Who Corey Parker believes should be the next NRL Immortal

Queensland Maroons great Corey Parker believes his former teammate Darren Lockyer should be the next NRL Immortal announced at tonight’s Hall of Fame dinner in Sydney.

The 14th player to join an illustrious list of rugby league legends, including the likes of Wally Smith, Mal Meninga, Arthur Beetson, Andrew Johns and more will be selected tonight while others are inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.

Parker said his former Queensland Maroons and Brisbane Broncos skipper was his pick to become the newest immortal because of his achievements across two positions.

“You look at Darren Lockyer for example, Darren Lockyer is someone who’s very worthy of immortality based on the fact he dominated the game in two positions at fullback and then went into No.6,” he said on SENQ Mornings.

“56 Test matches for his country, over 30 State of origins, four grand finals, golden boots, so I think he’s well and truly in the market.”

Parker said he could only really comment on the players he grew up watching or played with and against and said it was too early to induct the likes of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston despite their standing in the history of the game.

“You go look at the list and there’s Ken Irvine, well if Ken Irvine isn’t already an Immortal when does he become one, Brett Kenny’s obviously there, Peter Stirling and then you’ve got Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston,” he said.

"I personally think that’s too soon, they will become Immortals, when I say they, I think Cameron Smith will be an Immortal.

“I think he’s the best player I’ve ever played alongside.. but does it have to be tonight?”

Lionel Morgan, Les Boyd, Ben Elias, Steve Renouf, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Benji Marshall, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Sam Burges will all be inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame at the ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground.