Recent reports have suggested that the 9th immortal will be decided soon. Considering this, I thought instead of writing about who I think should be the next Immortal, I would write about the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame (ARLHOF). I will write about my thoughts on what qualifications should be used to assess players entering the Hall? Who Selects the Players? How are the Players Selected? Is there a Selection for “Veteran Players”? Legend Players? All this and more in the latest edition of the Blog of Cheese
The Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame was established in 2002, and it currently has thirty-six members. In 2002, it inducted (at that stage) all six immortals (Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Graeme Langlands & Wally Lewis). Each year from 2003-2007, three players from the pre-war era (1908-1945) and three from the post-war period (1946-present) were added. Those induced during that time were:
2003
Pre-War: Dally Messenger, Dave Brown and Wally Prigg
Post-War: Keith Holman, Arthur Beetson (who that year also became the seventh immortal) and Mal Meninga.
2004
Pre-War Harold Horder, Frank Burge and Vic Hey
Post-War: Harry Bath, Norm Provan and Ken Irvine
2005
Pre-War: Jimmy Craig, Chris McKivat and Duncan Thompson
Post-War: Brian Bevan, Brian Carlson and Ron Coote
2006
Pre-War: Sid (Sandy) Pearce, Charles Fraser and George Treweek
Post-War: Ken Kearney, Duncan Hall & Peter Sterling
2007
Pre-War: Arthur Halloway, Tom Gorman and Joe Pearce,
Post-War: Harry Wells, Keith Barnes & Mick Cronin
In late 2007, the ARL & NRL commissioned 130 experts to help decide the 100 best players from 1908-2008. Thirty-six of those selected were already in the Hall of Fame, whilst the other sixty-four were not. The other sixty-four players are:
Vic Armbruster, Roy Bull, Jack Beaton, Cec Blinkhorn, Billy Cann, Brian Clay, Arthur Clues, Bradley Clyde, Ted “Tedda” Courtney, Les Cubitt, Laurie Daley, Brian Davies, Dan Dempsey, Graham Eadie, Andrew Ettingshausen, Viv Farnsworth, Brad Fittler, Dan Frawley, Peter Gallagher, Herb Gilbert, Eric Grothe Sr, Howard Hallett, Brian Hambly, Andrew Johns, Les Johns, Noel Kelly, Brett Kenny, Johnny King, Terry Lamb, Allan Langer, Glenn Lazarus, Darren Lockyer, Eddie Lumsden, Bob McCarthy, Frank McMillan, Peter “Mick” Madsen, Steve Mortimer, Barry Muir, Herb Narvo, Ernie Norman Andy Norval, John O’Neill, Kel O’Shea, Wayne Pearce, Ray Price, Tom Raudonikis, Steve Roach, Steve Rogers, Albert Rosenfeld, John Sattler, Billy Smith, Herb Steinohrt, Ray Stehr, Arthur Summons, Viv Thicknesse, Ken Thornett, Ian Walsh, Steve Walters, Benny Wearing, Shane Webcke, and Eric Weissel.
I think the NRL should re-establish the Hall of Fame in 2018 (to celebrate the 110th anniversary of Rugby League in Australia). Each year’s nominees should be announced at the Men of League Gala Dinner and then inducted into the Hall at a dinner during the grand final week. The first dinner will establish the sixty-four players (from the 100 greatest players) who are not officially part of the Hall of Fame and the team of the century coach Jack Gibson.
As for how the process of who is selected in the future, I believe the following criteria should be met:
What Are the Qualifications for Players?
I believe that the players should be eligible for the Hall five years after they played their last game. For example; Andrew Johns would qualify in 2013, as he retired in 2007, whilst Darren Lockyer would be eligible in 2017, as he retired in 2011.
Who Selects the Players?
The sectors who choose who enters into the ARLHOF should be decided by members of the Australian Rugby League Writers Association, as well as people involved in the media outside of journalism, to form a selection committee.
How Are Players Selected?
Suppose players are on eighty per cent of selection committee ballots. In that case, they should be elected Though a minimum of four and a maximum of seven inductees each year in total from across the various categories, which are listed below:
“Veteran” Players?
There should be a separate category for Rugby League players who played in the pre-war era (1908-1945). A maximum of two players from this category can be added each year. This group would be selected by some members of the selection committee.
“Legend Players”
The ARLHOF should copy the Australian Rules Hall of Fame in that no more than 10% of players in the ARLHOF should be immortals. If this was the case, then Rugby League Week would need to rescind the rights of the immortal concept to the NRL, and it would also allow other deserving players to be given the immortal tag.
Non-Players in the Hall of Fame:
I believe that coaches, referees, media personalities and administrators should also be able to qualify for the ARLHOF. Unlike players, nonplayers can be inducted within five years of retirement.
Possible Inductees to the Hall of Fame
Players: Greg Alexander, Cecil Aynsley, Ferris Ashton, Sam Backo, Les Boyd, Luke Burt, Mal Cochrane, Petero Civoniceva, Bill Colier, Jason Croker, Steve Ella, Frank Fisher, John Ferguson, Denis Flannery, Geoff Gerard, George Green, Paul Harragon, Eric Harris, Nathan Hindmarsh Brett Kimmorley, Brent Kite, Paul Langmack, Bob Linder, Cliff Lyons, Hazem El Masri, Wally McArthur, Anthony Minichello, Steve Menzies, Lionel Morgan, Luke Priddis, Steve Price, Scott Prince, Bernie Purcell, Luke Ricketson, Dale Shearer, Eric Simms, Gordon Tallis, and Anthony Watmough
Administrators: Ken Arthurson, George Ball, Harry Bath, Bill Buckley, Frank Facer, Harry Flegg, James Giltinan, Jack Fenley, Henry Hoyle, John McDonald, Harold Matthews, Horrie Miller, Harry Sunderland, John Quale, and Victor Trumper
Coaches: Chris Anderson, Don Furner, Phil Gould, Arthur Hennessey, Charlie Lynch, Jack Rayner, Norm Robinson, Warren Ryan, Tim Sheens, and Brian Smith
Media: EE Christiensen, Alan Clarkson, Peter Frilingos, Ian Heads, Frank Hyde, Roy Masters, Rex Mossop, and Debbie Spillane
Referees: Steve Clark, Barry Gomersall, Bill Harrigan, Greg Hartley, Shane Hayne, Darcy Lawler, Tom McMahon, Greg -MacCallum, Tim Mander, Col Pearce, Mick Stone, and Eddie Ward
As former ARL Chairman Colin Love once said: “The ARL Hall of Fame is an important part of recognizing the heritage of Rugby League. In building towards the future, we must recognize those who laid the game’s foundations. The names of this group are synonymous with Rugby League, and they were the benchmark of excellence in their respective eras. The career statistics of each are astonishing enough, but when you read the stories behind them, they reveal true greatness.”
And Another Thing: I know several people have criticised the World Cup draw and that Sydney only gets two games, though they don’t say which games they would move. I am happy where the games are being played, and I plan to attend as many games as possible.
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Till next time,
Cheese