True Blues greats Bradley Clyde, Ron Coote, Laurie Daley, Brad Fittler, Bob McCarthy and Norm Provan have tonight become the inaugural inductees to the NSWRL The Star Hall of Fame, joining automatic inductees Dally Messenger and the seven Immortals who represented NSW.
The six inductees were revealed at NSWRL’s annual True Blues Dinner at The Star in front of more than 500 Rugby League dignitaries, including ARL Commission Chairman John Grant, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg, NSWRL Chairman Dr George Peponis OAM and CEO David Trodden and the Minister for Sport, the Hon Stuart Ayres.
The seven Immortals who have represented NSW - Clive Churchill, Reg Gasnier, John Raper, Bob Fulton, Graeme Langlands, Arthur Beetson and Andrew Johns – were automatic inductions, along with pre-War (1908-45) NSW representatives, including Messenger, who fit the eligibility criteria.
The eligibility criteria was determined by a selection committee of Dr Peponis, Australian selectors Bob Fulton and Bob McCarthy and journalists Phil Rothfield and Andrew Webster working in conjunction with Rugby League statistician David Middleton.
The qualification for the Hall of Fame is:
(a) The player must have played 10 games or more for New South Wales; or, alternatively, the player must have captained New South Wales; AND
(b) The player must also have played for Australia; AND
(c) The player must also have been retired for at least five seasons.
Bradley Clyde
Born: January 27, 1970, Culcairn, NSW
Junior Football: Belconnen United
Clubs: Canberra, Canterbury
Position: Lock/Second Row
Premiership Career 1988-2000: Played 214 (207+7). Tries 46, Points 184
Canberra 1988-98: Played 178 (171+7). Tries 38, Points 152
Canterbury 1999-2000: Played 36 (36+0). Tries 8, Points 32
First Grade Debut: Canberra v Wests at Orana Park, Campbelltown, 1/5/1988 (Rd 9)
Australia: Tests 19 (1989-94)
New South Wales: State of Origins 12 (1989-94)
Captaincy: Nil
Other information: Top 100 Players of the Century 2007; NSW Country Team of the Century 2008
Ron Coote
Born: October 25, 1944, Kingsford, NSW
Junior Football: Kensington
Clubs: Souths, Easts
Position: Lock/Second Row
Premiership Career 1964-78: Played 257 (256+1). Tries 88, Points 264
Souths 1964-71: Played 148 (148+0). Tries 49, Points 147
Easts 1972-78: Played 109 (108+1). Tries 39, Points 117
First Grade Debut: Souths v Easts at Sydney Sports Ground, 5/4/1964 (Rd 1)
Australia: Tests 23 (1967-75)
New South Wales: Interstate matches 13 (1965-75), Matches v touring international teams 2 (1970-74)
Captaincy: 3 games (1974-75); 2 wins, 1 loss
Other information: ARL Team of the Century 2008; Top 100 Players of the Century 2007; NSW Team of the Century 2008
Laurie Daley
Born: October 20, 1969, Junee, NSW
Junior Football: Junee Diesels
Club: Canberra
Position: Five-eighth
Premiership Career 1987-2000: Played 244 (237+7). Tries 87, Goals 44, Field Goals 9, Points 445
First Grade Debut: Canberra v Cronulla at Endeavour Field, 31/5/1987 (Rd 14)
Australia: Tests 21 (1990-99)
New South Wales: State of Origins 23 (1989-99)
Captaincy: 13 games (1992-99); 7 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw
Other information: Top 100 Players of the Century 2007
Brad Fittler
Born: February 5, 1972, Auburn, NSW
Junior Football: Sadleir/Dayments/Mt Pritchard/Ashcroft/Cambridge Park
Clubs: Penrith, Easts
Position: Five-eighth
Premiership Career 1989-2004: Played 336 (321+15). Tries 122, Goals 14, Field Goals 10, Points 526
Penrith 1989-95: Played 119 (105+14). Tries 31, Goals 5, Field Goals 2, Points 136
Easts 1996-2004: Played 217 (216+1). Tries 91, Goals 9, Field Goals 8, Points 390
First Grade Debut: Penrith v Wests at Orana Park, 20/8/1989 (Rd 21)
Australia: Tests 40 (1991-2001), Kangaroo tours 1990, 1994, 2001, World Cup 1992, 1995, 2000, Tri-Nations 1999
New South Wales: State of Origins 31 (1990-2004)
Captaincy: 14 games (1995-2001); 8 wins, 6 losses
Other information: Top 100 Players of the Century 2007
Bob McCarthy
Born: August 5, 1944, Redfern, NSW
Junior Football: Chelsea United/Moore Park/Alexandria Rovers
Clubs: Souths, Canterbury
Position: Second Row
Premiership Career 1963-78: Played 251 (250+1). Tries 119, Field Goals 1, Points 358
Souths 1963-78: Played 211 (210+1). Tries 100, Field Goals 1, Points 301
Canterbury 1976-77: Played 40 (40+0). Tries 19, Points 57
First Grade Debut: Souths v Canterbury at Belmore Sports Ground, 6/4/1963 (Rd 1)
Australia: Tests 15 (1969-74)
New South Wales: Interstate matches 11 (1969-75), Matches v touring international teams 1 (1974)
Captaincy: 1 game (1971); 1 win
Other information: Top 100 Players of the Century 2007
Norm Provan
Born: December 18, 1932, Urana, NSW
Junior Football: Willoughby/Sutherland
Club: St George
Position: Second row
Premiership Career 1951-65: Played 256 (256+0). Tries 63, Goals 1, Points 191
First Grade Debut: St George v Manly at Kogarah Oval, 7/4/1951 (Rd 1)
Australia: Tests 18 (1954-60)
New South Wales: Interstate matches 20 (1954-61), Matches v touring international teams 5 (1954-60)
Captaincy: Nil
Other information: ARL Team of the Century 2008; Top 100 Players of the Century 2007; NSW Team of the Century 2008
