NRL Hall of Fame 2024 + 14th Immortal

[snickers007]

The National Rugby League (NRL) will relaunch the Hall of Fame with a special ceremony, including the induction of the first Immortal since 2018.

Following a specially convened meeting of the Hall of Fame Committee, the NRL has announced the process around the 2024 induction, which will include:

• the induction of the first Rugby League Immortal since 2018
• the induction of eleven (11) male players, six (6) female players, two (2) coaches, two (2) referees, and four (4) contributors

The NRL will hold a special ceremony on Wednesday, August 21 to induct all members into the NRL Hall of Fame.

The NRL can confirm esteemed radio and television broadcaster David Morrow will be inducted into the 2024 Hall of Fame as a Contributor.

Morrow, who was awarded an OAM for services to sport, sports broadcasting and the community in 2005, was a radio and television commentator for the ABC through four decades, before joining the 2GB commentary team in 2015.

A special Hall of Fame Committee, featuring some of the game’s most esteemed Rugby League individuals, met recently to agree on future process and inductees for the Hall of Fame Awards.

It was agreed by the panel that the Hall of Fame would be selected under the following cycle:

• two (2) Male Players be inducted into the Hall of Fame per year
• one (1) Female Player be inducted into the Hall of Fame per year
• two (2) Coach inductions per four-year cycle
• two (2) Referee inductions per four-year cycle
• three (3) Contributor (Print Media, Broadcast Media, Administrator) inductions per four-year cycle
• one (1) Immortal induction per four-year cycle

It was also agreed at the Hall of Fame Committee meeting that the 2024 Hall of Fame induction would include representatives from the most recent cycle based on the years since 2019 which featured no formal Hall of Fame recognition.

The group also agreed that players must have been retired for at least three (3) years prior to being considered for the Hall of Fame.

ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys AM said the esteemed group had ensured the legacy of the Hall of Fame would be acknowledged appropriately.


“Those being acknowledged are legends of the game and their achievements through the course of the game’s history will now be honoured in the Hall of Fame forever,” Mr V’landys said.

“I’m so pleased that the group were unanimous around the induction of David Morrow. David is a legendary contributor to the game over many decades and has provided colourful and insightful coverage of the game in his own unique style.

“He has a health battle on his hands and the Committee were steadfast in their view that ‘Thirsty’ should be afforded this recognition as soon as possible.”

Hall of Fame relaunched, 14th Immortal to be inducted

The National Rugby League (NRL) will relaunch the Hall of Fame with a special ceremony, including the induction of the first Immortal since 2018.

www.nrl.com

Place your bets people.

 

[Captain Apollo]

I'd place a wager that Ray Warren might get the second "contributor" spot, with Ian Heads another I'd suspect.

 

[Bazal]

 

[mozza91]

Justin Tsoulos.

 

[Eelectrica]

Paul Carige or the whole thing is a sham.

 

[Apey]

I'd place a wager that Ray Warren might get the second "contributor" spot, with Ian Heads another I'd suspect.

They're both already there.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Love him or hate him, Cameron Smith would have to be number 14.

 

[Captain Apollo]

They're both already there.

Ah. Cheers. I'd forgotten that

 

[Nutz]

Eligibility can be found here:

Entering the Hall of Fame

Players, coaches, referees, and contributors are all eligible for rugby league's highest honours.

www.nrl.com

Immortals/hall of fame players here:

Immortals

NRL Immortals have the highest honour a player can receive in Australia, needing to have changed the game or had an impact far beyond their career.

www.nrl.com

There have been some kiwi hall of farmers but no other countries? Is this right?

Probably going against popularity here but I like to see someone like
Gareth Ellis if he's eligible.
The Metrics system would probably go against him though.

 

[Nutz]

Love him or hate him, Cameron Smith would have to be number 14.

Has to be. To have survived at the top of the game for so long is a credit to him.

 

[Bazal]

Boring bum chinned cheating whipped dork with a receding hairline?

Or the greatest entertainer the game has ever seen?

Get on the Jordy Rapz train!

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I'm glad they brought this back as it was basically forgotten after 2019 and I remember how they hyped up when Cam Smith and Slater would be inducted.

Given its 5 years since the likes of Thurston and Slater had retired, you would think they would considered.

Other players, I'm not too sure.

A lot of players I saw in the 1990s and 2000s are already in the hall of fame.

There have been some kiwi hall of farmers but no other countries? Is this right?

Probably going against popularity here but I like to see someone like
Gareth Ellis if he's eligible.
The Metrics system would probably go against him though.

Yes the Kiwis are Mark Graham, Stacey Jones and Ruben Wiki. No Poms or others.

If they were to include Poms, there are so many but who would be the first?

A lot of people reckon Mal Reilly did so much on the field as well as off the field for the game here.

As for coaches the obvious ones are Jack Gibson and Wayne Bennett

Referees, maybe Bill Harrigan and Col Pearce (?)

Who would be in the womens category, considering that the NRLW hasnt been around too long?

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

Boring bum chinned cheating whipped dork with a receding hairline?

Is there a immortbald category?

 

[siv]

Number of Contributers seems high

 

[Captain Apollo]

Number of Contributers seems high

Adding 3 is not many, when you consider it is for media, administrators and referees. That's a big pool.

Further there are currently only 5 members of the Hall of Fame who are contributors, namely -

- JJ Giltinan;
- Peter Frilingos;
- Ray Warren;
- George Piggins; and
- Ian Heads.

Source: https://www.nrl.com/hall-of-fame/contributors/

There are plenty of worthy nominees from the past (e.g. Jack Gibson, Duncan Thompson, Harry Bath, Frank Facer, Peter Moore, Keith Barnes) who are no longer with us, or long term contributors who are alive and still active in the sport or retired but still with us (e.g. Geoff Prenter, Ken Arthurson, John Quayle, Wayne Bennett).

Heck love him or hate him, you could make a case for Nick Politis as a contributor.

 

[simmo1]

Heck love him or hate him, you could make a case for Nick Politis as a contributor.

Yes, but not a very good one.

 

[Nutz]

I'm glad they brought this back as it was basically forgotten after 2019 and I remember how they hyped up when Cam Smith and Slater would be inducted.

Given its 5 years since the likes of Thurston and Slater had retired, you would think they would considered.

Other players, I'm not too sure.

A lot of players I saw in the 1990s and 2000s are already in the hall of fame.


Yes the Kiwis are Mark Graham, Stacey Jones and Ruben Wiki. No Poms or others.

If they were to include Poms, there are so many but who would be the first?

A lot of people reckon Mal Reilly did so much on the field as well as off the field for the game here.

As for coaches the obvious ones are Jack Gibson and Wayne Bennett

Referees, maybe Bill Harrigan and Col Pearce (?)

Who would be in the womens category, considering that the NRLW hasnt been around too long?

Thanks PF for a great reply. I knew about all those you have mentioned and that prompted me to question the English selections.
I'm a true blue Aussie but I think to create international interest and keep the league strong all around the world, maybe we should start to include an international flavour for those special players who promote our game IN Australia.
The selection criteria is all about what has that person has achieved to promote the game here on and off the field.
I said Gareth Ellis because I'm biased but I'm unsure what he's done other than play good footy for my tigers....but he was a huge draw card as was Ellery Hanley.
Women I'd be looking at Kezzie Apps (spelling) but I'm ignorant to their feats.

 

[Nutz]

Yes, but not a very good one.

Jealousy Simmo? I am

 

[Nutz]

I think anyone who plays 300 first grade games should be high up in the pecking order.
Michael JenningsSydney Roosters299
Josh Papali'iCanberra Raiders287
Kieran ForanGold Coast Titans285 are some set to achieve the 300 club.
Someone mentioned Reuben Wiki.. The best iinternational player I've had the privilege of being smashed in a tackle by, closely followed by big Mal and Ash Lumby. Ash was tougher than he looked.

 

[Captain Apollo]

I think anyone who plays 300 first grade games should be high up in the pecking order.
Michael JenningsSydney Roosters299
Josh Papali'iCanberra Raiders287
Kieran ForanGold Coast Titans285 are some set to achieve the 300 club.
Someone mentioned Reuben Wiki.. The best iinternational player I've had the privilege of being smashed in a tackle by, closely followed by big Mal and Ash Lumby. Ash was tougher than he looked.

Ruben Wiki is already a member of the NRL Hall of Fame. He was part of the last group inducted back in 2019 -

Ruben Wiki

One of the toughest players of his era, Ruben Wiki had a decorated 318-game premiership career for the Canberra Raiders and New Zealand Warriors.

www.nrl.com