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South East Premier League title winner Ron Coote has been declared the 14th rugby league immortal.
Coote, who reached nine finals and won six championships, was a pioneer of the back-row forwards in the 1960s and 1970s.
The former Kangaroos captain was named the 14th player to be immortalised at the NRL Hall of Fame ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
ABC Sports is broadcasting every round live Australian Football League and National Football League 2024 season.
“I’m a little overwhelmed at the moment,” Cooter said in accepting the honor.
“I never thought I’d be crying when I was 80.
“For me, it’s shocking. I never thought this would happen.”
Ron Coote was a legend at Southside, winning four championships before moving to Eastside and winning two more. （NRL via AAP Brett Costello）
Cooter joins 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 on the list of immortals.
He has been considered for the title of Immortal several times since the first selection in 1981, but has been overlooked each time.
Coote was a Souths legend, winning four championships with the club before sensationally joining the rival Easts.
Coote led the Roosters to two more championships under coach Jack Gibson, who, along with Wayne Bennett, became the first coaches to be inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.
He was named NSWRL Player of the Year four times, captained the Kangaroos three times and was named in the Rugby League Team of the Century in 2008 when rugby celebrated its centenary in Australia.
“I’m really grateful for what the rugby league has done for me,” he said.
“I have a great life and I attribute that to the opportunities I’ve had through playing rugby league.”
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The 14th Immortal was announced on the night the NRL officially inducted 25 new members into the Hall of Fame.
A total of 11 male players, 6 female players, 2 coaches and 2 referees participated in this competition.
Two managers and two broadcasters also joined in.
Inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2024
- Lionel Morgan
- The Boyd Family
- Ben Elias
- Steve Renouf
- Cameron Smith
- Johnson Thurston
- Billy Slater
- Benji Marshall
- Cooper Cronk
- Greg Inglis
- Sam Burgess
- Karin Murphy
- Katrina Fanning
- Tasha Gayle
- Nat Dwyer
- Tahnee Norris
- Veronica White
- Jack Gibson (coach)
- Wayne Bennett (coach)
- Bill Harrigan (referee)
- Colonel Pierce (referee)
- John Quayle (Administrator)
- Ken Arthurson (Administrator)
- Frank Hyde (broadcaster)
- David Morrow (broadcaster)
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