NRL fans back Ron Coote over modern day champions to be next Immortal

NRL fans have backed Rabbitohs and Roosters great Ron Coote over modern day champions like Darren Lockyer to become the next Immortal.

A legendary player who secured epic support from rugby league fans has made a passionate plea: “I would love to be an Immortal.”

NRL supporters have pushed aside multiple modern day greats to endorse South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs legend Ron Coote as the next Immortal.

“I’d love to be an Immortal but I’ve been here before so I won’t get too excited until it happens,” Coote said. “I was disappointed (to miss out) early but then I thought I was in the past.”

Coote pulled 20 per cent of the vote in our exclusive online poll – the most of any player – asking readers to nominate the next Immortal.

Brisbane’s Darren Lockyer (16 per cent) ran second from Parramatta’s Peter Sterling (12 per cent), who nudged past his former Eels teammate Brett Kenny (9 per cent).

Queenslanders Allan Langer and Johnathan Thurston each secured 10 per cent of the vote.

Ron Coote’s South Sydney footy card from 1969.

This masthead revealed on Monday that the NRL had officially started moves to induct the next Immortal and expand rugby league’s prestigious Hall of Fame.

An NRL subcommittee has been formed to trigger discussions.

Other players touted as Immortal candidates were Steve Mortimer, Laurie Daley, Steve Rogers, Ken Irvine, Duncan Thompson, Arthur ‘Pony’ Halloway, Bradley Clyde, Glenn Lazarus, Ricky Stuart, Graham Eadie, Brad Fittler, Greg Inglis, Mick Cronin and Ray Price.

“With my record, and for my family, I’d really love to be named. It would be a fantastic thing and hopefully it will happen. You know me, I’m a reserved person who doesn’t speak out,” Coote said.

“But it’s a good feeling to know that people (in the poll) still care and want you to get some accolades for what you have done. I like it, mate.

“It would be a fitting result for my football career but it’s up to other people. I shouldn’t say fitting, it would be a good result for effort I put into rugby league.

“I played in nine grand finals, not too many blokes have done that, I captained Australia and won the Harry Sunderland Medal twice.

Ron Coote played lock for Souths and the Roosters.

But there would be so many players who would fit in (to the Immortals) and really be accepted.

“It’s nice people still remember me. I’m 79 now and I haven’t played for 45 years. I think it (the next inductee) should be someone from the past. The modern day players have got plenty of time to get in.”

Coote ended the interview with: “Thanks for thinking of me.”

Former Souths Sydney teammate Bob McCarthy added: “Blind Freddie can see that Coote should be there. Nine grand finals, played for Australia and has done everything everyone else has done in the game.

“Arthur Beetson played with all those Immortals and said Coote was the best he played with. Is it something against Souths? We’ve won 21 premierships, more than anyone, and only got one Immortal (Clive Churchill). We should be recognised for those premierships.”

Veteran Australian sports journalist David Lord emailed this masthead pushing for Irvine, rugby league’s greatest try scorer.

Darren Lockyer is a popular choice when it comes to being named an Immortal. Picture: Darren England

“How Irvine was missed in 1981 with Clive Churchill, Reg Gasnier, Bobby Fulton and Johnny Raper beggar’s belief – Irvine was at least the equal of all four,” Lord wrote.

“He’s not only held the NRL try scoring record for 50 years at 212, but the breakdown of his club, NSW, and Kangaroo stats, are phenomenal.”

Queensland champions Thurston and Billy Slater have become eligible for Immortal status given they have now been retired for the mandatory five years.

The NRL will look at adding players to their Hall of Fame, which currently has 110 inductees. A player must be in the Hall of Fame before being considered for Immortal status.

The13 Immortals are Churchill, Reg Gasnier, John Raper, Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton, Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson, Andrew Johns, Dally Messenger, Dave Brown, Frank Burge, Norm Provan and Mal Meninga, who was the most recent inductee in 2018.