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NRL Hall of Fame player nominees announced for 2019

A cavalcade of rugby league greats stretching from dual Rabbitohs premiership winner of the 1950s Ian Moir to modern marvels Danny Buderus and Craig Fitzgibbon have been short-listed for induction into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2019.

From the list of 25 stellar nominees, up to four will be added to the Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday, August 14.

For the first time contributors will also be honoured with one administrator, one print journalist and one broadcast journalist to be added to the Hall of Fame.

“This is a wonderful group of players – all of whom would not look out of place in our Hall of Fame,” said NRL CEO Todd Greenberg.

"We have literally thousands of games of experience and at least one player in every position.

"The players cross a range of eras too, being a wonderful reflection of the game’s incredible history.

“The formal induction of our players and our contributors will be an extremely special and memorable night."

The 25 short-listed players 

Greg Alexander

Born: March 4, 1965, Penrith, NSW

Junior Football: St Dominics Penrith/Cambridge Park/Patrician Brothers Fairfield

Clubs: Penrith, Auckland

Position: Halfback

Premiership Career 1984-99: Played 265 (257+8). Tries 112, Goals 351, Field Goals 14, Points 1164

Penrith 1984-99: Played 228 (220 start + 8 bench). Tries 101, Goals 343, Field Goals 14, Points 1104

Auckland 1995-96: Played 37 (37+0). Tries 11, Goals 8, Points 60

First-Grade Debut: Penrith v Manly at Brookvale Oval, 28/3/1984 (Rd 2)

Grand Finals: 2 – Penrith 1990 (L), 1991 c (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 6 (1989-90); Kangaroo tour 1990

New South Wales: State of Origins 6 (1989-91)

Gary Belcher

Born: May 28, 1962, Brisbane, QLD

Junior Football: Souths Brisbane

Club: Canberra

Position: Fullback

Premiership Career 1986-93: Played 148 (147+1). Tries 69, Goals 148, Points 572

First-Grade Debut: Canberra v Manly at Brookvale Oval, 8/3/1986 (Rd 1)

Grand Finals: 4 – Canberra 1987 (L), 1989 (W), 1990 (W), 1991 (L)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 15 (1988-91)

Queensland: State of Origins 16 (1986-93).

Danny Buderus

Born: February 6, 1978, Taree, NSW

Junior Football: Taree United

Club: Newcastle

Position: Hooker

Premiership Career 1997-2013: Played 257 (237+20). Tries 61, Goals 1, Points 246

First-Grade Debut: Newcastle v South Queensland at Marathon Stadium, 23/3/1997 (Rd 3)

Grand Finals: 1 – Newcastle 2001 (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 24 (2001-06), Kangaroo tours 2001, 2003; Tri-Nations 2004, 2005

NSW: State of Origins 21 (2002-08)

Country Origin: 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008.

One of Newcastle's favourite sons Danny Buderus.
One of Newcastle's favourite sons Danny Buderus.

Les Cowie

Born: May 17, 1925, Rockhampton, QLD

Died: May 20, 1995, Sydney, NSW

Junior Football: Fitzroys Rockhampton

Club: South Sydney

Position: Lock

Premiership Career 1947-57: Played 176 (176+0). Tries 66, Points 198

First-Grade Debut: Souths v St George at Erskineville Oval, 12/4/1947 (Rd 1)

Grand Finals: 5 – Souths 1949 (L), Souths 1950 (W), Souths 1951 (W), Souths 1954 (W), 1955 (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 6 (1949-53)

NSW: Interstate matches 10 (1948-54), Matches v touring international teams 4 (1948-51).

Craig Fitzgibbon

Born: June 16, 1977, Wollongong, NSW

Junior Football: Dapto Canaries

Clubs: Illawarra, St George Illawarra, Sydney Roosters

Position: Second Row/Lock

Premiership Career 1998-2009: Played 263 (231+32). Tries 42, Goals 718, Points 1604

Illawarra 1998: Played 20 (10+10). Tries 2, Goals 38, Points 84

St George Illawarra 1999: Played 15 (5+10). Tries 4, Goals 25, Points 66

Sydney Roosters 2000-09: Played 228 (216+12). Tries 36, Goals 655, Points 1454

First-Grade Debut: Illawarra v Newcastle at WIN Stadium, 28/3/1998 (Rd 3)

Grand Finals: 5 – St George Illawarra 1999 r (L), Sydney Roosters 2000 (L), 2002 (W), 2003 (L), 2004 (L)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 18 (2002-08), Tri-Nations 2004, 2005

NSW: State of Origins 11 (2003-08).

Denis Flannery

Born: April 2, 1928, Ipswich, QLD

Died: February 12, 2012, Ipswich, QLD

Junior Football: CYMS Ipswich

Club: Brothers Ipswich

Position: Wing

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 15 (1950-57); Kangaroo tours 1952-53, 1956-57; World Cup 1954

Queensland: Interstate matches 20 (1948-56), Matches v touring international teams 5 (1950-54)

Other information: Played 32 Bulimba Cup matches for Ipswich (1947-57).

Michael Hancock

Born: October 21, 1969, Brisbane, QLD

Junior Football: Stanthorpe

Club: Brisbane Broncos

Position: Wing

Premiership Career 1988-2000: Played 274 (240+34). Tries 120, Goals 2, Points 484

First-Grade Debut: Brisbane v Manly at Lang Park, 6/3/1988 (Rd 1)

Grand Finals: 5 – Brisbane 1992 (W), 1993 (W), 1997 r (W), 1998 r (W), 2000 r (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 14 (1989-94)

Queensland: State of Origins 14 (1989-96).

Paul Harragon

Born: October 12, 1968, Kurri Kurri, NSW

Junior Football: Lakes United Newcastle

Club: Newcastle

Position: Prop

Premiership Career 1988-99: Played 169 (152+17). Tries 19, Points 76

First-Grade Debut: Newcastle v Balmain at Leichhardt Oval, 17/7/1988 (Rd 18)

Grand Finals: 1 – Newcastle 1997 c (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 17 (1992-98); World Cups 1992, 1995; Kangaroo tour 1994

NSW: State of Origins 20 (1992-98).

Garry Jack

Born: March 14, 1961, Wollongong, NSW

Junior Football: Western Suburbs Wollongong

Clubs: Western Suburbs, Balmain

Position: Fullback

Premiership Career 1981-95: Played 248 (244+4). Tries 60, Goals 1, Field Goals 1, Points 235

Wests 1981: Played 5 (4+1). Tries 1, Points 3

Balmain 1982-95: Played 243 (240+3). Tries 59, Goals 1, Field Goals 1, Points 232

First-Grade Debut: Wests v Souths at Lidcombe Oval, 19/4/1981 (Rd 4)

Grand Finals: 2 – Balmain 1988 (L), 1989 (L)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 21 (1984-88)

NSW: State of Origins 17 (1984-89).

Garry Jack played 21 Tests for Australia.
Garry Jack played 21 Tests for Australia.

Stacey Jones

Born: May 7, 1976, Auckland, NZ

Junior Football: Ponsonby-Pt Chevalier

Club: Auckland

Position: Halfback

Premiership Career 1995-2009: Played 261 (258+3). Tries 77, Goals 176, Field Goals 14, Points 674

First-Grade Debut: Auckland v Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium, 23/4/1995 (Rd 7)

Grand Finals: 1 – Warriors 2002 c (L)

Rep Career

New Zealand: Tests 46 (1995-2006), World Cups 1995, 2000, Tri-Nations 1999, 2005, 2006; Captained Kiwis in seven Tests.

Bob Lindner

Born: November 10, 1962, Brisbane, QLD

Junior Football: Cannon Hill

Clubs: Parramatta, Gold Coast, Western Suburbs, Illawarra

Position: Lock/Second Row

Premiership Career 1987-93: Played 97 (91+6). Tries 22, Points 88

Parramatta 1987-88: Played 28 (27+1). Tries 10, Points 40

Gold Coast 1989: Played 10 (8+2). Points Nil

Wests 1990-92: Played 39 (36+3). Tries 8, Points 32

Illawarra 1993: Played 20 (20+0). Tries 4, Points 16

First-Grade Debut: Parramatta v Canterbury at Parramatta Stadium, 29/3/1987 (Rd 5)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 24 (1986-93); Kangaroos tours 1986, 1990; World Cup 1992

Queensland: State of Origins 25 (1984-93).

Bob Lindner
Bob Lindner

Ian Moir

Born: July 6, 1931, Wollongong, NSW

Died: September 19, 1990, Nelson’s Bay, NSW

Junior Football: Port Kembla

Clubs: South Sydney, Western Suburbs

Position: Wing

Premiership Career 1952-60: Played 138 (138+0). Tries 119, Points 357

Souths 1952-58: Played 110 (110+0). Tries 105, Points 315

Wests 1959-60: Played 28 (28+0). Tries 14, Points 42

First-Grade Debut: Souths v Manly at Sydney Cricket Ground, 29/3/1952 (Rd 1)

Grand Finals: 2 – Souths 1954 (W), 1955 (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 12 (1954-59); World Cups 1954, 1957; Kangaroo tour 1956-57

NSW: Interstate matches 10 (1952-59), Matches v touring international teams 1 (1959).

Michael O’Connor

Born: November 30, 1960, Nowra, NSW

Junior Football: Woden Valley United/Canberra RU

Clubs: St George, Manly

Position: Centre

Premiership Career 1983-92: Played 193 (186+7). Tries 87, Goals 310, Field Goals 11, Points 979

St George 1983-86: Played 78 (71+7). Tries 33, Goals 130, Field Goals 9, Points 401

Manly 1987-92: Played 115 (115+0). Tries 54, Goals 180, Field Goals 2, Points 578

First-Grade Debut: St George v Wests at Kogarah Jubilee Oval, 13/3/1983 (Rd 3)

Grand Finals: 2 – St George 1985 (L), Manly 1987 (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 18 (1986-89); Kangaroo tour 1986; World Cup 1988

NSW: State of Origins 19 (1985-91).

Terry Randall

Born: February 5, 1951, Sydney, NSW

Junior Football: North Curl Curl

Club: Manly

Position: Second row

Premiership Career 1970-82: Played 208 (207+1). Tries 21, Field Goals 1, Points 65

First-Grade Debut: Manly v St George at Sydney Cricket Ground, 11/4/1970 (Rd 3)

Grand Finals: 6 – Manly 1972 (W), 1973 (W), 1976 (W), 1978 (D), 1978R (W), 1982 (L)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 11 (1975-77)

NSW: Interstate matches 14 (1973-78), Matches v touring international teams 1 (1974).

Rod Reddy

Born: March 1, 1954, Rockhampton, QLD

Junior Football: Rockhampton

Clubs: St George, Illawarra

Position: Lock/Second Row

Premiership Career 1972-85: Played 239 (228+11). Tries 66, Goals 1, Points 202

St George 1972-83: Played 204 (195+9). Tries 65, Goals 1, Points 198

Illawarra 1984-85: Played 35 (33+2). Tries 1, Points 4

First-Grade Debut: St George v Parramatta at Kogarah Jubilee Oval, 21/5/1972 (Rd 10)

Grand Finals: 3 – St George 1977 (D), 1977R (W), 1979 (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 17 (1977-82); World Series 1977; Kangaroo tours 1978, 1982

NSW: Interstate matches 11 (1973-80) Matches v touring international teams 2 (1974-77)

Queensland: State of Origins 1 (1980).

Steve Renouf

Born: June 8, 1970, Wondai, QLD

Junior Football: Murgon/Wondai

Club: Brisbane Broncos

Position: Centre

Premiership Career 1989-99: Played 183 (173+10). Tries 142, Points 568

First-Grade Debut: Brisbane v Balmain at Lang Park, 2/4/1989 (Rd 3)

Grand Finals: 4 – Brisbane 1992 (W), 1993 (W), 1997 (W), 1998 (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 10 (1992-98); World Cup 1992; Kangaroo tour 1994

Queensland: State of Origins 11 (1991-98).

Broncos great Steve Renouf.
Broncos great Steve Renouf. ©NRL Photos

Eric Simms

Born: August 2, 1945, Mayfield, NSW

Junior Football: Raymond Terrace/La Perouse

Club: South Sydney

Position: Fullback

Premiership Career 1965-75: Played 206 (206+0). Tries 23, Goals 803, Field Goals 86, Points 1841

First-Grade Debut: Souths v St George at Sydney Cricket Ground, 14/8/1965 (Rd 17)

Grand Finals: 6 – Souths 1965 (L), 1967 (W), 1968 (W), 1969 (L), 1970 (W), 1971 (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 8 (1968-70)

NSW: Interstate matches 1 (1968).

Paul Sironen

Born: May 23, 1965, North Sydney, NSW

Junior Football: Holy Cross Rhinos/Gladesville Sports/North Ryde Hawks

Club: Balmain

Position: Second Row

Premiership Career 1985-98: Played 248 (242+6). Tries 22, Points 88

First-Grade Debut: Balmain v Norths at North Sydney Oval, 9/6/1985 (Rd 14)

Grand Finals: 2 – Balmain 1988 (L), 1989 (L)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 23 (1986-94)

NSW: State of Origins 14 (1989-94).

Dick Thornett

Born: September 23, 1940, Sydney, NSW

Died: October 12, 2011, Sydney, NSW

Junior Football: Randwick Rugby

Clubs: Parramatta, Eastern Suburbs

Position: Second Row

Premiership Career 1963-72: Played 169 (167+2). Tries 36, Goals 15, Field Goals 19, Points 176

Parramatta 1963-71: Played 160 (160+0). Tries 35, Goals 15, Field Goals 19, Points 173

Easts 1972: Played 9 (7+2). Tries 1, Points 3

First-Grade Debut: Parramatta v St George at Sydney Cricket Ground, 6/4/1963 (Rd 1)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 14 (1963-68)

NSW: Interstate matches 11 (1963-69), Matches v touring international teams 2 (1964-66).

Geoff Toovey

Born: June 17, 1969, Sydney, NSW

Junior Football: Belrose Eagles

Clubs: Manly, Northern Eagles

Position: Halfback/Hooker

Premiership Career 1988-2001: Played 286 (278+8). Tries 35, Points 140

Manly 1988-99: Played 238 (230+8). Tries 35, Points 140

Northern Eagles 2000-01: Played 48 (48+0). Points Nil

First-Grade Debut: Manly v Cronulla at Brookvale Oval, 7/5/1988 (Rd 10)

Grand Finals: 3 – Manly 1995 c (L), 1996 c (W), 1997 c (L)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 13 (1991-98)

NSW: State of Origins 15 (1990-2000).

Manly greats Paul Vautin and Cliff Lyons.
Manly greats Paul Vautin and Cliff Lyons.

Paul Vautin

Born: July 21, 1959, Brisbane, QLD

Junior Football: Wests Mitchelton

Clubs: Manly, Eastern Suburbs

Position: Lock/Second Row

Premiership Career 1979-91: Played 238 (227+11). Tries 21, Goals 2, Field Goals 2, Points 78

Manly 1979-89: Played 204 (193+11). Tries 20, Goals 2, Field Goals 2, Points 74

Easts 1990-91: Played 34 (34+0). Tries 1, Points 4

First-Grade Debut: Manly v St George at Kogarah Jubilee Oval, 24/3/1979 (Rd 1)

Grand Finals: 3 – Manly 1982 (L), 1983 (L), 1987 c (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 13 (1982-89)

Queensland: State of Origins 22 (1982-90).

Elwyn Walters

Born: June 25, 1943, Murwillumbah, NSW

Junior Football: Tweed Heads Seagulls

Clubs: South Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, Manly

Position: Hooker

Premiership Career 1967-77: Played 197 (194+3). Tries 22, Points 66

Souths 1967-73: Played 128 (128+0). Tries 17, Points 51

Easts 1974-76: Played 61 (58+3). Tries 5, Points 15

Manly 1977: Played 8 (8+0). Points Nil

First-Grade Debut: Souths v Penrith at Redfern Oval, 6/8/1967 (Rd 20)

Grand Finals: 6 – Souths 1967 (W), 1968 (W), 1969 (L), 1970 (W), Easts 1974 (W), 1975 (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 20 (1969-74); Kangaroo tours 1967-68, 1973, World Cups 1970, 1972

NSW: Interstate matches 11 (1969-74), Matches v touring international teams 1 (1970).

Kevin Walters

Born: October 20, 1967, Rockhampton, QLD

Junior Football: Booval Swifts

Clubs: Canberra, Brisbane Broncos

Position: Five-eighth

Premiership Career 1987-2001: Played 287 (272+15). Tries 74, Points 296

Canberra 1987-89: Played 46 (33+13). Tries 9, Points 36

Brisbane 1990-2001: Played 241 (239+2). Tries 65, Points 260

First-Grade Debut: Canberra v Norths at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan, 21/3/1987 (Rd 4)

Grand Finals: 7 – Canberra 1987 r (L) 1989 r (W), Brisbane 1992 (W), 1993 (W), 1997 (W), 1998 (W), 2000 c (W)

Rep Career

Australia: Tests 11 (1991-98); World Cup 1992; Kangaroo tour 1994

Queensland: State of Origins 20 (1989-99).

Ruben Wiki

Born: January 21, 1973, Auckland, NZ

Junior Football: Otahuhu Leopards

Clubs: Canberra, Auckland

Position: Centre/Second Row/Prop

Premiership Career 1993-2008: Played 312 (290+22). Tries 72, Points 288

Canberra 1993-2004: Played 225 (208+17). Tries 60, Points 240

Auckland 2005-08: Played 87 (82+5). Tries 12, Points 48

First-Grade Debut: Canberra v Souths at Bruce Stadium, 13/6/1993 (Rd 11)

Grand Finals: 1 – Canberra 1994 (W)

Rep Career

New Zealand: Tests 55 (1994-2006), Tri-Nations 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006 Captained the Kiwis in 18 Tests; World Cups 1995, 2000.

Former St George captain Craig Young.
Former St George captain Craig Young.

Craig Young

Born: June 25, 1956, Wollongong, NSW

Junior Football: Thirroul/Corrimal

Club: St George

Position: Prop

Premiership Career 1977-88: Played 234 (232+2). Tries 11, Field Goals 2, Points 42

First-Grade Debut: St George v Penrith at Kogarah Jubilee Oval, 20/3/1977 (Rd 1)

Grand Finals: 4 – St George 1977 (D), 1977R (W), 1979 c (W), 1985 c (L)

Rep Career 

Australia: Tests 20 (1978-84); Kangaroo tours 1978, 1982

NSW: Interstate matches 5 (1979-81), Matches v touring international teams 1 (1977), State of Origins 5 (1980-84).

Acknowledgement of Country

Sydney Roosters respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.