A ninth rugby league immortal will be selected later this year and the sixth name on that prestigious list, Wally Lewis, has thrown his support behind Mal Meninga and Norm Provan.
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While Darren Lockyer, Ron Coote, and Brad Fittler are other names likely to be considered for immortal status by the NRL, Lewis has two candidates clearly in his mind.
"I think you put it down to either Norm Provan or Mal Meninga," Lewis said on Sports Sunday.
"Certainly Norm's incredible record - particularly with the Dragons, coaching, playing, representing Australia is fantastic.
"Mal of course is the only player to have gone on four Kangaroos' tours.
"Out of those two I'd say Norm or Mal, toss a coin on it.
"Mal's certainly been a player I regard as good as anybody in the game but there has been calls for them to go backwards a little bit and remember yesterday's heroes."
Provan won a record ten-straight premierships with St George Illawarra while also playing 19 games for the Blues and 14 for the Kangaroos.
Meninga on the other hand has excelled as both a player and coach; yet to lose a match in charge of Australia.
With Andrew Johns the last player to be anointed as an Immortal back in 2012, it's expected the NRL will go further back in rugby league history for their next one.
That said, there are a few big names of the modern era that Lewis expects will become Immortals sooner or later.
"Lockyer, he'll be there for sure," Lewis said.
"No doubt whatsoever that Darren Lockyer will be there.
"Freddy Fittler...there will be people in Queensland of course saying we've got Allan Langer that was playing at a good time."
Will Mal be the next Immortal? #9SportsSunday pic.twitter.com/3aTTZ2PKMD
— Sports Sunday (@SportsSunday) March 3, 2018
Despite plenty of players worthy of the immortal status in his eyes, Lewis stressed the NRL mustn't hand out the honour too regularly.
"The biggest decision seems to be how often they have this," he said.
"They've got to assess each and every era as they come through.
"If they don't do it in the correct manner they set themselves up for a knockout punch."
The first four Immortals were selected in 1981, with a further two added in 1999 before single additions in 2003 and 2012.
