NRL Hall of Fame dinner: Ron Coote named rugby league’s 14th Immortal after 43-year wait

The prince of Redfern and Bondi has joined the kings of rugby league. After 43 years and five induction snubs, Ron Coote is finally an Immortal.

Ron Coote is a rugby league Immortal. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The 43-year wait is over. Ron Coote is an Immortal.

After so many near misses, ‘The Prince of Locks’ has been crowned rugby league’s 14th Immortal at the NRL’s gala black tie Hall of Fame dinner at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.

It was fitting that Coote’s coronation should take place at the hallowed SCG — the very venue where he became a titan of the code, winning six of the nine grand finals he played as a champion lock for Souths and the Roosters.

There were fears NRL Immortal status might sidestep Coote after he was overlooked on five occasions, including the inaugural 1981 unveiling of Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier and John Raper.

But, for Coote, it was sixth-time lucky.

Ron Coote and his wife Robin at the NRL Hall of Fame and Immortal Induction. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

More than 250 guests exploded with applause and cheers when his name was read out, ending his long and heartbreaking wait for elite recognition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presented Coote with his Immortals jacket.

Finally, Ronald Joseph Coote has found his rightful place in rugby league’s pantheon of icons.

“It’s I’m a bit taken for words at the moment... Jesus,” a tearful Coote said.

“I never thought I’d be crying when I’m 80, but I am.

“It’s just sensational. I never thought it would happen.

“I’ve been at this function a few times and this time I’ve got the gong. That’s really good for me and I really appreciate it.

“I really appreciate everything that rugby league has done for me.

“I have had a great life and it’s the opportunity I got through playing rugby league.

“It’s the greatest game of all.”

Coote is rugby league’s 14th Immortal.

There is no more deserving recipient.

The 79-year-old is the NRL’s first Immortal since 2018. He joins 13 others – Churchill, Fulton, Gasnier, Raper, Wally Lewis, Graeme Langlands, Arthur Beetson, Andrew Johns, Dave Brown, Frank Burge, Mal Meninga, Dally Messenger and Norm Provan – in rugby league’s most respected club.

“In becoming an Immortal, Ron Coote has joined the most elite club in Australian sport,” ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said.

“Ron was talented, tough and stood tall against the peerless players of his era – fellow Immortals like Johnny Raper and Graeme Langlands.

“As a true rugby league gentleman on and off the field, Ron now holds his rightful place amongst the game’s greatest players.”

Late last year, Coote told this masthead: “I would love to be an Immortal.”

Well, Ron, you now are.

Ron Coote played 109 games for Eastern Suburbs.

And he beat a red-hot field of 13 contenders to achieve it.

On the eve of the gala affair, an online Fox Sports poll had Broncos legend Darren Lockyer as the favourite, ahead of Cameron Smith, Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling.

Other candidates included Brad Fittler, Billy Slater, Steve Mortimer, Glenn Lazarus, Ken Irvine, Johnathan Thurston, Bradley Clyde and Johnathan Thurston.

But ‘Solid’ Ron stood tall, seeing him join ‘The Little Master’ Churchill as NRL Immortals to have worn the red-and-green of South Sydney.

Coote’s rugby league portfolio is remarkable.

If success is a barometer of NRL immortality, success followed Coote wherever he went.

Only Provan (10) played more grand finals than Coote, who won four premierships at the Rabbitohs before clinching back-to-back titles at Souths’ inner-city rivals the Roosters in 1974-75.

As a player, Coote was virtually the complete forward. He had brilliant feet, a graceful running style, silky skill, an imposing presence and a supreme fitness that, with Raper, made him the best cover defender of his time.

A veteran of 257 first-grade games for Souths (148) and Easts (109), Coote enjoyed a decade-long representative career, amassing 15 games for NSW and 24 Tests for Australia.

Coote played 24 Tests for Australia.

His achievements are mind blowing. Coote won three World Cups, including the 1970 triumph as captain. He was NSWRL’s player of the year four times, a two-time winner of the Harry Sunderland Medal and man of the match in the 1971 grand final.

He was close to becoming an Immortal when the concept was first developed by the now defunct Rugby League Week magazine in 1981.

In 2004, he was named in Souths’ Dream Team. The following year, he was named in NSW’s team of the century before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas was overjoyed at Coote’s selection.

“It is difficult to put into words Ron Coote’s impact on the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the game of Rugby League,” Pappas said.

“A giant in every sense, Ron embodies all the qualities of a sporting legend: towering strength, uncanny skill and gracious humility.

“Always a Rabbitoh first and foremost, Ron is an icon not just because of the way he conducted himself on the field, but equally for what he achieved, and continues to achieve, off it.

Ron Coote in action during Souths v Balmain first grade game at Refern Oval in early 1970s. Picture: South Sydney DRLFC

“With an abiding care for his fellow players, Ron is emblematic of what a modern footballer should aspire to become and there are many lessons there for the modern-day player.

“On behalf of the Board of the South Sydney Rabbitohs on this momentous day, our hearty congratulations go to Ron, to Robyn and to the entire Coote family for a truly spectacular career in rugby league.”

A fierce competitor on the field, he was a true gentleman off it, as evidenced by Coote emerging as the driving force in the creation of the Men of League in 2000.

Now known as the Family of League, the organisation helps rugby league players in tough times _ and was triggered by Coote’s trip to hospital to visit a sick colleague.

“No deserves to be an Immortal more than Ron Coote,” said NRL legend Scott Sattler, the son of one of Coote’s closest mates, the late Souths icon John Sattler.

“His contribution to the game is remarkable.

“I’ve got an emotional attachment to Ron Coote through my dad.

“I remember being a kid listening to dad, John Raper, Graeme Langlands and Bob McCarthy talk about the greatest players and Ron Coote’s name always came up.

“He started the Men of League after visiting an old teammate and hearing how his family couldn’t afford to pay for the medical treatment.

“That sums up Ron Coote … he is the epitome of what an NRL Immortal should be.”

In his biography, John Sattler said of Coote: “It’s a big statement, I know, but as the years went on I would probably rate Coote’s cover defence ahead of John Raper’s.

“’Cootey’ made countless trysavers, but one of his most important was in the 1967 grand final, when he cut down the flying Canterbury five-eighth Bob Doyle, who seemed certain to score.

“His attack was just as influential. His fitness made him an ever-present threat, and if he didn’t bust the line with his strength, he could use his speed to get outside the defence.

Ron Coote in action for Souths in 1971.

“His energy was the heartbeat of South Sydney’s premiership successes.”

Coote had always received praise from the

When coaching Souths, coach Jack Gibson said of Coote: “In his time I can’t think of any forward a coach or player would rather be out there with.”

On a historic night for the game, 11 male players (Lionel Morgan, Les Boyd, Ben Elias, Steve Renouf, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Benji Marshall, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess) were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

They were joined by six female players (Natalie Dwyer, Katrina Fanning, Tarsha Gale, Veronica White, Karyn Murphy and Tahnee Norris), as well as two referees (Col Pearce and Bill Harrigan).

Two coaches (Jack Gibson and Wayne Bennett) and four contributors (Frank Hyde, Ken Arthurson, John Quayle and David Morrow) were also elevated to Hall of Fame greatness.

Originally published as NRL Hall of Fame dinner: Ron Coote named rugby league’s 14th Immortal after 43-year wait