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Cameron Smith takes step closer to Immortal honour after NRL Hall of Fame announcement

The Maroons legend is on the brink of NRL immortality.

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·4-min read

Cameron Smith is on the brink of becoming the next NRL Immortal after he was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside a number of his former Melbourne Storm teammates. Smith has been heavily touted as a future Immortal and speculation is growing he could be included as early as next week.

There are been plenty of calls from the rugby league world to include players from an older generation in the next group of Immortals to recognise their achievements first. However, Smith's numbers are hard to ignore and he is now one step closer to joining the illustrious group.

Cameron Smith (pictured right) is on the brink of becoming a NRL Immortal after being inducted into the Hall of Fame. (Getty Images)
Cameron Smith (pictured right) is on the brink of becoming a NRL Immortal after being inducted into the Hall of Fame. (Getty Images)

Smith was included alongside former Storm and Maroons teammates Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Greg Inglis in the recent list. Maroons teammate superstar Johnathan Thurston was also included. Wests Tigers legend Benji Marshall and Rabbitohs enforcer Sam Burgess rounded off the recent generation to have been included in the NRL Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Australia's first Indigenous representative Lionel Morgan was honoured, while controversially Les Boyd was also included. Balmain hooker Ben Elias and Brisbane's four-time premiership winner Steve Renouf were the final two of the men's inductees.

And Smith's inclusion in the Hall of Fame now leaves him on the brink of being honoured with Immortal status next Wednesday. All 110 members of the Hall of Fame are eligible to be elevated. However, of the current players it is believed Smith has the greatest chance first.

The NRL changed the rules recently around the length of time a player needs to be retired, before being eligible to be included in the NRL Hall of Fame. After the length was dropped from five years to three years, Smith is now eligible because he retired in 2020.

Smith has a big case to enter the Immortal conversation as arguably rugby league's greatest ever No.9 and one of the best players to play the game. Smith played a record 400 NRL games, won two Dally M medals and is the highest point scorer in history with 2786.

The Maroons legend the most successful State of Origin player in history, and won two World Cups with Australia during his career. While Smith is heavily touted to be included next week, the man himself admitted there should be a few people in front of him.

There are big calls for South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs legend Ron Coote to be included, alongside Ken Irvine after they missed all missed out in 2018. Allan Langer and Darren Lockyer are both an outside chance for their achievements with the Broncos, Maroons and Australia.

Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater pose for a photo.
Cameron Smith (pictured middle), Johnathan Thurston (pictured left) and Billy Slater (pictured right) were all included in the NRL Hall of Fame.

Smith recently spoke about who he thought should be included next, having praised a number of legends that came before him. "I would love to see some of the guys that finished their career some time ago...inducted. Someone like Ron Coote who was such a legendary player. He was my father's favourite player when he was growing up. I think it was six premierships he finished with...I think he would be a fantastic candidate," Smith said on SEN Radio in July.

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He also praised the likes of Langer and Lockyer having grown up admiring the Maroons greats. "A couple of guys I grew up watching. Allan Langer. I think he is sometimes forgotten for the things he did in the game," Smith added.

"I think Darren Lockyer. Just given he dominated the game for a long period of time and did it playing two different positions. He came into the game as a fullback and made the transition to five-eighth. He won a Golden Boot in both positions as best player in the world."

MEN:

  • Lionel Morgan

  • Les Boyd

  • Ben Elias

  • Steve Renouf

  • Cameron Smith

  • Johnathan Thurston

  • Billy Slater

  • Benji Marshall

  • Cooper Cronk

  • Greg Inglis

  • Sam Burgess

ADMINISTRATORS:

  • Ken Arthurson

  • John Quayle

REFEREES:

  • Bill Harrigan

  • Col Pearce

BROADCASTERS:

  • Frank Hyde

  • David Morrow