NRL Immortal Andrew Johns has blasted the decision that excluded him and two other living members of the game’s most honourable club from the process to induct its 14th member.
New South Wales champion Ron Coote was officially unveiled as the newest Immortal during a gala dinner at the SCG on Wednesday night.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Ron Coote elevated to an Immortal.
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The 79-year-old, who played a combined 257 games for the Roosters and Rabbitohs across his 15-year rugby league career in the 1960s and ‘70s, was elevated from the Hall of Fame ahead of a host of equally worthy names.
Modern greats Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston, as well as champions of eras gone by like Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Allan Langer and the late Ken Irvine, were all considered a chance to become an Immortal.
And while Johns hasn’t said he disagrees with Coote’s elevation, he is furious that neither he nor the other two living Immortals Mal Meninga and Wally Lewis, were involved in the decision-making process.
“It’s disrespectful,” Johns said before Wednesday night’s ceremony on the Freddy and the Eighth podcast.
“I haven’t had a phone call. Not one phone call about it.”
There is a cycle which dictates that two male players be inducted into the Hall of Fame each year, while one is elevated to an Immortal once every four years.
That elevation can come at any stage throughout the four-year cycle.
“As of Monday, I didn’t know there was going to be another Immortal being inducted. I thought it was just Hall of Fame,” Johns said.
“Not myself, not Wally, not Mal. I know they’re disappointed. I know ‘Rabs’ (Ray Warren) is disappointed. Rabs is very disappointed.”
The Hall of Fame voting panel is made up of NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, ARL commission chair Peter V’Landys, some incumbent Hall of Fame members, members of the media, Rugby League historians, statisticians, and independent members nominated by an awards sub-committee.
Legendary commentator Warren has been part of the selection process before, but he too was excluded from the 14-person panel this year.
Meninga and Lewis appeared less offended by their snubbing.
“It would have been nice to be involved, but we weren’t asked,” Meninga told the SMH.
“It will always be something that is subjective anyway. But we weren’t needed. I can’t comment on this year’s Immortal because I never got the chance to vote.”
Lewis added: “I’m not upset. I’m just a bit surprised. I have (voted) previously.”
An emotional Coote, whose elevation was 43 years in the making, said he had all but given up hope that he would join the elite group.
“I’m a bit taken for words,” he said during a teary acceptance speech.
“I never thought I would be crying when I was (almost) 80, but I am. It’s still got to sink in. I am not really fully sure how it all goes.”
Coote has long been considered a contender to be elevated but, until Wednesday night, always had others favoured ahead of him.
“Every time they have announced Immortals, I have been passed,” he said on stage.
“I thought this was not going to happen. This time it has come through. I wait for things to happen before I sit down and enjoy it. I’ve enjoyed it, and it’s been good.”