NRL legend Brett Kenny has opened up on his thoughts of potentially becoming the NRL’s next Immortal, as the game’s organisers begin to look at adding players to the iconic list.
Kenny has been floated as apotential Immortal for decades but faces stiff competition against the likes of Ron Coote, Glen Lazarus and his former halves partner Peter Sterling.
Along with those names, modern-day legends including Jonathan Thurston and Billy Slater, who are now deemed eligible for selection, have had their names thrown right into the mix for Immortal status.
Speaking to SEN, Kenny admitted that hearing his name being brought up in the conversation is an honour but remained coy on the idea of it happening anytime soon.
“I often think if I ever do become an Immortal, the first thing I’m going to have to do is thank everyone Facebook,” Kenny told SEN 1170 Sportsday.
“It seems to be on Facebook everyone saying, ‘Yeah he should be an Immortal’, now they’re saying Ron Coote which I can’t disagree with that.
“I guess it’s nice to have people think you’re at that level and that you’ve done enough in the game to be classed as an Immortal.
“I know people bring up the fact that I replaced Wally Lewis in the Test matches in England and he’s an Immortal and also Mal Meninga in 1986, so there’s an argument there.
“It may happen.”
Kenny admitted the original concept of how the Immortals had been selected may have been the wrong idea and suggested an alternative solution going forward.
“I honestly believe that they should’ve done it in decades, from the 60s to 70s, players that played in that era, you pick four of them,” Kenny added.
“There’s probably a lot more players that I think warrant being an Immortal that’ll never get mentioned.
“As I said it’s always a great honour to think people think you’ve done enough in the game to at least be mentioned to be an Immortal.”
Kenny’s legendary career spanned 18 years, where he played 265 NRL games for the Parramatta Eels during the club’s most successful era – winning an unprecedented three-straight Premierships from 1981-1983.
More in NRL
Why Hudson Young is still confused over NRL's high tackle crackdown
"I don’t think the sin bin is the answer."
"Cloned the Panthers": Why Voss believes Dogs are the real deal
The Bulldogs are now the same odds as the Panthers to win the premiership.