The newest Immortals will be announced later in the year with a panel of experts set to decide who will join names Clive Churchill, John Raper, Graeme Langlands, Reg Gasnier, Bob Fulton, Arthur Beetson, Wally Lewis and Andrew Johns as part of the illustrious club.
While a lot of the discussion has been around modern-era candidates including Darren Lockyer, Mal Meninga and Norm Provan, NRL.com consulted noted historian and stats guru David Middleton to offer insight into the four main candidates from the pre-World War II era.
Frank Burge
Position: Lock/Second row.
Clubs: Glebe 1911–23, 1926; Grenfell 1923–25; St George 1927.
Games for NSW: 18 (1912–26).
Tests for Australia: 13 (1914–22).
Middleton says: "He's regarded as one of the greatest try-scoring forwards that ever played. His strike rate puts Steve Menzies in the shade. He almost scored a try a game and did the same at rep level. He was one of four brothers and was regarded ahead of his time in fitness. He would go on long runs to Bondi from Glebe and back. They reckon it's one of the main reasons he was well ahead of the rest of the pack. That's what you're looking for in assessing these guys with hall of fame and Immortal status – how far ahead they were. It's so hard to line up somebody like him against today's players because the game was so different. But the fact he stood head and shoulders above every other forward in his era makes him special."
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
1/100
1. Billy Cann: New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
2/100
2. Tedda Courtney: New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
3/100
3. Dally Messenger: New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
4/100
4. Sandy Pearce, New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
5/100
5. Albert Rosenfeld: New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
6/100
6. Arthur Halloway: New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 21, 1907
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
7/100
7 Daniel Frawley: Eastern Suburbs v Newtown at Wentworth Park, Glebe, April 20, 1908
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
8/100
8. Howard Hallett: South Sydney v Balmain at Birchgrove Oval, April 24, 1909
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
9/100
9. Chris McKivat: Wallabies v Kangaroos at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, September 4, 1909
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
10/100
10. Viv Farnsworth: Wallabies v Kangaroos at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, September 11, 1909
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
11/100
11. Charles Fraser: Balmain v North Sydney at North Sydney Oval, August 13, 1910
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
12/100
12. Frank Burge: Glebe v Western Suburbs at Sydney Sports Ground, April 29, 1911
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
13/100
13. Les Cubitt: Western Suburbs at Sydney Sports Ground, April 29, 1911
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
14/100
14. Herb Gilbert: South Sydney v North Sydney at Sydney Sports Ground, April 29, 1911
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
15/100
15. Harold Horder: Harold South Sydney v Glebe at Wentworth Park, Glebe, Sydney, August 24, 1912
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
16/100
16. Cecil Blinkhorn: North Sydney v South Sydney at North Sydney Oval, August 15, 1914
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
17/100
17 Duncan Thompson: Queensland v New South Wales at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, June 5, 1915
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
18/100
18. Jim Craig: Balmain v North Sydney at Birchgrove Oval, August 14, 1915
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
19/100
19 Frank McMillan: Western Suburbs v Newtown at Pratten Park, Ashfield, April 23, 1921
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
20/100
20. Benny Wearing: South Sydney v Eastern Suburbs at Sydney Cricket Ground, April 30, 1921
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
21/100
21. Tom Gorman: Queensland Country v City at Davies Park, South Brisbane, May 28, 1921
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
22/100
22. Vic Armbruster: New South Wales v Queensland at Sydney Sports Ground, September 23, 1922
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
23/100
23. Eric Weissel, Combined Districts v England at Fisher Park, Cootamundra, May 27, 1924
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
24/100
24. Dan Dempsey, Toowoomba v England at Athletic Oval, Toowoomba, June 18, 1924
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
25/100
25 Herb Steinhort: Toowoomba v England at Athletic Oval, Toowoomba, June 18, 1924
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
26/100
26. Peter ‘Mick’ Madsen. Toowoomba v Brisbane at Exhibition Ground, Brisbane, May 2, 1925
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
27/100
27. George Treweek: George South Sydney v Western Suburbs at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 30, 1926
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
28/100
28. Joe ‘Chimpy’ Busch: Eastern Suburbs v University at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, April 21, 1928
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
29/100
29 Wally Prigg: Newcastle v England at Newcastle Sports Ground, July 11, 1928
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
30/100
30. Ray Stehr, Eastern Suburbs v University at Sydney Sports Ground, April 20, 1929
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
31/100
31. Joe Pearce: Eastern Suburbs v Western Suburbs at Pratten Park, Ashfield, June 29, 1929
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
32/100
32. Dave Brown: Eastern Suburbs v St George at Earl Park, Arncliffe, August 9, 1930
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
33/100
33. Ernie Norman: Eastern Suburbs v University at Sydney Sports Ground, April 25, 1931
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
34/100
34. Viv Thicknesse: Eastern Suburbs v North Sydney at North Sydney Oval, April 16, 1932
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
35/100
35 Vic Hey: Western Suburbs v University at Pratten Park, Ashfield, April 25, 1933
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
36/100
36. Jack Beaton: Eastern Suburbs v South Sydney at Sydney Sports Ground, April 25, 1934
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
37/100
37. Andy Norval, Eastern Suburbs v South Sydney at Sydney Sports Ground, April 25, 1934
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
38/100
38. Herb Narvo: Country Firsts v City Firsts at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 9, 1936
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
39/100
39. Brian Bevan: Eastern Suburbs v South Sydney at Sydney Sports Ground, May 2, 1942
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
40/100
40. Harry Bath: Southern Suburbs v Past Brothers at Oxenham Park, Nundah, June 13, 1942
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
41/100
41. Arthur Clues: Western Suburbs v Balmain at Leichhardt Oval, April 24, 1943
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
42/100
42. Roy Bull: Manly v South Sydney at Sydney Sports Ground, April 26, 1947
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
43/100
43. Clive Churchill: Country Seconds v City Seconds at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 8, 1947
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
44/100
44. Duncan Hall: Brisbane v Eastern Suburbs (Sydney) at Brisbane Exhibition Ground, March 29, 1948
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
45/100
45. Keith Holman: Western Suburbs v Eastern Suburbs at Pratten Park, Ashfield, June 26, 1948
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
46/100
46. Ken Kearney: Ken Leeds v Bramley at Headingley, Leeds, August 21, 1948
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
47/100
47. Brian Davies: Brothers v Valleys at Oxenham Park, Nundah, April 2, 1949
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
48/100
48. Norm Provan: St George v Manly Warringah at Kogarah Oval, April 7, 1951
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
49/100
49. Harry Wells: Harry South Sydney v Western Suburbs at Sydney Cricket Ground, April 28, 1951
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
50/100
50. Brian Carlson: Newcastle v France at No. 1 Sports Ground, Newcastle, May 26, 1951
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
51/100
51. Ian Walsh: Western Division v France at Spooner Oval, Forbes, May 30, 1951
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
52/100
52. Kel O’Shea: North Queensland v New Zealand at Townsville Sports Reserve, June 22, 1952
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
53/100
53. Brian 'Poppa' Clay: Newtown v Parramatta at Erskineville Oval, August 22, 1953
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
54/100
54. Keith Barnes: Country Seconds v City Seconds at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 8, 1954
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
55/100
55. Eddie Lumsden: Manly Warringah v Balmain at Leichhardt Oval, April 2, 1955
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
56/100
56. Brian Hambly: South Sydney v North Sydney at Redfern Oval, May 27, 1956
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
57/100
57. Peter Gallagher: Brothers, April 6, 1957
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
58/100
58. Johnny Raper: Newtown v Manly Warringah at Henson Park, April 6, 1957
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
59/100
59. Noel Kelly: Ipswich v Toowoomba at Athletic Oval, Toowoomba, April 27, 1957
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
60/100
60. Barry Muir: Western Suburbs v Northern Suburbs at Oxenham Park, Nundah, April 13, 1958
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
61/100
61. Ken Irvine: North Sydney v Parramatta at North Sydney Oval, June 28, 1958
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
62/100
62. Reg Gasnier: St George v Canterbury-Bankstown at Belmore Oval, April 11, 1959
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
63/100
63. Ken Thornett: Leeds v Batley at Headingley, Leeds, March 19, 1960
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
64/100
64. Arthur Summons: Western Suburbs v North Sydney at Pratten Park, Ashfield, May 7, 1960
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
65/100
65. Johnny King: St George v Newtown at Kogarah Jubilee Oval, July 24, 1960
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
66/100
66. Les Johns: Country Seconds v City Seconds at Sydney Cricket Ground, June 3, 1961
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
67/100
67. Billy Smith: St George v Manly at Sydney Sports Ground, July 16, 1961
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
68/100
68. Graeme Langlands: Country Firsts v City Firsts at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 12, 1962
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
69/100
69. John Sattler: Newcastle v Great Britain at No 1. Sports Ground, Newcastle, June 4, 1962
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
70/100
70. Bob McCarthy: South Sydney v Canterbury Bankstown at Belmore Oval, April 6, 1963
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
71/100
71. Ron Coote: South Sydney v Balmain at Redfern Oval, March 12, 1964
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
72/100
72. Arthur Beetson: Redcliffe v Northern Suburbs at Lang Park, Brisbane, April 5, 1964
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
73/100
73. John O’Neill: Northern Division v France at Rugby League Park, Armidale, July 12, 1964
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
74/100
74. Bob Fulton: Country Seconds v City Seconds at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 22, 1965
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
75/100
Tommy Raudonikis played 29 Tests for Australia.
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
76/100
76. Michael Cronin: Southern NSW v Great Britain at Wollongong Showground, July 5, 1970
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
77/100
77. Graham Eadie: Manly Warringah v Western Suburbs at Pratten Park, Ashfield, May 29, 1971
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
78/100
78. Steve Rogers: Cronulla-Sutherland v South Sydney at Endeavour Field, Woolooware, April 8, 1973
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
79/100
Bulldogs legend Steve Mortimer.
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
80/100
80. Ray Price: Parramatta v Balmain at Cumberland Oval, Parramatta, February 28, 1976
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
81/100
81. Mal Meninga: Southern Suburbs v Brothers at Davies Park, South Brisbane, February 18, 1978
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
82/100
82. Kerry Boustead: North Queensland v Gold Coast at Owen Park, Southport, March 29, 1978
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
83/100
83. Wally Lewis: Valleys v Northern Suburbs at Neumann Oval, Albion, April 9, 1978
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
84/100
84. Peter Sterling: Parramatta v St George at Cumberland Oval, July 23, 1978
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
85/100
85. Eric Grothe: Parramatta v Balmain at Leichhardt Oval, March 3, 1979
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
86/100
86. Wayne Pearce: Balmain v North Sydney at Leichhardt Oval, March 1, 1980
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
87/100
87. Terry Lamb: Western Suburbs v Balmain at Lidcombe Oval, May 18, 1980
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
88/100
88. Brett Kenny: Parramatta v South Sydney at Redfern Oval, June 15, 1980
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
89/100
89. Gene Miles: Wynnum-Manly v Northern Suburbs at Bishop Park, Nundah, March 1, 1981
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
90/100
90. Steve Roach: Balmain v Canberra at Leichhardt Oval, May 9, 1982
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
91/100
91. Andrew Ettingshausen: Cronulla-Sutherland v Newtown at Orana Park, Campbelltown, March 27, 1983
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
92/100
92. Steve Walters: Northern Suburbs v Redcliffe at Bishop Park, Nundah, May 27, 1984
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
93/100
93. Allan Langer: Ipswich v Valleys at Neumann Oval, Albion, March 2, 1986
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
94/100
94. Laurie Daley: Canberra v Cronulla-Sutherland at Endeavour Field, Woolooware, May 31, 1987
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
95/100
95. Glenn Lazarus: Canberra v Western Suburbs at Orana Park, Campbelltown, July 26, 1987
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
96/100
96. Bradley Clyde: Canberra v Western Suburbs at Orana Park, Campbelltown, May 1, 1988
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
97/100
97. Brad Fittler: Penrith v Western Suburbs at Orana Park, Campbelltown, August 20, 1989
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
98/100
98. Andrew Johns: Newcastle v Gold Coast at Seagulls Stadium, Tweed Heads, April 17, 1993
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
99/100
99. Shane Webcke: Brisbane v North Sydney at North Sydney Oval, May 19, 1995
The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players
100/100
100. Darren Lockyer: Brisbane v Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium, June 25, 1995
Duncan Thompson
Position: Halfback.
Clubs: St Paul’s Ipswich 1911–15; Wests Newcastle 1915; North Sydney 1916, 1920–23; Starlights Ipswich 1919; Valleys Toowoomba 1924–25.
Games for NSW: Two (1921–22).
Games for Queensland: 17 (1915–25).
Tests for Australia: Nine (1919–24).
Middleton says: "He is one of the favourite stories in the game for me because he started out his career in Ipswich and worked for the Commonwealth Bank. He later went to war and was shot through the lung and told he would never play sport again. Not only did he play sport again but he ended up representing Australia. He was a great tactician of the game and ended up coaching at Toowoomba. Some of his methods and continue to be adopted by Wayne Bennett to this day and the Walker brothers used some of his tactics in the Intrust Super Cup in 2015. That all started with Duncan Thompson. I don't know if he would measure up to the records of Brown, Messenger and Burge but certainly from a tactical point of view he would."
Dally Messenger
Position: Centre.
Club: Eastern Suburbs 1908–13.
Games for NSW: 23 (1908–13).
Games for Queensland: 1 (1908).
Tests for Australia: Seven (1908–10) — three as captain.
Middleton says: "He was called the first rugby league superstar, he did things that were unorthodox and stood out that much from the rest of the players it wasn't funny. He was regarded universally as the star player, to the extent he's still remembered well now even though he died more than 60 years ago. He was halfway through his career by time rugby league came around. He played a huge number of rep games but not club games. In those days they just didn't play that many games. They made Dally M footballs and we've obviously got the Dally M medal each year so he's left a big footprint on the game. To be an immortal would be the final step to prolong his memory."
Club landmarks: Won premierships with Easts 1935–36, 1940.
Games for NSW: 21 (1931–36).
Tests for Australia: Nine (1933–36) — six as captain.
Middleton says: "They referred to him as the [Don] Bradman of league because of his record scoring ability both as a centre and goal kicker. He used to score large amounts of tries. Some of his records still stand today, the most points he scored in a game is 45 which has never been equalled or better. He scored 38 tries in 1935 from 16 games which is just phenomenal, and he was doing it against established clubs as well. A player with freakish ability that was only on the scene for less than 10 years. He would be very worthy as a top-line contender."
Sydney Roosters respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
