- Andrew Johns has been on a roll at the NRL
- New Immortal to be inaugurated tonight
- Johns says he was not consulted
Andrew Johns has hit out at the NRL after revealing he was not consulted about the naming of a new immortal at tonight’s ceremony.
The 14th member of the sport’s most exclusive club will be inducted at tonight’s Hall of Fame ceremony in Sydney, with Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith and Roosters legend Ron Coote among the leading candidates.
Johns is one of three living immortals, alongside Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga. He said none of the trio were consulted about the next candidate to join their club.
A new voting system has been used to determine who will be elevated to immortal status. The 14-person panel, made up mainly of journalists, cast their votes at the NRL headquarters in July.
Johns is devastated that he had no influence on the vote and admitted that he only recently learned that a new Immortal is being installed.
“It’s disrespectful,” he said via Nine.
‘I haven’t had a phone call. Not a single phone call about it.
‘On Monday I didn’t know there was another Immortal being recorded. I thought it was just Hall of Fame [inductions].
Andrew Johns has criticised the NRL for what he calls a snub ahead of Hall of Fame night
The football legend says he was not consulted about the appointment of a new Immortal
Legendary football commentator Ray “Rabs” Warren has previously served on Hall of Fame voting committees, but this time he was not among them.
Not me, not Wally, not Mal [were asked to cast a vote]“I know they’re disappointed,” Johns said.
“I know Rabs is disappointed. Rabs is very disappointed.”
Johns added that he was contacted by the NRL on Monday and told what his duties were for that evening.
“I will be on stage at the announcement of the Immortal, but I didn’t even know that there would be another Immortal inducted on Wednesday night,” he said.