Ron Coote became the 14th player to join rugby league’s most prestigious club, the Immortals, during a glamorous ceremony at the SCG on Wednesday, August 21.
Coote played 148 premiership games for South Sydney between 1964 and 1971, and 109 premiership matches for Eastern Suburbs between 1972 and 1978. He won four grand finals with South Sydney and two with Eastern Suburbs.
In 1970, Coote captained Australia to World Cup victory in the UK. Coote also played 15 matches for New South Wales, as well as 42 games for Australia (including 23 Test matches).
Peter V'landys AM opens the 2024 #NRL Hall of Fame event pic.twitter.com/uKmxM3Veux
— NRL (@NRL) August 21, 2024
The sporting legend also founded ‘Family in League’ to assist struggling members of the rugby league community.
“I’m a bit taken for words at the moment,” an emotional Coote said after being presented with his Immortals jacket by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“I never thought I could cry when I was [almost] 80, but I am. For me it’s sensational, I never thought it would happen. I’ve been at this function a few times and this time I got the gong,” he added.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys led the tributes to the Immortal inductee.
Ron Coote… IMMORTALISED. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/LdbFU9KkdN
— NRL (@NRL) August 22, 2024
“As a Hall of Famer and multiple premiership winner, Ron Coote was already an icon and a legend,” V’landys said.
“Tonight, in becoming an Immortal, he has joined the most elite club in Australian sport.
“Ron was talented, tough and stood tall against the peerless players of his era – fellow Immortals like Johnny Raper and Graeme Langlands. Tall and rangy, Ron was a threat on both sides of the ball.
“A superb cover defender capable of saving tries, he was also naturally gifted with the ball and a constant threat to opponents when he had it in his hands.
“He played nine grand finals in the space of 11 years, such was the enormous impact he had on the teams he represented.
“As a true rugby league gentleman on and off the field, Ron now holds his rightful place amongst the game’s greatest players.”
Rabbitohs chairman Nicholas Pappas also commented on Coote’s contribution to the game.
“It is difficult to put into words Ron Coote’s impact on the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the game of rugby league,” Pappas said.
“A giant in every sense, Ron embodies all the qualities of a sporting legend: towering strength, uncanny skill and gracious humility.
“Always a Rabbitoh first and foremost, Ron is an icon not just because of the way he conducted himself on the field, but equally for what he achieved, and continues to achieve, off it.”
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald.
