NRL deny Cameron Smith to skip the queue for Immortal honour

Cameron Smith may hold many of the NRL’s most significant records but ARLC chairman Peter V’landys won’t allow him to skip the queue.

Cameron Smith retired alongside Billy Slater.

There is little doubt that Cameron Smith will be an Immortal but the NRL have shut down the speculation he may be pushed to the front of the queue.

While Smith ended his remarkable career on Wednesday, there was a push to give him the game’s ultimate honour — making him an Immortal — early but it looks like he’ll have to wait five years just like everyone else.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

No one has achieved what Smith has with 433 games for Melbourne — becoming the first player to ever break the 400-game barrier — represented Queensland 42 times, to go with his 56 Tests for Australia.

He’s also had more points than any other player in history with 2786 points, 368 more than the second placed Hazem El Masri.

But it hasn’t stopped ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys revealing that Smith won’t be getting any special treatment.

“At that meeting it was heavily felt that the Immortals has to be held in the highest regard – it is the most prestigious honour in the game ever,” V’landys told NCA NewsWire.

“In order to keep that prestige, you have got to be patient and go through a vigorous process.

“The Immortals have to be a percentage of the Hall of Fame, but at the moment that percentage is too high.

“You also have to keep the Hall of Fame relevant as well.

“So, they feel that we should wait a little while for the next Immortal.”

So this was goodbye.

V’landys also told 2GB’s Drive with Jim Wilson that the NRL are following the process.

“Cameron Smith is one of the greatest players our game has produced,” V’landys said.

“His record speaks for itself. When you look at the record you just shake your head, how did he do that? How good was he?

“But there is a process.

“I’ve never been a man for a process but in this instance you’ve got to follow the process.

“We had an advisory committee there last Friday with some of the most seasoned journalists and we discussed this Immortal and Hall of Fame... they believe we should follow that process.

“We’ve got to take their views on board. But if there’s ever an exception it’s Cameron Smith, but in saying that, you’ve got to make that Immortal, that legendary, the prestigious aspect of our game and you should take your time in doing it.

“I can understand that so we probably will wait and just make sure the process is followed.”

Last year, V’landys reportedly raised the topic with the ARLC last season.

And then again, not everyone is 100 per cent sure that Smith has completely retired.

But it appears the rules will stick, much to the chagrin of the Storm.

Melbourne chairman Matt Tripp told Fox Sports that Smith “shouldn’t have to” wait.

“If they were ever going to change it, they wouldn’t get many arguments with Cameron,” he said.

Cameron Smith did win everything else.

But former Queensland Origin star Brent Tate told SEN 1170, that allowing Smith to skip the queue would be disrespectful for the legendary players not yet labelled Immortals.

At the end of the day they all have to abide by the rules,” Tate said on SEN 1170 Mornings.

“Cam Smith is going to be an Immortal, we all know that. But there’s probably other guys that have earnt that status before him now.

“They’ve earnt the right to get in there, so we’ve got to be a little bit respectful of that. I’m not sure why we have to wait, but it is what it is.

“There are guys who have had magnificent careers that are befitting of that Immortal status that do probably deserve it before Cam.

“Mainly because they’ve served a bit of time in line already.”

There are currently 13 Immortals including Clive Churchill, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton, Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson, Andrew Johns, Dally Messenger, Dave Brown, Frank Burge, Norm Provan, and Mal Meninga.

— with NCA NewsWire

Originally published as NRL deny Cameron Smith to skip the queue for Immortal honour