NRL Hall of Fame Ceremony 2024 LIVE updates: Inductees ...

Peter V'landys speech paid tribute to legendary broadcaster David Morrow, who died in July after a battle with brain cancer.

Morrow was told he would be elevated into the Hall of Fame as a contributor before his death.

"David was a friend and a hero of mine, and I know we all feel his loss greatly," V'landys said.

"To Christine, Emily, and Lucy, who are here tonight, on behalf of the game we are deeply saddened for your loss.

"We are saddened David is not here to accept this award in person, but I'm comforted in his final days David was told what the game thought of his brilliant contribution.

"Knowing he was a hall of famer meant so much to him."

Peter V'landys paid tribute to David Morrow at the start of the NRL's Hall of Fame ceremony in Sydney. Fox Sports/Twitter

There are 10 players up to be elevated to Immortal status tonight.

They are Brad Fittler, Allen Langer, Ron Coote, Steve Mortimer, Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny, Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater.

READ MORE ON EACH OF THEM HERE

Immortal candidates including Brad Fittler, Darren Lockyer and Peter Sterling.  Nine

As the induction of the next Immortal nears, speculation has been rife as to which former player's contribution and legacy in the game will receive the ultimate honour.

The Immortals concept was introduced by the now-defunct Rugby League Week magazine in 1981 with four legends originally inducted - Clive Churchill, John Raper, Reg Gasnier, and Bob Fulton.

Nine icons have since joined the list - Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson, Graeme Langlands, Andrew Johns, Dally Messenger, Frank Burge, Dave Brown, Norm Provan, and Mal Meninga.

READ THE FULL LIST HERE

NRL Immortals. Nine

For a player to be considered a candidate to be elevated to Immortal status, they must be a member of the Hall of Fame.

A player must be retired for three years before being eligible for the Hall of Fame.

Former South Sydney and Roosters legend Ron Coote is who NRL fans want as the 14th Immortal.

That's according to the results of an NRL on Nine poll on X.

Coote edged out Cameron Smith and Peter Sterling to be the latest induction into the NRL's most exclusive club.

Speaking to 9News, Smith said he was humbled to even be in the conversation.

"It's hard to describe (what it means), but I'm extremely honoured just to be in the conversation tonight with some special people, some great rugby league players," he said.

"All are very deserving if they are to be read out to be the next Immortal tonight."

Smith will be inducted alongside former Storm teammates Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Billy Slater, Maroons teammate Johnathan Thurston, as well as former rivals Sam Burgess and Benji Marshall.

"It's a special night for our game, Smith said.

"I'm honoured to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, particularly with a group of guys I played a lot of football with, with the Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Australia, and a couple of guys like Benji and Sam that I played a lot of football against.

"It's a huge honour ... I spoke to some of the other guys too and they feel the same way.

"It's a great night for the game."

Cameron Smith speaking to 9News on the NRL Hall of Fame black carpet. 9News

Wayne Bennett and Jack Gibson will tonight become the first two coaches inducted into the NRL's Hall of Fame.

But Bennett won't be there.

Danny Weidler is reporting Bennett has informed the NRL he won't be in attendance, and that Sam Burgess will accept the accolade on Bennett's behalf.

Sharks great Paul Gallen "can't understand" why Brad Fittler isn't among the leading candidates to become the 14th NRL Immortal.

The latest member of the game's most exclusive club will be inducted at the NRL's Hall of Fame ceremony in Sydney tonight.

Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith and Roosters and South Sydney legend Ron Coote are among the leading candidates to be elevated.

That Fittler isn't among them has Gallen scratching his head.

"I feel like Brad Fittler gets lost a bit in this conversation, I really do and I don't understand why he's not front and centre on everybody's lips," he told Wide World of Sports.

"I feel like he doesn't really get spoken about to be an Immortal and I can't understand why to be honest.

"I think of guys like Brad Fittler, Darren Lockyer - they were legends when I was young coming up through the grades.

"I was lucky to play with them and against them."

Gallen said he had no doubts Smith would one day be an immortal - along with Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston - but believed Fittler, Lockyer, or Alfie Langer should be the ones elevated tonight.

Sharks great Paul Gallen believes Brad Fittler should be the next Immortal elevated. Fairfax Archives

Andrew Johns has expressed his disappointment that the three living Immortals — himself, Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga — were not consulted regarding the next former player to be elevated to the game's most exclusive club.

For this induction, a new voting system was used. A 14-person panel, mainly consisting of journalists, cast a vote for the next Immortal at NRL headquarters last month.

Asked if he was disappointed that he had no say in the induction of the latest Immortal, Johns was heartbroken.

Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns. Getty

"It's disrespectful," he said.

"I haven't had a phone call. Not one phone call about it.

"As of Monday, I didn't know there was going to be another Immortal being inducted. I thought it was just Hall of Fame [inductions]."

Legendary broadcaster Ray 'Rabs' Warren, who served on previous Hall of Fame voting panels, was also not called upon.

"Not myself, 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 clarified that he was contacted on Monday to be instructed about his duties at the induction ceremony

"I'll be up on stage for the announcement of the Immortal but I didn't even know there was going to be another Immortal inducted on Wednesday night," he said.

The NRL has confirmed a new Immortal will be inducted for the first time since 2018 at the relaunched Hall of Fame ceremony later this year.

The Immortal concept was introduced by now-defunct Rugby League Week magazine in 1981. Clive Churchill, John Raper, Reg Gasnier, and Bob Fulton were the four original immortals crowned that year.

There are now 13 immortals, with Dave Brown, Frank Burge, Mal Meninga, Dally Messenger, and Norm Provan the most recent players to be inducted.

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