Darren Lockyer, Wally Lewis and Jason Taumalolo are among 42 players named as the first inductees into the IRL Hall of Legends, honoured in Brisbane ahead of this weekend’s Rugby League World Cup finals.
The inaugural class includes 10 players from before 1954, six greats of the women’s game and 26 men from the post-1954 era, with eight nations represented: Australia, England, New Zealand, France, Wales, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, International Rugby League announced.
Coaching great Wayne Bennett presented the awards to those who could attend at a ceremony at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
Former Kangaroos captains Lockyer, Cameron Smith and Lewis were there, along with Kiwis greats Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki and Mark Graham, Johnathan Thurston and Pacific pioneer Petero Civoniceva, who played for both Australia and Fiji.
The class runs from the game’s early international pioneers to current Tonga star Taumalolo, whose decision to represent Tonga at the 2017 World Cup “changed international rugby league forever”, the IRL said.
13 Immortals inducted
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The list includes 13 Immortals: Lewis, Mal Meninga, Andrew Johns, Reg Gasnier, John Raper, Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton, Arthur Beetson, Ron Coote, Clive Churchill, Dally Messenger, Dave Brown and Frank Burge.
Sir Billy Boston and Ellery Hanley head the British contingent, while French greats Puig Aubert and Jean Galia, considered the founder of the game in France, are also included.
Jillaroos great Ali Brigginshaw, who retired at the end of the 2026 NRLW season, was inducted after 29 appearances for Australia, the most by any Jillaroo, the Broncos said. Karyn Murphy and Tahnee Norris join her, along with Kiwi Ferns legends Honey Hireme-Smiler, Trish Hina and Luisa Avaiki.
“The inaugural IRL Hall of Legends Inductees is a special group of players and a real who’s who of International Rugby League,” IRL chairman Troy Grant said.
“This is long overdue recognition for these players whose contribution to international rugby league was not just confined to the playing field but transcended into the betterment of the game and into the lives and memories of rugby league fans worldwide.”
Grant said there would be further inductions. “We simply couldn’t induct every deserving nominee at our first attempt; their recognition will come.”
Full list of IRL Hall of Legends inductees
Pre-1954: Clive Churchill (Australia), Dally Messenger (Australia/New Zealand), Puig Aubert (France), Jim Sullivan (Wales/Great Britain), Harold Wagstaff (England/Great Britain), Dave Brown (Australia), Gus Risman (Wales/Great Britain), Frank Burge (Australia), Billy Batten (England/Great Britain), Jean Galia (France).
Women: Ali Brigginshaw (Australia), Karyn Murphy (Australia), Honey Hireme-Smiler (New Zealand), Luisa Avaiki (New Zealand/Samoa), Tahnee Norris (Australia), Trish Hina (New Zealand).
Post-1954: Darren Lockyer, John Raper, Wally Lewis, Reg Gasnier, Mal Meninga, Cameron Smith, Arthur Beetson, Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton, Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston, Ron Coote, Brad Fittler, Billy Slater (all Australia), Petero Civoniceva (Australia/Fiji), Sir Billy Boston (Great Britain), Ellery Hanley, Alex Murphy, Malcolm Reilly, Roger Millward, Neil Fox, Mick Sullivan (all England/Great Britain), Mark Graham, Ruben Wiki, Stacey Jones (all New Zealand) and Jason Taumalolo (Tonga/New Zealand).
How players were chosen
More than 240 nominees were identified, and a committee of coaches, players, administrators, journalists and commentators picked the inaugural group. Candidates had to have made a significant contribution to international rugby league, be in their nation’s Hall of Fame or equivalent, have earned an IRL Golden Cap for 50 Tests, or have won the Golden Boot.
Wheelchair rugby league players will be considered at the next induction, during the 2030 Rugby League World Cup.
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