'He's already got a statue': Walters backs Alfie to be next Immortal

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has called for his former club, Origin and Test halves partner Allan Langer to become the next Immortal.

The game’s 14th Immortal, and the first since 2018, will be announced at a special ceremony on August 21, at which 11 male players, six female players, two coaches, two referees and four contributors will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Langer led the Broncos to four premierships, including the 1997 Super League title, played 34 Origins for Queensland – winning the man-of-the-match on four occasions and captained Australia during his 25-Test career.

A statue of the diminutive Langer, who weighed 67kg and stood at just 165cm tall during his illustrious playing career, stands at the entrance of Suncorp Stadium, where many of his greatest feats occurred.

The former halfback great featured on a short list of candidates in 2012 when Andrew Jones was chosen as the eighth Immortal and in 2018 when Mal Meninga, Norm Provan, Dally Messenger, Dave Brown and Frank Burge were inducted.

Walters said Langer deserved to be the next Immortal.  

"It is pretty clear in my head that Allan Langer is very much underrated as far as elite players go and Immortal players," Walters said.

"There is nothing he didn't do on the field; for the Broncos, captaining the club to four premierships, captaining Queensland to series wins, or for Australia.

"They have got a statue of him. All they have got to do now is make him Immortal.”

A specially convened meeting of the Hall of Fame committee on Wednesday agreed on the process around the 2024 induction, which will include 11 male players, 6 female players, two coaches, two referees and four contributors.

The game’s 14th Immortal will also be inducted, with candidates needing to be a member of the Hall of Fame to be eligible for the highest recognition of a player’s career.

To be considered for admission into the Hall of Fame, a player must be retired for three years, meaning Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston are now eligible for the first time.

In theory, they could also be considered as an Immortal if they are first inducted into the Hall of Fame.

However, Walters said it was too early for the trio, who were members of the Maroons side which won 11 Origin series in 12 years under his and Meninga’s coaching.

He also said Langer should be chosen ahead of Lockyer, who captained the Broncos, Maroons and Kangaroos and is the most capped Australian player (59 Tests) ahead of Smith (56).   

"Locky would be another one, but I have got Alf in front of Locky at this stage,” Walters said at Brisbane's captains run ahead of Saturday night's match against the Dragons.

“I am not saying Locky can't be an Immortal in the future but right now Alfie is the one. Cameron, JT and Billy have only just recently retired. Some of them could still be playing. We've got to go back to the future."

Smith retired after leading Melbourne to the 2020 premiership – his third with the club he played a record 430 matches for – and was a member of the Queensland team which dominated Origin from 2006 to 2013, while also playing 56 Tests for Australia.

Widely regarded as the game’s greatest hooker, Smith captained the Storm in 327 NRL matches from 2006, skippered the Maroons in 21 Origins and led the Kangaroos in 33 Tests.

Slater played alongside Smith for much of his club, Origin and Test career until retiring at the end of the 2018 season and is considered one of the greatest fullbacks to play the game.

Thurston also retired at the end of the 2018 season, bowing out with premierships at the Bulldogs in 2004 and Cowboys in 2015, while playing 37 Origins for Queensland and 38 Tests for Australia at halfback or five-eighth.

Asked what stood about Langer during his playing career, Walters said his football brain and the way he played above his weight.

“It was his unpredictability on the field. Sometimes Alfie didn't know what Alfie was doing but it just seemed to work,” Walters said.

"And just the size of him. I think he was 67kg in his first State of Origin game and most of that was all ticker. For the size of him I think he achieved enormous things, and there was his mental strength and his capacity to want to win.”

"Alfie brings people together and he brings the game together.

"If you ask a lot of people their thoughts, the fans, I am sure Alfie would be right up there."