve spoken to him.

“It (the incident) was more than 40 years ago – it was a long time ago. That’s life.”

Boyd will formally be inducted into rugby league’s Hall of Fame at a special ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.

He played 17 Tests for Australia and was among the fiercest and most damaging running forwards of his era.

“Boyd was one of the game’s hard men during one of the toughest eras, in the 1970s and 1980s, representing Australia in 17 Test matches,” the NRL said in announcing his elevation into the Hall of Fame.

However, his career was marred by two major on-field incidents.

NSW forward Boyd was suspended for 12 months for breaking the jaw of Brohman, then a Queensland prop.

He then incurred a further 15-month ban for eye gouging Canterbury’s Billy Johnstone in 1984.

When the NRL, on Wednesday, announced “an extraordinary class of inductees into the NRL Hall of Fame, featuring pioneers, record-breakers and game-changers”, Brohman was angered.

““Les Boyd …. 9 Months suspension for breaking my Jaw in 1983. 12 Months for Eye gouging Billy Johnston (sic) …… Gets inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame. Please!!!!”

There were fears Boyd’s entry could cause angst among the 2GB rugby league broadcast team, with Brohman a key member and head caller Ray Hadley being on the Hall of Fame voting panel.

“It was a secret ballot. I know who I voted for but I’ve got no idea how the other 14 panel members voted,” Hadley said on Thursday.

“I was one of the few people on the panel who was actually at the hearings back in the 1980s when the late (former NSWRL judiciary chairman) Jim Comans gave Les Boyd his lengthy suspensions, which virtually ended his career in Australia.”

Brohman took legal action which resulted in an out-of-court settlement in which Boyd reportedly paid about $30,000.

The NRL announced Boyd as one of 11 Hall of Fame selectees, the others being Lionel Morgan, Ben Elias, Steve Renouf, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Benji Marshall, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess.

“The group of players inducted is amazing,” Elias said. “It’s been a long road however to get this great acclamation and recognition is certainly a great honour.”
 
Messages
15,497
I love the story of Reilly coaching the Johns brothers new to FG and full of themselves. Introduced a machine called The Rhino or The Gauntlet(?), a series of weighted bags, swings and pulleys that a player had to run through getting smashed from pillar to post and trying to keep his balance and keep going. Joey went first, a bit apprehensive, and got knocked on his arse at the first obstacle. The rest were stepping back and trying to avoid catching the coach's eye when Mal stepped up, over 60 years old and with two creaky old bung knees and bullocked his way through to the amazement of the watching "elite" athletes. A lesson in toughness for the hard

Many a person who saw him play said he was one of the toiughest playesr they'd ever seen play. Was a great tackl;er but had better than average ball skills. He anmd John O'Neill gave the Manly pack that tough edge it needed to win that first competition. Even George Piggins rated Reilly the toughest SOB he played against, they had many a battle on the field over the years.
 
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Messages
15,151
To be honest a lot of the hall of fame is a marketing exercise. I believe the class is too big but you want the casual fan to know who the bulk of the players are. Having the players being involved in the game still is also a big plus.
 

Scootsie

Juniors
Messages
184
To be honest a lot of the hall of fame is a marketing exercise. I believe the class is too big but you want the casual fan to know who the bulk of the players are. Having the players being involved in the game still is also a big plus.

Yes, you’re right there. And I suppose people are certainly taking notice. As they Say ‘controversy sells’……..or something like that.
 

horrie hastings

First Grade
Messages
8,020
Though I agree with you about the recencvy bias. I could suggest Hugh McGahan as a top flight Kiwi who merits consideration.

Hughie is in my top 3 favourite Roosters of all time behind Artie and Kevin Hastings, he gave 110% every game and was with Easts through some very lean years, was sad to see him bow out in his very last game being thumped 8-42 by Penrith at the SFS in 1991, he deserved a better send off than that.
 
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15,151
Yes, you’re right there. And I suppose people are certainly taking notice. As they Say ‘controversy sells’……..or something like that.
Not so much the controversy but who is going to tune in to watch someone they’ve never heard of have their grandchildren talk about their career and how great they were? The rusted on fans will do that but the more casual fans won’t be interested.

That said, it helps 9 and Fox being able to introduce their panelists as Hall of Famers, especially the ones who cannot string a coherent sentence together.
 

Sime_11

Juniors
Messages
1,704
say Smith gets picked (which he should eventually) - does that mean players of the 70s, 80s etc are unable to be picked for future Immortal selections?

there's no need to rush these things - its better that we look to players of previous centuries and ensure that those who genuinely are immortals to the game are recognised.

and just to ruffle some feathers, Cronk is placed ahead of JT - he went to another club and won back to back comps as a dominant player.

that said - both Cronk & JT should not be immortals - Smith & Slater are just incredible players who change their position. both could come out of retirement and still be close to the best player in their position in the game right now. Can you honestly say the same for Cronk & JT?
 

PARRA_FAN

Coach
Messages
17,703
say Smith gets picked (which he should eventually) - does that mean players of the 70s, 80s etc are unable to be picked for future Immortal selections?

Honestly, who knows. Several people in the media have stated the we should move forward in future selections instead of going back to eras but I dont know if its in the rules. It didnt stop Provan and Meninga getting picked after Johns, both played in eras before.

Then you have the debate of once missing out 3-4 times, you're automatically out. What's the say that player is still better the future Immortals but they cant pick him.

Nothing surprises me with these changes to criteria.
 

Perth Tiger

Bench
Messages
3,217
Since they have already completely messed up the process they really should do one legacy and one recent inductee each time. It is the only way to fix the wrongs of certain eras being completely missed but still keeping it relevant for people that aren't old enough to even know the past players
 
Messages
15,497
The simple fact that the NRL changed its own criteria so they could induct Smith into the Hall of Fame in this intake, so he was admitted with JT, Slater, Cronk and Inglis means that anything can happen now.

I mean heck, in the NFL, some players literally take decades to get into its Hall of Fame. In fa they have separate categories of inductees, as they still admit players to its HoF from the pre-superbowl era.
 

Vee

First Grade
Messages
5,634
This story on the Fox Sports website sums up the selection process quite well -

Thanks for that. I saw the article but didn't read it as I thought it would be a puffpiece.

Gotta say, a weak group of HOFers (compared to the Immortals) this time around. Smith and Slater would be short odds to top that group IMO.
 
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Sime_11

Juniors
Messages
1,704
Following the 11 new faces in the men’s Hall of Fame, 121 players will be eligible to be given Immortal status.

According to the NRL’s induction process, a screening committee reduces the entire Hall of Fame Register down to 20 players during their first deliberation stage.

Then, in the second deliberation stage, those 20 players are whittled down to just five players who are then confirmed as the “final ballot”.

The players presented are then put to a vote.


interesting to see if we see that list of 20 - i assume we will find out who the list of 5 are tomorrow night before the immortal is chosen
 

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