In short:
The NRL has named the 11 men who will be the newest inductees to its Hall of Fame.
The list includes players who represented Queensland, New South Wales, Australia, New Zealand and England.
What's next?
The 11 men will be formally inducted next week during a ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground
The NRL has named the 11 men who will be the newest inductees to its Hall of Fame, including Melbourne's big-three, State of Origin legends and international icons.
The league announced on Wednesday the 2024 class, who will be formally inducted next week during a ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The 11 players to join the Hall of Fame are:
- Lionel Morgan
- Les Boyd
- Ben Elias
- Steve Renouf
- Cameron Smith
- Johnathan Thurston
- Billy Slater
- Benji Marshall
- Cooper Cronk
- Greg Inglis
- Sam Burgess
Smith, the only man to play 400 NRL matches, joins the Hall of Fame with Melbourne Storm legends Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis — who went on to become a South Sydney legend as a premiership winner.
Loading...Morgan was a trailblazer in Australian sport, becoming the first Indigenous athlete to represent Australia in any major code.
Meanwhile, Sam Burgess will become the first English representative to be inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.
Australian Rugby League chairman Peter V'landys described the 2024 class as "some of the toughest, the most talented, the greatest players of their generations".
"I'm in awe of this group of players and what they have each done in the game and for the game," Mr V'landys said.
"This is the best of the best across several phenomenal eras. The group is full of Premiership winners, Dally M Medal winners, Clive Churchill Medal winners, Australia, New Zealand and England representatives.
"There are brilliant halves, powerful and durable forwards and gifted outside backs. All of these players are exceptional."
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.