<p>In every sport there are players that transcend the game. Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Jackie Robinson, Tom Brady, the list goes on.</p> <p>Down Under it’s no different, Australia and in this case, Rugby League has a rich history of legendary players from throughout the generations who have stood out above the rest.</p> <p>The NRL has a way of identifying and honouring these individuals. They do this by making them Immortals. This is an honour that until recently had only been bestowed upon 13 players.</p> <p>Now there are 14 after legendary lock Ron Coote’s name was added to this list of Rugby League royalty. At the NRL’s recent Hall of Fame ceremony.</p> <p>After Coote, the South Sydney and Roosters great was recently unveiled as the NRL’s 14th immortal, it inspired us to see who could potentially be next to join him and the 13 other Rugby League luminaries.</p> <p>Too soon? Never! Let’s take a look at who could be the next NRL Immortal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Who Will be the Next NRL Immortal?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Cameron Smith</h3> <p>Despite only recently retiring, undoubtedly the leading candidate to be next in line for Rugby League immortality is Cameron Smith.</p> <p>Boasting statistically the most impressive CV in NRL history, Smith’s achievements are as follows: most NRL games of all time, most NRL points of all time, QLD’s record appearance holder, three premierships (with a further two stripped), two Dally Ms, two Golden Boots and much, much more.</p> <p>Smith was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame at the unveiling of the 14th Immortal, meaning he is now eligible for footy’s highest honour.</p> <p>The only thing working against the former Melbourne man is that he hasn’t been retired for very long, with a number of greats from yesteryear potentially ahead of him in the queue.</p> <p>There is no doubt that Smith will one day become an NRL Immortal, the only question is when.</p>

<h3>Johnathan Thurston</h3> <p>Smith’s QLD partner in crime and arguably the greatest halfback of his generation, Johnathan Thurston, is the next player on this list of potential NRL Immortals.</p> <p>Too small to make it in the NRL they said, well there is nothing small about JT’s achievements in the game.</p> <p>The only player to win four Dally Ms and three Golden Boots, Thurston also won two premierships, numerous State of Origins and a World Cup in a distinguished career for club, state and country.</p> <p>The goal-kicking and playmaking extraordinaire was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame alongside Cameron Smith and perhaps will one day be granted Rugby League immortality alongside his great mate.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Peter Sterling</h3> <p>After putting the case forward for a couple of Queenslanders, it’s time to take a look on the other side of the border to see if we can find any future Immortals.</p> <p>Hey there Peter Sterling! You’re certainly in the conversation. The legendary halfback was instrumental in helping the Eels win all four of their premierships, including three in a row between 1981-1983.</p> <p>He represented his state on 13 occasions too, winning four man of the match awards – talk about a ridiculous strike rate.</p> <p>The man they call Sterlo has been retired since the early 90s and is highly revered by nearly everyone who played with or against him and has all the makings of a future NRL Immortal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Terry Lamb</h3> <p>Start as you mean to go on. Terry Lamb scored a double on his debut for Western Suburbs in 1980 and boy was it a sign of things to come.</p> <p>350 games (the first ever to play that many), 164 tries, 386 goals, multiple premierships, State of Origin shields and a Dally M, plus many other illustrious achievements, Terry Lamb went on to have one of the greatest careers in Rugby League history. The only thing missing? Immortality perhaps.</p>

<h3>Allan Langer</h3> <p>If you’re a kid from Queensland you’ve probably had to sit around and listen to your old man recount tales of the great Alfie Langer.</p> <p>Pound for pound one of the NRL’s toughest competitors in his day, Langer won four premierships with his beloved Broncos, as well as being a stalwart in both the Queensland Origin and Australian side.</p> <p>He played 258 NRL games, 37 Origins and 25 Test matches in his career and delivered many immortal moments, most notably his series clinching performance in Game III of the 2001 State of Origin series, despite playing in England at the time and being in the twilight of his career.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Ken Irvine</h3> <p>As the game’s <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/news/most-nrl-tries">greatest ever try scorer </a>it would be rather fitting if the late great Ken Irvine were immortalised in the annals of Rugby League forever.</p> <p>While Irvine’s overall tally looks set to be eclipsed by Alex Johnston in the near future, his strike rate is something that may never be surpassed.</p> <p>The North Sydney and Manly flyer scorer 212 tries in just 236 games in his playing days and completely revolutionised the wing position, paving the way for the put down specialists we know today.</p> <p>If that’s not Immortal behaviour, we don’t know what is.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Who are the 14 NRL Immortals?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Clive Churchill</h3> <p><strong>Inducted: </strong>1981.</p> <p><strong>Position: </strong>Fullback.</p> <p><strong>Club(s): </strong>Central Newcastle, South Sydney, Norths.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Bob Fulton</h3> <p><strong>Inducted: </strong>1981.</p> <p><strong>Position: </strong>Five-eighth, Centre.</p> <p><strong>Club(s):</strong> Wests Wollongong, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Warrington, Eastern Suburbs.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Reg Gasnier</h3> <p><strong>Inducted:</strong> 1981.</p> <p><strong>Position: </strong>Centre.</p> <p><strong>Club(s): </strong>St George Dragons.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>John Raper</h3> <p><strong>Inducted: </strong>1981.</p> <p><strong>Position: </strong>Lock.</p> <p><strong>Club(s):</strong> Newtown, St George Dragons, Wests Newcastle, Kurri Kurri.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Graeme Langlands</h3> <p><strong>Inducted: </strong>1999.</p> <p><strong>Position:</strong> Fullback, Centre.</p> <p><strong>Club(s): </strong>Wollongong, St George Dragons.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Wally Lewis</h3> <p><strong>Inducted:</strong> 1999.</p> <p><strong>Position: </strong>Five-eighth.</p> <p><strong>Club(s):</strong> Brisbane Valleys, Wakefield Trinity, Wynnum Manly, Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast Seagulls.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Arthur Beetson</h3> <p><strong>Inducted:</strong> 2003.</p> <p><strong>Position: </strong>Prop, Second Row.</p> <p><strong>Club(s): </strong>Roma Cities, Redcliffe, Balmain Tigers, Hull Kingston Rovers, Eastern Suburbs, Parramatta Eels.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Andrew Johns</h3> <p><strong>Inducted:</strong> 2012.</p> <p><strong>Position:</strong> Halfback.</p> <p><strong>Club(s): </strong>Newcastle Knights, Warrington.</p>

<h3>Dave Brown</h3> <p><strong>Inducted:</strong> 2018.</p> <p><strong>Position:</strong> Centre.</p> <p><strong>Club(s): </strong>Eastern Suburbs, Warrington.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Frank Burge</h3> <p><strong>Inducted: </strong>2018.</p> <p><strong>Position: </strong>Lock, Second Row.</p> <p><strong>Club(s): </strong>Glebe, Grenfell, St George.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Mal Meninga</h3> <p><strong>Inducted:</strong> 2018.</p> <p><strong>Position:</strong> Centre.</p> <p><strong>Club(s):</strong> Souths Brisbane, St Helens, Canberra Raiders.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Dally Messenger</h3> <p><strong>Inducted:</strong> 2018.</p> <p><strong>Position:</strong> Centre.</p> <p><strong>Club(s):</strong> Eastern Suburbs.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Norm Provan</h3> <p><strong>Inducted:</strong> 2018.</p> <p><strong>Position:</strong> Second Row.</p> <p><strong>Club(s):</strong> St George.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Ron Coote</h3> <p><strong>Inducted:</strong> 2024.</p> <p><strong>Position:</strong> Lock, Second Row.</p> <p><strong>Club(s):</strong> South Sydney Rabbitohs, Eastern Suburbs Roosters.</p>