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Andrew Johns named eighth Immortal

WWOS staff

Friday, September 28, 2012

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Have your say on Immortal Andrew Johns

Newcastle Knights great Andrew Johns has been named the eighth rugby league Immortal at the Men of League Gala Dinner in Sydney.

Johns joins Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Graeme Langlands, Wally Lewis and Arthur Beetson as the nation's greatest ever players.

Johns leapfrogged Norm Provan, Ron Coote and Mal Meninga to become the eighth immortal.

In pics: Andrew Johns' incredible career

"I just want to thank everyone who's been involved in my life to get me where I am in rugby league," Johns said.

"I owe everything in my life to rugby league. Ever since I was a kid. I'd hate to imagine where I'd be without the game that's given me everything. And even now it gives me everything.

"If I'm being totally honest I felt I wasn't worthy alongside those guys. Those guys were my idols growing up."

Johns played 24 Test matches for Australia, 23 State of Origin games for New South Wales and a club record 249 premiership matches for Newcastle.

He won two premierships with the Knights, was awarded the Dally M Medal a record three times and holds the record for most points scored in Australian first grade history with 2,176 points.

"The Immortals stands above all other honours in our great game and Rugby League Week is proud and excited to be adding another champion to the club," Martin Lenehan, Editor in Chief, ACP Men's Lifestyle Sports, said.

"To assist with this monumental task we put together a panel of judges without peer in the game and the man they have chosen to join this exclusive club stands tall alongside the seven current Immortals for his spectacular achievements on the football field.

"Rugby League Week has nurtured the Immortals since its inception in 1981 and looks forward to working closely with Men of League and the ARLC to ensure the Immortals maintains its rightful place as the pinnacle of Rugby League.

"We congratulate Joey on becoming the eighth member of the most famous and fabled club in Rugby League."

ARLC Interim Chief Executive, Mr Shane Mattiske said: "I think anyone who has been around Rugby League and watched Andrew Johns play the game would appreciate just how great a privilege it was to see him in action.

"Joey is not only one of the champion players of his era, he is one of the greatest the game has seen.

"To be chosen by such a distinguished group of judges as one of the game's Immortals is an honour befitting his achievements in Rugby League."

Legends such as Dally Messenger and Frank Burge, are ineligible because they played before World War II, one of the Immortals' original stipulations.

The first judges (Frank Hyde, Harry Bath and Tom Goodman) agreed in 1981 they could only judge on players they had seen in action.

What do you think of Andrew Johns being named an Immortal?
What is your favourite Andrew Johns playing moment?
Who should the next Immortal be?

User comments

Drop the T, thats where Andrew belongs - no doubt he was a great player, surely one of the best - but given the example he has set to juniors, his illegal acts should disqualify him indefinately from this and commentary...no to drugs and grubs...

What an absolute disgrace to honour Johns above Mal Meninga. What Mal has done for his clubs, his team, his State, his Country is 10 times more than Johns could even think about.

This is absolutely nothing to do with NSW & Queensland. Andrew Johns should not be in the running as one of the immortals. He may have be a good player. He may have been one of the best players but he did not reach that greatest the right way. The way where integrity is of the highest level. There are heaps of players and people who suffer from different issues all their lives and do it the right way. There greatest is unquestionable. They are the people we should be identifying as immortals, not rugby league players who can't handle the pressure of a sheltered life and huge salary.

Did Harry Bath,Frank Hyde and Tom Goodman say they could only judge players they had personally seen or only players they had personally seen after the War? This sounds like a lot of hot crock to me because i'm pretty sure they all would have seen League played before the 2nd world war began. I know Frank Hyde for one would have. Sounds like somebody may have conveniently fudged this one to benefit Joey. If thats true then maybe the one about "its only what you did on the field that counts" could be a figment of somebodys imagination too and thus could also be perceived to have been dreamed up to benefit Joey prospects. Could somebody out there tell all on this site where these rules can be found because I sure as hell cant find them.

First off... congrats Joey. Bad luck Mal. Both great players with very different styles and a shame only one could be picked. I think Mal has the greater record, yet also think Joey was a shade the better player. Done and dusted now though. All the whinging in the world ain't gonna change it. To the QLD'ers saying we were robbed, I wouldn't worry too much. The next 3 immortals have to come from up here. Lock, Mal, and big Petro. So give the southerners their glory and congratulate a worthy Andrew Johns

Question... How many NSW people are on the panel? Looks like their opinion to me. Andrew was a good player. Big Mal was more recognised all over the world than Andrew. Anyway good luck to Joey! That's my view... I'm an Englishman who has lived here for many years - more neutral I would say. keep up the high standards Australia... Jimmy

I'm guessing everyone knocking Joey for drugs have never done something they regret. Therefore they can point the finger at everyone else that has made a mistake in life. Joey is the best to have ever played the great game of league. Comparing him to Mal is unfair on Mal, Mal wasn't in the same postcode as Joey when it came to football. They got it right!!!!

Were the video refs doing the selection for the next Immortal. What a JOKE!

He's the best footballer i've seen. Every half back that plays the game today and at least for the next 20 years will do so because of Andrew Johns. So in saying that i believe he has every right to be declared an immortal. You only have to talk to some of the older players that played the game at the highest level what they think and most will agree that he is deserving of the honour and that's good enough for me.

Give the man some credit. He was a brilliant player and the recognition of his on field contribution to the game is thoroughly deserved. The judges were never going to please every punter with their decision. For what it's worth I reckon they got it right.

I just wonder what sort of message we are sending to our kids when when someone who is a confessed drug taker is put up on a pedestal and revered. That alone should be enough to not to award it to him.

I agree he was a great footballer, however for him to be named in front of Norm Proven and Mal Meninga makes an absolute mockery of the system, it once again brings into play how NSW Rugby League and its pundits thinks that the world revolves around NSW.

The sorriest thing for me is that the majority of you people write as if Rugby League has only existed for 35yrs. We know that for Queenslanders and Victorians this very well might be the case.There have been wonderful players over the years, years that they had to work fulltime as well as play 1st grade football, years where the playing statistics certainly don't match todays but a Kangaroo Tour every 4 yrs was the go then, 1 NSW v Queensland match and 1 City v Country mind you every oval was filled to near capacity and we got to see 3 games, and oh yes they actually played 80 minutes of football. Can someone tell me how an Immortal is chosen after a mere 6 yrs retirement.In my opinion there were many more deserving of the "Immortal" selection before either Meninga or Johns, I think that their selection should be inevitable but not yet. Thank God for the Provans, Cootes, Sattlers, Irvines, Thornetts, Kellys,Churchills,Mossops and countless others who made Rugby League IMMORTAL......

Andrew Johns an Immortal who are you kidding, awards don't make an immortals dead’s do and Mal has this all over so'n'so. Hang it on the wall proudly Andrew but make sure it faces the wall...you should be ashamed to accept this award. I was bewildered when they made you a presenter...another major blunder...but this...makes me want to stop watching footy all together. Give it back Andrew...be a man at least once in your life.

It is unfortunate that the discissions around Andrew Johns receiving 'Immortal' status have mostly become a slanging match of interstate rivalries rather than a proper debate as to whether he truly deserves the honour. The keyword here is honour, because that is what being recognised as an Immortal is. It is more than just an award, and if how a player conducts himself off the field in any way tamishes the reputation of the game, then ignoring such actions discredits the meaning of this honour. This is something that the judges MUST recognise else the award itself is also tarnished. As to whether Johns therefore deserves the honour basely solely upon his on-field performance, I believe it becomes even more debateable. To me he was a very good player but not great, as there were too many games (for his club, state and country) where his application was lacking - a fact which Johns himself admits. And it is upon this fact Andrew Johns is undeserving of the honour of Immortal.

I think the term "Immortal" is a load of pretensious crap, and should have been reserved for the bottles of plonk the term was intended for.Big Mal doesn't need such a ridiculous label to validate his playing record..it speaks for itself."Immortals"..little fish in a piddly little pond.

Depending what side of the border you come from will dictate your answer.I am sure that Mal will get his chance before long,we all now what Joey did,so why whinge about his award he is the one who has to live with what he did.He is the only one who knows deep down if he deserved it.

To all you guys saying that it is his on field stats and the way he played the game. Have at Darren Lokyer's stats. Hands down beats Johns in every aspect. As far as the way he played the game, he admitted playing on drugs. That seems to be alright with some people. It seems that the "WIN ANYWAY YOU CAN" attitude is still alive and well in NSW.

I have followed league for over 40 years and the careers of both Mal and Joey. Off field discretions aside, Joey still comes no where near the playing, representing and coaching career of Mal Meninga. In my opinion, it was definitely Mal who should have been awarded the 8th Immortal. How could the judges have gotten it so wrong?

Firstly Joey admitting to taking drugs prior to the big games as the pressure to achieve was so intense, that is cheating in my book! Does he deserve the accolade - Clearly NO - but then this is a person who sees his brother condemned and does nothing EXCEPT take his job! I love the game of Rugby but feel saddened by the fact that if we can't have faith in the players and officials then maybe we should stop watching, resulting in pay packets reducing and only the passionate and honest will once again play this great game!

I hate Queensland as much as the next New South Welshman but Mal deserved it more than Joey

Joey could throw a flat pass that would shave off Mal's eyebrow before he knew what had happened. Suffer in ya Jocks Queenslanders !

U guys should think about what your saying, what he did off the field played a hugh roll in what he did on the field. the question is would he have been the same player with out the drugs. we will never know, but he does and he should stand up and agree his not worthy and we would think a lot more of him for doing so

too all the knockers of joey,suck it up,he is th best footballer in any era.to the dimwits up north,have a look at the protocol of the immortals,it is their on field efforts that the are judged on,not their off field antics.so pay homage to the best footballer i have seen in my 75 yrs.get over your predjuces.well done joey,i loved watching you play. skully

Good on him, he is a legend of the sport. He changed the game with his passing, kicking and defense. Im a die hard eels fan and a union supporter and he was one hell of a player. Congrats Joey!

C'mon Philosopher there you go again with excuses! A tradesman never blames his tools. Johns was a rare talent no matter what the era...naturally gifted and that doesn't matter what boots he is wearing or ball he was playing with. Ultimately he was heads and shoulders above the the people in the era he was playing in and changed the game as we know it. Are we going to go down the same path for every immortal that ever gets named with newer technology than the last immortal? Pull your head in.

If Ron Coote and Norm Provan can't get a look in now because Joey has leapfrogged them then logic would have it that they will never be immortalised. As for Mal I really think that because he is still very much hands on with the game as a coach that I can understand the logic for not yet. As for ignorant people who compare Mal and Joey - wake up to yourselves... wasn't the same game or the same era. I very much doubt Joey's performances would have been anywhere as good with a leather ball when it was soaking wet. Modern balls go further (much) and can be manipulated to do weird and wonderful things. For the less educated see if you can find a leather ball soak it in water then kick it, lets see you banana kick it. Also get the kit that Mal wore and see how you go. Oh and make it more authentic don't play on a rolls royce green top like modern players.

Boo Hoo Mal!

I note that majority of the people complaining about Joey getting the immortal status are Queenslanders because their precious Mal didn't get the vote. C'mon Queenslanders you are are bad winners and now you are just being bad losers. Be gracious in defeat and accept that Andrew Johns deserves this status of an immortal as a man that changed how rugby league was played and not what drugs he took off the field. The drugs he admitted to taking did not enhance his performance as a player and that is what this award is based on so what is your issue?? If the criteria involved off field performance and what he has done since retiring then granted you would have a point, but currently, unless you say you don't believe that he was a 'good enough' player to receive the award then zip it.

Not only did he tarnish the reputation of the game,he also lied initially and the truth is he took drugs throughout his career. He has admitted that he planned things in such a way to avoid detection. In an article on rleague.com.au titled Review The Andrew Johns Saga he tells Phil Gould “There was times when I was playing the biggest games of the season and it would be in the back of my mind”. This indicates that his planning and conniving ways were carried out on-field. Back in 2007 he says “he took drugs to escape from the pressure and get away from being a football player”. Joey you need to return the award graciously. To the first seven recipients you are true Immortals. Rugby League Week states that “they will work closely with Men of League and the ARLC to ensure that the Immortals maintains its rightful place as the pinnacle of Rugby League.” I do not envy your job in staying true to your words I think your work is cut out for you. Let's hope this is a one off error.