Smith shouldn't be next Immortal: Johns

Cameron Smith should not become the next Immortal, Andrew Johns says.

Johns has often said that Smith is the best player he's seen, yet nonetheless thinks that the champion hooker should wait his turn. However, an awkward log-jam may occur when Smith becomes eligible.

Players are made to wait at least five years from retirement until they are considered for the NRL Hall of Fame, a mandatory requirement for Immortal induction. Johns himself retired in April 2007 and became the eighth Immortal in September 2012.

With Smith having just retired, he would not be eligible until 2026 under existing rules, though there have been calls for his immediate inclusion given his standing.

"Eventually he'll be there, without a doubt," Johns said on Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth. "There's rules in place, protocols in place. Leave them."

Smith's retirement fits neatly with the Immortal induction cycle; players are considered every four years, with the next potential inductions coming in 2022 and 2026. A maximum of two players can be inducted in a normal cycle.

Other potential Immortals do not fit in so handily as Smith. Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater both retired in 2018, so will just miss the next cycle.

That may mean an awkward situation in 2026 where one of the mighty Queensland trio must be left out, forced to wait until 2030 for another chance unless the rules are changed. Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk are other potential inductees in the same boat, having also played in the historic era in which Queensland won 11 State of Origin series within 12 years.

Five players were inducted in 2018, with early greats Dave Brown, Dally Messenger and Frank Burge added alongside Norm Provan and Mal Meninga; a discretionary decision to correct the exclusion of pre-World War II legends.

Champion halfback Peter Sterling last year touted Brad Fittler and Darren Lockyer as his next inductees. They retired in 2004 and 2011 respectively and may be considered next year. At least one player must be selected per cycle under current rules.

Fittler himself said that Lockyer and Thurston would be his next Immortals.

"He'll be there, he's got to be there," Fittler said of Lockyer.

"The thing he had just as good as anyone, where Cameron most probably tips him, was just that composure. He was so relaxed under pressure and that's one of the best assets you can have, just not panicking.

"He could come up with great plays. I reckon there's more vision of him winning games at the death from supporting, a kick over to the side [than anyone]."

Of Thurston, Johns said: "Every week, he played the same way. He competed every week. You can't coach that.

"You can't coach that desire, that burn to win. And it's every facet; it's chasing his kicks. He was always there trying to stop the tries. He just had this burning desire to win, at all costs."

Fittler said that he would be tempted to induct Smith immediately, given that he was the standout candidate.

"He sits above the pecking order, purely because of the games he played and the records he broke. He just went longer and better," Fittler said. "Just for that, I'd nearly say go in there."

Fittler pointed back to the 2008 grand final, from which Smith was suspended, as an example of his influence.

"You look at Melbourne when they won the grand final (in 2007 against Manly) and then Cameron didn't play the year after, they got beat by 40 (against Manly again)," Fittler said.

Johns and Fittler pondered the claims of several other greats: Laurie Daley (retired 2000), Slater (2018), Cronk (2019) and Inglis (still playing).

Johns said that Slater deserved strong consideration.

"He changed the way fullbacks play," Johns said.

"The way he played and the Storm played, it made the fullback probably the most important position on the field."

Fittler countered: "But then you say that, and you'd say Benji Marshall, there's a position for Benji Marshall. He made as big a change in the game as anyone, I think, or had as big an impact on the game as anyone."

Fittler branded Inglis the greatest natural talent.

"Greg Inglis, probably out of anyone there, on his day was most probably the best player," Fittler said.

"What was he … 108kg, faster than you and side-stepping you. My God, he was a good player.

"On their day, Greg Inglis, you've got to say he was the best athlete out of nearly anyone that's ever played."

The 13 current Immortals are: Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Graeme Langlands, Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson, Andrew Johns, Dave Brown, Dally Messenger, Frank Burge, Norm Provan and Mal Meninga.

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