Ron Coote: Now, the 14th Immortal; well-deserved.
There's a post I have made on another blog, but this one is to honour the view of one old man and another that just passed.
Now in my perception, I always thought that Raper was a certainty, and I notice that Buzz Roughnut said there was not much between Coote & Raper. I will go a step further and say that there was not much between Ron Coote and Ray Price. If cricket had a Bradman, it would be more than likely be Raper (I actually told him that one night when I was pissed at Jade Bhudda and he said I was very gracious). So we go back to comparisons and IMO if Coote gets it, then Price is very close. But I also note that Price was not on the 15-man shortlist.
I think now having 14 players as immortals is too many. They have lost the magic.
Wiz rightfully says Coote was previously passed over. Has he improved? No, the process has been diluted.
I never agreed with Langlands. Thornett was better. Meninga should never have got it because there were better centres ahead of him. Johns should not have got it because he is one of a half dozen halfbacks you could throw a blanket over. Norm Provan would not rate in the top 20 forwards.
So, I come back to Brett Kenny's idea of selecting immortals for each decade and structuring it that way.
Eels' Legend Ken Thornett: The "Mayor Of Parramatta"
My mate Sluggy will tell you that there was no better player than Ken Thornett who ever laced up a pair of boots. He would be disappointed if I had written this blog and didn't say so. Lol
There was no better player than Ken Thornett who ever laced up a pair of boots.
The late Sluggy, Our 1EE Original Immortal
He wasn't wrong. As a matter of fact, he was never wrong. It's just Ken was a late starter and didn't have the longevity that most of these players had. One thing to remember is the 1963/64 Kangeroo side was regarded as the greatest ever with Gasnier, Langlands (playing centre) and Raper in that side, that said Ken Thornett was fullback (Langlands could not hold him out) and he was unquestionably the best player in the world at that time!
Remember it was Raper & Langlands in their St George gear that carried/chaired Ken Thornett off in his last game before he retired.
This is a message from Sluggy
Ken Thornett, the middle son in a famous sporting family (elder brother, John, was a Wallaby captain; younger brother, Dick, represented Australia in three sports), was a hero in cities situated a world apart, and a graduate with honours from Australia's fabulous line of champion fullbacks.
Thornett's working life took him to England in 1959, where he went to ply his trade as a woolclasser. He was a NSW rugby union representative by then, but joined the Leeds rugby league club and stayed for four impressive years.
It is said that in the 1961 season, he didn't drop a single ball. When he came home briefly in 1962, Parramatta signed him for seven matches. They won six of them and drew the other.
Thornett returned to Parramatta in 1963 for what was to be a highly successful six-season stay.
He was Australia's premier fullback on the breakthrough 1963–64 Kangaroo tour, when the Ashes were won in England for the first time in more than half a century.
So much was the fullback position his that Graeme Langlands was forced into the centres.
The late great Ken Thornett passed away aged 78 in 2016, along with our own immortal, Sluggy a few weeks ago. They have passed, but they will never be forgotten.
Replies
The order of inductees just doesn't make sense, having player's recognised and rewarded when they are hitting 70 onwards is ridiculous - Mal, Wally and Joey given immortal status way too early, what did Joey achieve that Brett Kenny didn't? I don't think the number is the issue more so the order of players recognised before others - imagine the uproar if Cam Smith was named immortal? Not the perfect process by any means
Totally agree and why shorten the period to 3 years when you already had a backlog. I reckon Abdo may not have an understanding of RL history and thought he would be popular making it easier for Cam Smith, another error in judgement when it comes to the game by our South African friend. I reckon V'landys probably tore him a new one after he brought that 3 year business in.
of course Abdo doesnt know shit about our game he is just another ex apatheid south african who has snuck into a high profile job in another country ...id be suprised if he even knew Rugby .......hes a light weight in every capacity just a hack
Meninga should have been ruled ineligible after his very public spat when Super League was looking to get up in 1996. He is on the record as outright sayng that rugby league gave him nothing.
Agreed re: Johns. Not sure what he did that Sterling, Mortimer or Langer didn't.
Yep and Yep
Poppa, Ken Thornett was never the same after he broke his collar bone
Ca la Vie, many players were never the same.....not sure of the relevance given the nature of your post.
Just went back and looked at your profile.....you an old Ermo boy? Don't remember George Goden, but there's plenty I dont remember these days.
I have probably misunderstood your post HE so apologise in advance for that Lol
The concept was made up by a reporter. Like a fantasy type thing. All the old boys I ever spoke to said langlands and raper greatest players ever. No to gasnier, Beetson and fulton( unless your manly supporters). I can't see how Parramatta and Canberra don't have any in there. Also Rogers is worth a mention.
Gasnier was St George and probably the greatest centre who ever lived. Beetson was arguably Balmain and Easts and tiny bit of Parra and yes subjectively arguable, although personally I had no problems with his selection. Fulton was a great player and I disliked him and of course Manly, but I could not argue against him being an immortal.
I'm pretty well stunned you have said NO to Gasnier, you are not confusing him with his nephew are you. I think if you took a poll 99% would have gone Gasnier and Raper.
Not me poppa some old blokes that watched that era said gasnier was over rated,. I never seen him play. David Appleby used to give Fulton a bath allegedly. Breaking his ribs in 1 encounter. A lot of manly old boys gf of 73 was the best game he ever played. I watched a mot of old games in covid. 1 such game was the crow playing for country against city. The crow was head and shoulders above everyone.
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