The NRL's Provan-Summons Trophy. Photo: photosport
Souths and Easts NRL premiership-winning player Ron Coote has been announced as the 14th rugby league Immortal.
Coote, who won six premierships from nine grand finals, was a pioneering back row forward in the 1960s and 1970s.
The former Australian Kangaroos captain was named the game's 14th Immortal during the NRL Hall of Fame ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.
"I am a bit taken for words at the moment," Coote said as he accepted the honour.
"I never thought I'd be crying when I was 80.
"To me, it's just sensational. I never thought it would happen."
Coote joins the Immortals list along with Clive Churchill, John Raper, Reg Gasnier, Norm Proven, Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton, Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson, Andrew Johns, Dally Messenger, Frank Burge, Dave Brown and Mal Meninga.
He had been considered for Immortal status at every selection since its inception in 1981, but was overlooked each time.
Coote was a Souths legend, winning four premierships for the club before sensationally joining arch-rivals Easts.
Under coach Jack Gibson, who along with Wayne Bennett became the inaugural coaches inducted in the NRL Hall of Fame, Coote won two more premierships with the Roosters
Four times he was named NSWRL Player of the Year, he captained the Kangaroos on three occasions, and was named in rugby league's Team of the Century in 2008 when the game celebrated its centenary in Australia.
"I really appreciate everything rugby league has done for me," he said.
"I've had a great life and I put that down to the opportunity I've been given through playing the game of rugby league."
The announcement of the 14th Immortal came on an evening when the NRL formally inducted 25 new members to the Hall of Fame.
Eleven male players were joined by the inaugural six females, two coaches and two referees.
Two administrators and two broadcasters were also inducted.
NRL Hall of Fame inductees, 2024
Lionel Morgan
Les Boyd
Ben Elias
Steve Renouf
Cameron Smith
Johnathan Thurston
Billy Slater
Benji Marshall
Cooper Cronk
Greg Inglis
Sam Burgess
Karyn Murphy
Katrina Fanning
Tarsha Gale
Nat Dwyer
Tahnee Norris
Veronica White
Jack Gibson (coach)
Wayne Bennett (coach)
Bill Harrigan (referee)
Col Pearce (referee)
John Quayle (administrator)
Ken Arthurson (administrator)
Frank Hyde (broadcaster)
David Morrow (broadcaster)
- First published on ABC