Petero Civoniceva and Gorden Tallis say the time has come for Mal Meninga to become an Immortal

NRL Hall of Fame inductees Petero Civoniceva and Gorden Tallis have rallied in support of Mal Meninga, saying it’s time for the Maroons icon to be crowned a rugby league Immortal.

News/sport 23/5/1994. Game 1 of the rugby league State of Origin, Queensland vs New South Wales at the Sydney Football Stadium. Queensland's Mal Meninga runs with the ball. Queensland won 16 to 12 Neg/no 35/P/10385-7 box/noPicture by Jim Fenwick The Courier-Mail Photo Archive

NRL Hall of Fame inductees Petero Civoniceva and Gorden Tallis have rallied in support of Mal Meninga, saying it’s time for the Maroons icon to be crowned a rugby league Immortal.

The NRL will celebrate one of the most significant chapters in the code’s history when two more Immortals are unveiled at a gala dinner at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

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Ten players are in contention for the honour, including Meninga, former Broncos skipper Darren Lockyer, Souths legend Ron Coote, tryscoring winger Ken Irvine and Roosters pioneer Dally Messenger.

Has the time come for Mal Meninga to become an Immortal.

Others vying for the most prestigious honour in rugby league are Easts’ Dave Brown, Glebe great Frank Burge, Brian Bevan, Duncan Hall and legendary St George skipper Norm Provan.

Meninga has twice been overlooked for Immortal status, losing out to Arthur Beetson (in 2003) and Andrew Johns (2012), but Civoniceva and Tallis believe Big Mal can no longer be ignored.

Civoniceva hopes Provan is the second Immortal named, while Tallis says Messenger, who orchestrated the birth of rugby league in Australia in 1908, must be recognised.

“Mal’s time is now,” said Civoniceva, who with Tallis will be among six players inducted into the NRL’s Hall of Fame.

“He has been overlooked before but the timing is right for Mal to become an Immortal.

“I really hope we recognise the great men that have gone before us and Mal and Norm Provan have records that I don’t think will ever be beaten.

Meninga has a standing few in the game can match.

“As a kid growing up in Brisbane, Mal was such a dominant figure right at the start with Brisbane Souths before he became one of the greats at Canberra, Queensland and Australia.

“I was later lucky enough to be coached by Mal in the Queensland team and when he walks into a room, you feel the presence of greatness.

“Mal has a great aura and he has been a fantastic mentor for so many of us in the Queensland dynasty (Meninga coached the Maroons to nine series wins in 10 years).”

There is a strong push for 355 game Broncos playmaking legend Lockyer to receive NRL Immortality, but Civoniceva believes Provan must join Meninga.

Meninga is a true icon of the game.

Provan presided over the most ruthless club side in rugby league history, featuring in 10 of St George’s 11 premierships between 1956-66, including four as captain-coach.

“It’s important that while someone like Norm Provan is still with us, he is recognised,” Civoniceva said.

“His generation was a cornerstone of rugby league and the dominance of the Dragons and Kangaroos when he played should always be remembered.

“Norm was such a great leader of men and his influence as an ambassador is tremendous.

“’Locky’ is a great player but he’s a lot younger … his time will come down the track.”

Tallis agreed with Civoniceva in his assessment of Meninga.

Provan has come so close so many times.

“The two most deserving are Dally Messenger and Mal Meninga,” Tallis said.

“None of us saw Messenger play but without him, we wouldn’t have a game. Our player of the year medal is named after him. He was the bloke who walked away from rugby union and started what we have today. He deserves it.

“I’d also love to see Mal get picked. Four Kangaroo tours and everything else he did. I didn’t get to see all of the candidates’ careers but someone from the past like Messenger and more recent like Mal Meninga would be a fair balance.”

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