10. Reg Gasnier
Reg Gasnier (1939-2014), an Australian rugby league footballer and coach, excelled as a center in the sport and played for the St. George Dragons. He was regarded as one of the best NRL players ever, with a remarkable career that earned him many honors and awards. These include winning the NRL Premiership three times (1960, 1962, and 1965), being named the NSWRL Player of the Year three times (1960, 1962, and 1965), and being inducted into four different halls of fame: the International Hall of Fame (2002), the National Rugby League Hall of Fame (2002), the NSWRL Hall of Fame (2017), and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame (1985) as an Athlete Member.
9. Clive Churchill
Clive Churchill (1927-1985) was a fullback who played and coached rugby league at the highest level. He represented Australia in 14 Tests, played for and coached the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and played interstate football for both New South Wales and Queensland. He also captained and coached the Australian Kangaroos. He was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame, named in the Australian ‘Team of the 50s’, and voted as fullback in Australian rugby league’s Team of the Century. His legacy continues through the Clive Churchill Medal, which is awarded to the man-of-the-match in the NRL Grand Final every year.
The prestigious honor has been awarded since the 1986 NSWRL season and is chosen by the selectors of the Australian national team.
8. Billy Slater
Billy Slater was a skillful, consistent, and accomplished rugby league player who spent his entire club career with the Melbourne Storm, winning several NRL Premierships. He scored 190 NRL tries, the second-highest in Australian first-grade history (behind Ken Irvine), and won the Dally M Rookie of the Year and the Rugby League World Golden Boot awards. He also played a vital role in Queensland’s State of Origin dominance. He won the Clive Churchill Medal twice, received the Dally M Medal with the Storm, and was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. His comeback from a shoulder injury and his try in the 2018 NRL Grand Final demonstrated his resilience and determination.
7. Greg Inglis
Greg Inglis was a versatile and exceptional rugby league player who played for the Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs, winning several NRL Premierships. He scored 149 NRL tries, 18 tries for Queensland in State of Origin, and 32 tries for Australia in Tests, setting many records along the way. He played in various positions, including centre, fullback, five-eighth, and wing. He won the Clive Churchill Medal in the 2007 NRL Grand Final, received the Dally M Centre of the Year award three times, and was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. He is regarded as one of the greatest players in rugby league history, with a legacy that may never be surpassed.
6. Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler was a versatile and exceptional rugby league player who played for the Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters, winning two premierships. He represented New South Wales in 31 matches, winning eight titles, and captained Australia in 20 Tests and five World Cups, leading the Kangaroos to two World Cup victories. He played 336 NRL games, the second-highest at the time, and earned 25 internationals as captain, the most by an Australian player. He won the Dally M Centre of the Year award twice, the Dally M Lock of the Year award once, the Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year award twice, and the Golden Boot award once. He was inducted into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame and named one of the NRL’s 100 Greatest Players. He was a standout player in his era, with a lasting legacy in the NRL.
5. Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis, also known as “The King” and “The Emperor of Lang Park”, was a legendary rugby league player who represented Queensland in 31 State of Origin games, captaining 30 of them, and Australia in 33 international matches, captaining 20 of them. He led Queensland to dominance in the State of Origin throughout the 1980s with his creative and playmaking football. He scored 129 tries and 34 goals in his club career, 10 tries and 2 goals for Queensland, and 11 tries for Australia. He won 8 man of the match awards in State of Origin, a record that still stands. He was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame, became the sixth member of ‘The Immortals’, and received the Australian Sports Medal. He was named in the halves in the Kangaroos’ Team of the Century and the Queensland Rugby League’s Team of the Century, and became the 38th Legend of Australian Sport. After his retirement, a bronze statue was erected at Lang Park, and he became a commentator and a sports presenter.
4. Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is a former professional rugby league footballer and an Australian television commentator who is considered one of the best NRL players ever. He played his entire career with the Brisbane Broncos, represented Queensland in 36 State of Origin games and Australia in 59 international matches, and captained both teams. He scored 122 tries and 341 goals in his club career, 9 tries and 22 goals for Queensland, and 35 tries for Australia. He set records for his club, state, and country, including the most NRL appearances, the most State of Origin appearances, the most games as captain, and the most tries for Australia. He won three grand finals as a fullback and one as a five-eighth with the Broncos, a World Cup with Australia, and the Golden Boot Award for the world’s best player. He was named in Queensland Rugby League’s Team of the Century at fullback. He is remembered for his determination, will to win, and his ability to rise to the occasion. He dominated in two positions, first as a fullback, then at five-eighth. He had exceptional skills, such as great hands, punt and place-kicking, high ball catching, deceptive speed, and tackling.
3. Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Thurston is a former professional rugby league footballer who is considered one of the best NRL players ever. He played almost his entire career with the North Queensland Cowboys, represented Queensland in 37 State of Origin games and Australia in 38 international matches, and was an Australian international, Queensland State of Origin, and Indigenous All Stars representative. He scored 90 tries and 923 goals in his club career, 5 tries and 99 goals for Queensland, and 13 tries for Australia. He broke the record for most points in State of Origin history in 2015. He was the only player to play in all 24 games of Queensland’s eight-year State of Origin winning streak from 2006, and won the Wally Lewis medal for State of Origin player of the series in 2008. He became the first ever four-time Dally M Medallist for the NRL season’s best player in 2015, and the first ever three-time winner of the Golden Boot Award for the World’s best player that year. He co-captained the Cowboys to their first NRL Premiership in 2015. He is remembered for his determination, will to win, and his ability to rise to the occasion. He dominated in two positions, first as a fullback, then at five-eighth. He had exceptional skills, such as great hands, punt and place-kicking, high ball catching, deceptive speed, and tackling.
2. Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns, also known as “Joey”, is a legendary former rugby league player who captained the Newcastle Knights in the NRL and led them to two premiership victories in 1997 and 2001, playing a club record 249 games for the Knights. He also represented Australia in 21 Tests, including two World Cups and one Kangaroo tour, and played in 23 State of Origin matches for New South Wales. He scored 2,176 points and 80 tries in his club career, 23 points and two tries in his first start for the Knights in 1994, and 34 points and four tries in a single game against Canberra in 2001. He won the Golden Boot Award twice and the Dally M Medal three times, the only player to do so. He received a Centenary Medal from the Australian government and became the eighth ‘Immortal’ in 2012. He is remembered for his incisive running, bullet-like passes, pin-point kicking, and toughness and competitive instinct, which made him the world’s best player. He finished his career as the highest points scorer in Australian first-grade history and was named the Greatest Player of the last 30 years in 2008.
1. Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is a former professional rugby league footballer who is considered one of the best NRL players ever. He played his entire career with the Melbourne Storm in the NRL, represented Queensland in 42 State of Origin games and Australia in 56 international matches, and was an Australian international, Queensland State of Origin, and Indigenous All Stars representative. He scored 2,176 points and 48 tries in his club career, 23 points and two tries in his first start for the Knights in 1994, and 34 points and four tries in a single game against Canberra in 2001. He won the Dally M Medal twice, the Golden Boot Award twice, and the Dally M Hooker of the Year nine times. He captained the Storm for fifteen years and led them to three NRL Premierships. He set records for the most NRL games played and the most points scored in NRL history. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and an Immortal-in-waiting. He retired from professional rugby league in 2021 and has a bronze statue of himself at AAMI Park. He had the greatest career of the modern era and possibly of all time.
