Andrew Johns Upset with NRL Hall of Fame Organizers

Andrew Johns has expressed his disappointment with the NRL regarding the induction of a new Immortal, revealing that he and fellow living Immortals Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga were not consulted in the decision-making process. The induction ceremony, set to take place in Sydney, will welcome the 14th member into the prestigious club, with Melbourne Storm's Cameron Smith and Roosters legend Ron Coote among the frontrunners. Johns, who is one of the three living Immortals, lamented the lack of communication from the NRL, stating that he only learned about the new induction shortly before the event. "As of Monday, I didn't know there was going to be another Immortal being inducted," he said, emphasizing his surprise at not being informed about the voting process or the candidates. The new voting system, which involved a 14-person panel primarily made up of journalists, was conducted in July without input from the Immortal trio. The legendary broadcaster Ray 'Rabs' Warren, who has previously participated in Hall of Fame voting, was also excluded from this year's panel, further highlighting the disconnect between the NRL and its esteemed former players. Johns noted that both he and his fellow Immortals were disappointed by their exclusion from the voting process, which they felt undermined the significance of the Immortal status. Despite his lack of involvement, Johns confirmed he would still participate in the ceremony, stating, "I'll be up on stage for the announcement of the Immortal," although he reiterated his shock at not being aware of the induction until just days before the event.