Immortal Freddy Fittler

[The Corner Post]

I love the immortals idea, however I've only seen Johns and Mal play. I feel like to concept already has too many players and adding Johns was premature - already Thurston is at least as good as him.
Do they consider the players off field behavior, if so why Johns? Then you can also rule Cam Smith out because of his part in the two contracts saga.
I loved Freddy, he's one of the reasons I go for the Roosters, but I don't know if he's up there?
If I was to pick the immortals, I'd look for players that changed the game and dominated their position and the league. I'd pick Cam Smith and Thurston for that reason - I wouldn't even pick Slater - and I'd wait at least 10-15 years.

[Johnny Brass]

I've mentioned before it would have been better to just have a Hall of Fame rather than immortals and all these former greats would be in there.
Freddie was a great player but I don't know if he deserves immortal status.
I will say in defence of Meninga he dominated great centres like Cronin and Rogers when origin first evolved with his size and athleticism. He was a beast in the early to mid 80s and went on 4 kangaroo tours. He had success for Souths Brisbane against a Wynnum side that was virtually a Qld rep team. His career in Canberra and coming back from numerous broken arms to lead that great Raiders side where he gave them the confidence to win was inspirational.
I've got no qualms whatsoever in him being an immortal.

[Tommy Smith]

He did a great job for our club, but he didn't stand up, maybe it was injury, maybe not, in those 2 (actually I will count the one we won too) GFs. They were all there to be won. The riff were playing so far above themselves they were ripe for the picking. but frankly Freddy went missing . Well he was a mere mortal insteal of the immortal we needed him to be

I feel like he did stand up in the 2003 GF. He came up with a genius play to set Todd Byrne away for what would have been the match winning try. Sadly he totally blew it; getting tackled by an old man in Scott Sattler.

Freddy also had blinders in every Prelim in the 2000s; especially against the Knights in 2000 and Dogs in 2003. And the match winning try in the 2004 Prelim.

He dominated the first half of the 2000s decade against the likes of Joey and Locky who were in their primes.

Yeah I'm an unabashed fan but I do believe he's being sold way short in this thread.

In terms of his combination of defence, passing (devastating long passing game) and running (iconic step and ability to burst through the line) I believe he combines these skills better than any I've seen.

[zac]

I feel like he did stand up in the 2003 GF. He came up with a genius play to set Todd Byrne away for what would have been the match winning try. Sadly he totally blew it; getting tackled by an old man in Scott Sattler.

Freddy also had blinders in every Prelim in the 2000s; especially against the Knights in 2000 and Dogs in 2003. And the match winning try in the 2004 Prelim.

He dominated the first half of the 2000s decade against the likes of Joey and Locky who were in their primes.

Yeah I'm an unabashed fan but I do believe he's being sold way short in this thread.

In terms of his combination of defence, passing (devastating long passing game) and running (iconic step and ability to burst through the line) I believe he combines these skills better than any I've seen.

yep, nailed it.
that delay in picking up the ball before passing to toddy, waiting for him to arrive, keeping the defence guessing was all class

[Tedley]

I feel like he did stand up in the 2003 GF. He came up with a genius play to set Todd Byrne away for what would have been the match winning try. Sadly he totally blew it; getting tackled by an old man in Scott Sattler.

Yes it was a great ball, but why does everyone forget the unsung hero in that play. The penrith player that dived and ankle tapped Byrne. If that doesn't happen Byrne doesn't stumble and old man Sattler gets no where near Byrne.

Don't get me wrong, I would not have swapped him for anything and without him the Roosters don't have the success they did and yes he stood up in many games. But just not in those 2 (or 3)

[IRoosterManI]

Yes it was a great ball, but why does everyone forget the unsung hero in that play. The penrith player that dived and ankle tapped Byrne. If that doesn't happen Byrne doesn't stumble and old man Sattler gets no where near Byrne.

Don't get me wrong, I would not have swapped him for anything and without him the Roosters don't have the success they did and yes he stood up in many games. But just not in those 2 (or 3)

Why Byrne just didn’t toe it ahead will never make sense to me.

[zac]

Why Byrne just didn’t toe it ahead will never make sense to me.

maybe sometimes a full hour goes by when he doesn't think about it. on the plus side he was great for us in the 02 finals when we were down on troops before being replaced for the prelim v brisbane.

[MCMLXVI]

The whole concept of former pro sportsmen being categorised as immortal, is childish and cringeworthy. A hall of fame is sufficient, in my opinion. If memory serves me correct, the whole concept was created by some RL magazine back in the 80s. As evidenced in the comments here, we can't all agree with who were the best players of their generation. Why 'legitimise' it with a very questionable award that is prone to cronyism, as almost all awards are? If I were the supreme arbiter of who should be a RL God, they would all be Easts players. That's how it rolls in a game with fans/supporters.

Can't really comment on the comparative greatness of Fittler, as I was working abroad for the entirety of his career. From the video footage that I have seen though, he appears to have been an incredibly talented player. Go Easts!

[Mickie Lane]

Freddy being found asleep in the gutter out the front of Glebe Police station was one of his best.
They were good to him they took him in & let him sleep it off in one of the cells with the door open.

[milanja]

Freddy being found asleep in the gutter out the front of Glebe Police station was one of his best.
They were good to him they took him in & let him sleep it off in one of the cells with the door open.

i think him doing nudie knock and runs in a Townsville hotel, while our head coach was pretty special too.

[redwhiteblue]

Personally I think the Immortal concept is quite sad and outdated. To me it has no real meaning.

Agree. It's just a popularity contest and the term immortal should never be used to describe someone simply because of sporting prowess.

[Larry Long Balls]

Agree. It's just a popularity contest and the term immortal should never be used to describe someone simply because of sporting prowess.

I was thinking a Hall of Fame concept would be more marketable and popular.

[redwhiteblue]

I was thinking a Hall of Fame concept would be more marketable and popular.

They do have this Larry but I haven't read it for a while.

https://www.nrl.com/hall-of-fame/

I'd rather form my own opinion of who's kept me entertained over the years. I've always maintained that Brett Kenny was the most complete footballer I watched growing up. Very humble man too yet continues to be ignored in favour of more flashy types.