Nod for Locky ‘ likely’ in 2022

BRONCOS great Darren Lockyer is likely to get his strongest chance to become a rugby league Immortal in 2022 after the latest induction boiled down to a choice between him and Mal Meninga.

Lockyer was beaten for Immortal status for a second time when Norm Provan and Meninga were inducted on Wednesday night from the shortlisted post- World War II players, having previously lost out to Andrew Johns in 2012.

Lockyer is likely to get his best shot at earning Immortal status in 2022, after selection panel chairman Ian Heads indicated the committee believed the former Broncos and Maroons great would be a better chance next time.

“I think it was going to be Mal and Locky in the mix,” Heads said of Wednesday’s night induction.

“The feeling was perhaps that Locky’s time will come.

“There was really strong support on the committee for Mal, and fairly powerful words said by players who had a lot to do with him. They spoke in favour of Mal.”

The 2022 induction process shapes as an interesting one.

Unless changed, the NRL’s guidelines decree that a minimum of one and maximum of two players are to be inducted every four years.

Players must also be retired for at least five years before they can be considered for the Hall of Fame, from which the Immortals are now drawn.

It means that neither Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston or Billy Slater will be eligible to be upgraded to Immortal status until after the next consideration.

Lockyer is by far the most distinguished eligible player of this century not named an Immortal, after he played 355 games for Brisbane, 36 State of Origins for Queensland and a record 59 Tests for Australia in a storied 16- year career.

The other overlooked members of this year’s shortlist – Ron Coote, Ken Irvine, Brian Bevan and Duncan Hall – could also be considered again.

There is also the potential that the game could look at more players from the early years, as they did in inducting Dally Messenger, Frank Burge and Dave Brown on Wednesday.

“Having these three great players is a bit of nod to history,” Heads said.

“There were a lot of great players. In four years’ time it’s going to be very interesting again.”

Heads also declined to rule out more mass inductions in future years.

“It will revert back to a more formal stage probably,” Heads said.

“But it is a bit of a moving beast, you don’t know. There were other great, early- day players who are not there.

“We’re going to have to sit down and go through the whole process. You can’t really pick what’s going to happen.”

Wednesday’s decision surprised almost everyone in attendance, after it had previously been announced only a maximum of two players would be elevated. However there was a feeling of righting the decisions of the past.