Mal Meninga, Andrew Johns and Wally Lewis – rugby league’s three living Immortals – have been left surprised after the NRL did not consult them when it came to voting on who should be the next player to join the game’s most exclusive club.
The NRL will hold its Hall of Fame and Immortal induction on Wednesday night at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with Melbourne legend Cameron Smith and Roosters and South Sydney legend Ron Coote among the leading candidates to be named Immortals.
A 14-person panel, mostly consisting of journalists, voted for the next Immortal at NRL headquarters last month – but Meninga, Lewis and Johns were not called upon to cast a ballot.
This masthead can also confirm Ray Warren, the retired doyen of broadcasting who covered rugby league for more than 50 years and had also served on previous Hall of Fame voting panels – was not consulted.
Meninga, the current Kangaroos coach, said the ultimate honour in rugby league was being recognised by your peers, so it was a shame he and his fellow Immortals were not asked for their opinion when it came to the next inductee.
Lewis had taken part in voting to choose Immortals in the past, while Meninga had previously voted for Hall of Fame inductees.
Mal Meninga was inducted as a rugby league Immortal in 2018.Credit: NRL Photos
“It would have been nice to be involved, but we weren’t asked,” Meninga told this masthead. “It will always be something that is subjective anyway. But we weren’t needed. I’ve voted on the Hall of Fame in the past.
“One of the best accolades you can get in your whole career is to be recognised by your actual peers. But I can’t comment on this year’s Immortal because I never got the chance to vote.”
Johns said on Tuesday: “I don’t know the ins and outs of the criteria, or who was on the selection panel, but I would have thought the three Immortals who are still alive would have got a phone call.”
Lewis, nicknamed ‘The King’, said: “It’s a little bit different, that’s for sure. I’m not upset. I’m just a bit surprised. I have [voted] previously.”
The Immortals concept was founded by Rugby League Week and later taken over by the NRL. Wayne Bennett and the late Bob Fulton, who is one of the 13 Immortals, have been part of previous voting panels.
Bennett and the late Jack Gibson will become the first inductees into the coaching Hall of Fame at the black-tie gala on Wednesday.
The NRL last week confirmed their latest Hall of Fame inductees included Lionel Morgan, Les Boyd, Ben Elias, Steve Renouf, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Benji Marshall, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess.
Darryl Brohman had his jaw broken by Boyd in an infamous hit during a State of Origin game in 1983 and, upon learning of Boyd’s inclusion, told this masthead last week: “I think it’s a ridiculous decision.” Brohman will boycott Wednesday’s event.
An NRL spokesperson said a new system was being used for this year’s vote. “The Hall of Fame Committee was a new process that consolidated all major aspects of the Hall of Fame properties, including both the Hall of Fame and the Immortals for the first time,” they said.
“It included 14 people who represent media, historians and administrators, all of whom have extensive experience in the game.”
The spokesperson did not say why Meninga, Johns and Lewis had not been consulted.
The late sports broadcaster David Morrow will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. His good friend Ray Hadley last month praised Morrow as “the most versatile sports commentator Australia has produced”.
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