The issue with the Immortal concept is that off field exploits, good or bad don't count.
I believe a Johns Immortality was inevitable, as a player he has few peers in his and other eras.
However blokes like Provan and Meninga deserved the accolade first.
I like the concept but the concept was alwYs flawed with RLW selecting the panel. The Hall of Fame is barely mentioned, like the AFL they should gain entry first and then every two or five years a member should be raised to Immortal Status.
I agree it was flawed but dont agree with Meninga being named an immortal. He was a great player for his team but to me not worthy of being awarded immortal. If you were also to include his coaching ability, I dont rate him highly compared to others who have shown their coaching ability of building a team from the ground up. I would like to see what he is capable of doing as a coach at club level where it relies heavily on his ability/ skill as a coach.
I agree it was flawed but dont agree with Meninga being named an immortal. He was a great player for his team but to me not worthy of being awarded immortal. If you were also to include his coaching ability, I dont rate him highly compared to others who have shown their coaching ability of building a team from the ground up. I would like to see what he is capable of doing as a coach at club level where it relies heavily on his ability/ skill as a coach.
Very valid points and my natural bias certainly shining through. While not the player of a generation or one who was consistently and individually brilliant I feel his career is almost enough.
3 premierships as a Captain in a team he helped build and actively recruit players to.
4 victorious Kangaroo Tours, 2 as Captain. His first two tours were as part of the Invincibles & Unbeatables.
Loads of Origin wins as a player and Captain and one of those inaugural Origin players who helped breathe life back into the concept.
Mals comments about RL might be still held against him.
It really depends what defines an Immortal. Leadership? Individual Stats? Team Stats?
A very subjective process and not an easy job with so many greats to have played our game!!
i know this started off calling andrew john,s a tool,but i am straying off the subject a bit by asking your thought,s of him being the lastest immortal.
It was undeserved. Also more than half his rep footy was played outside of halfback because there was a better halfback ahead of him. So why not make those players ahead of him immortals. They try to say the drugs were on off field incident. Which is wrong he got caught with them off field but he admitted using them while playing making the use of them something to consider when voting.