Immortal Confidential: Prime Minister avoids embarrassing Coote moment | Spotted, Shoosh from NRL HoF night

We recap all the behind the scenes action from NRL’s Hall of Fame evening including the story behind Benji Marshall’s plus one and a touching moment for our newest Immortal.

The night wouldn’t be the same without a technical glitch. But like Albanese was able to recover.

As the PM was about to unveil the game’s next Immortal the teleprompter he had been reading off suddenly froze. It was at the exact moment Albanese was to announce Ron Coote’s induction.

After a slight awkward pause, Albanese was able to recover and luckily for all involved announced Coote’s name even if the autocue was still blank.

WALLY RETURNS TO ENEMY TERRITORY

Immortal Wally Lewis didn’t enjoy too many warm receptions as a player at the SCG. But as he walked into the stadium for Wednesday night’s event he took a moment to reflect.

“It’s good to be back at this place,” Lewis said. “It brings back plenty old memories.

“I used to listen to people cheering ‘Wally’s a banker’.

“Not the other one. They thought I was involved in finance - it was a thrill to play here. When we came in here we had things thrown at us, glasses, bottles and oranges.”

King Wally 9the banker) Lewis was happy to be back at the SCG.

BENJI’S PLUS ONE

With his wife travelling Europe, Benji Marshall was forced to call in an old teammate to be his plus one for his hall of fame induction.

Marshall was joined by fellow 2005 premiership winner Chris Heighington for the night.

“It was like a school formal having to ask him to come but he declined at first and then he realised he needed a new job as assistant coach next year.”

TOUCHING MOMENT

This is the touching image which showed Coote with wife Robin just after being announced as the game’s most next Immortal. The Coote’s left the SCG together with Robin having a walking aid. Ron held onto his wife as they shared the moment together.

Ron Coote and his wife Robin leaving the SCG after the function.

PM POWER

The PM’s schedule and his need to go back to running the country meant a re-jig to programming on Wednesday night.

Ron Coote’s Immortal induction happened in the middle of the evening instead of at the climax of the event for one simple reason – Anthony Albanese had to head back to Canberra.

Albanese, a South Sydney tragic, was on hand to induct Coote as the game’s 14th Immortal and waited until Coote’s acceptance speech was over before he had to get back to Canberra.

The NRL were obviously happy to accommodate Albanese’s schedule to ensure he was able to be part of the event.

Particularly when his government is about to tip in $600 million to help fund the NRL’s 19th team in PNG.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese avoided an embarrassing moment at the event. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

BURGESS’ AIRPORT WIND-UP

South Sydney legend Sam Burgess has taken Sport Con through his whirlwind 72-hour return to Sydney, conceding he never contemplated missing out on the chance to accept his Hall of Fame induction in person.

Burgess coached Warrington to a big win over Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday morning (AEST) and then hastily boarded a plane for Sydney.

He arrived in Sydney on Monday night, spent time with his children, brothers and mother Julie, and was then among the honoured guests at the Hall of Fame dinner at the SCG on Wednesday night.

Burgess was then back on a plane on Thursday night (AEST) to take charge of Warrington for their game against the Castleford Tigers on Saturday morning (AEST).

“I didn’t think it was something I could miss,” Burgess said.

2024 NRL Hall of Fame inductee Sam Burgess. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“I made it work in the schedule. I have great assistant coaches, my squad is flowing well - they can run the practice themselves - and the culture is pretty good.

“It worked. I won’t have missed a game - but I missed two days of training.”

Burgess, who is contracted to Warrington for a further two seasons, has led the Wolves into third place on the Super League ladder.

In the process, he has strengthened suggestions that he is an NRL coach-in-waiting. Burgess is in no hurry to return to the NRL, having recently extended his deal with Warrington in a sign of how committed he is to winning a title with the Super League giants.

“I don’t know what day it is or what time it is,” Burgess said.

“It has been great to be back. I saw my kids, saw my brothers. I will go see a few mates. I felt like it was a big recognition.

“I don’t often get chuffed too much but I was chuffed with this. When I came here as a young lad I set out to leave a mark on the game.

“So I am really happy.”

As for his plans to return to the NRL, Burgess insisted he was enjoying being out of the spotlight.

“We’re really enjoying our time in England,” Burgess said

“I was signing over here, so I’ve been there for over two years after this season. I’m in no rush, I’m enjoying England, I enjoy the freedom of England.

“I landed in Sydney airport at 11 o’clock on Monday night. I was collecting my bags at the carousel and within 30 seconds I had something I’d not experienced for 10 months in the UK.

“Just a bit of carry-on fun (from a fan), poking, trying to stir you up. Well, now I’m back in Australia. I enjoy England for that reason.”

HEAVY HITTERS

St George Illawarra are flying high in the top eight and chairman Andrew Lancaster took up prime seating next to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday night. Lancaster sat on table no.1 to the left of the PM. Lancaster also doubles as CEO of WIN Corporation. ARL chairman Peter V’landys was to Albanese’s right alongside his wife Philippa. Others on the big-hitters table included Foxtel boss Patrick Delany, his wife Georgina, Daily Telegraph editor Ben English, weekend editor Anna Caldwell, minister for sport Steve Kamper and Nine boss Mike Sneesby.

It’s a Funny, by Boo Bailey.

SPOTTED

The referees remain disciplined even away from the field. All the current referees attended on two tables. While most patrons were mingling as they were being told to sit down, there were only two full tables by that stage - those of the match officials.

SPOTTED

While Wayne Bennett made the decision not to attend, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart made a whirlwind visit. Stuart, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018, arrived in Sydney just before the event started before flying back to Canberra the same night.

SPOTTED

Kasey Badger on crutches all but ending her hopes of refereeing a match again this season. Badger tore her calf on Thursday at training. She had only just recovered from a knee injury.

SHOOSH

Which club chief executive brushed a rival club chairman? The bad blood was there for all to see.

SHOOSH

Which journalist was filthy when he was told that he had been slated to present Wayne Bennett with his hall of fame jacket before the super coach brushed the evening?

IF THE JACKET FITS

The NRL had a tailor on hand to help with the players when fitting with their MJ Bale suits before they stepped onto stage on Wednesday night. The players were asked for their jacket size when they were told they were being inducted. They were then fitted with their jacket just hours before the event started. The NRL had a few spare just in case the jackets did not fit correctly.

Greg Inglis and the tailor fitting his Hall of Fame jacket. Picture: NRL Imagery

NRL’S SECRET COOTE PLAY

The Immortal jacket was a different circumstance given the secrecy behind Coote’s induction. The NRL used Coote’s measurements from his Hall of Fame induction in 2008 and hoped that would still work.

LEGEND SCREEN HOF CALLS

The NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley was tasked with telling the Hall of Fame inductees the news of their impending induction a few weeks ago. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Broncos legend Steve Renouf kept brushing the calls despite the notification that “maybe Graham” was trying to reach him. After a few attempts he finally picked up the phone. Benny Elias was overseas too so it took Annesley a few goes before he was able to break the news. Elias was in Vietnam and finally answered his phone when the NRL reached out via WhatsApp more than a week after others had found out.

“I was out of contact for a week,” Elias said. “I got an urgent message from Graham saying can you please contact me. When he told me over the phone I could’ve blown over.

“I couldn’t wait to get home and enjoy being part of this very elite group.”

Benny Elias was uncontactable in Vietnam. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Originally published as Immortal Confidential: Prime Minister avoids embarrassing Coote moment | Spotted, Shoosh from NRL HoF night