The ARL and NRL have unveiled a
yearly tribute to the game’s history with an annual heritage round that will
feature an official Hall of Fame Dinner.
The success of this year’s Centenary
Celebrations, the naming of the 100 Greatest Players of the Century and the
naming of the Team of the Century have prompted the move for a stand alone event
to honour future Hall of Fame inductees.
The decision means that tomorrow
night’s Dally M Awards will not feature the Hall of Fame
segment.
Next year’s inaugural Hall of Fame
Dinner will feature a formal presentation of all inductees from the game’s One
Hundred Greatest Players as well as any new members voted by the ARL Hall of
Fame Voting College in 2009.
“The Hall of Fame concept has grown
in prestige with every year and it is certainly at a point where it deserves to
be a stand alone event,” ARL Chairman Mr Colin Love
AM said today.
“This year’s Centenary Celebrations
have highlighted the passion fans have for the game’s history and the ongoing
public response the NationalMuseum of Australia’s Rugby League exhibition
has underlined that even further.
“The NRL has already indicated that
it intends to include the Heritage Round as an annual concept and it would seem
a fantastic fit with the Hall of Fame.
“The ARL has had a great partnership
with the Dally M’s in terms of the Hall of Fame and the fact is that the stature
of both awards is reaching the point where they each deserve a night of their
own.”
The Australian Rugby League will
issue full details of the Hall of Fame Awards night in the lead up to the 2009
season.
