Three Rugby League Immortals and seven Test captains were tonight included in the AAMI NSW Country Team of the Century announced at a gala function at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre.

The strength of the 13-man side emphasises Country’s proud contribution to the game over the decades, right through to the current NRL competition.

Graeme Langlands, at centre, and Bob Fulton, at five-eighth – chosen on the bench earlier this month in the Australian Team of the Century – join fullback and fellow Immortal Clive Churchill in the side.

All three captained Australia along with fellow selections Brian Carlson, Andrew Johns, Wally Prigg and Ian Walsh.

The team is:

Fullback: Clive Churchill (Central Newcastle)
Wingers: Brian Carlson (North Newcastle) and Eddie Lumsden (Kurri Kurri)
Centres: Michael Cronin (Gerringong) and Graeme Langlands (Wollongong)
Five-eighth: Bob Fulton (Wests Wollongong)
Halfback: Andrew Johns (Cessnock)
Lock: Wally Prigg (West Newcastle)
Second row: Herb Narvo (North Newcastle) and Bradley Clyde (Belconnen United)
Front row: Steve Roach (West Wollongong) and Glenn Lazarus (Queanbeyan United)
Hooker: Ian Walsh (Condobolin)
 
(Note: initial clubs listed)

There are no current NRL players in the team, although Walsh only just out-polled VB Gold Country Origin and NSW Wizard Blues skipper Danny Buderus when the votes of the eight-man panel were tallied.

However, the team has a modern flavour with Clyde, Johns, Lazarus, Roach and Cronin having played in the last 22 years.

Clyde, chosen in the second row after the panel preferred Wally Prigg, three-time Kangaroo from Newcastle at lock, said he was “deeply honoured” to be in the side.

“Just to be considered among the quality players Country has produced over a century is a huge honour,” he said.

“I used to listen to the radio and watch on TV the great players of the late ‘70s and ‘80s and obviously had a great attachment to those who had gone to Sydney from the bush. That sparked my great passion for Rugby League.

“But at no time did I ever consider I would be among their company in such a line-up as this.

“I’m in the business now [as Bulldogs Football Manager] in sourcing talent and some of the best young players who aspire to better themselves in the game come from the country. It is their raw ability to improve themselves and determination that they don’t want to go back to their country town having not achieved what they set out to that drives them. It’s a very proud tradition.”

The panel that selected the side comprised celebrated coaches Warren Ryan and Brian Smith, ex-Country coach and Australian skipper Arthur Summons, journalists with strong country backgrounds in Barry Toohey and George Piggford, historians David Middleton and Sean Fagan and Rugby League Week deputy editor Phil Mitchell.

The strength of candidates is seen in the list of those who missed selection, such as fullbacks Les Johns, Keith Barnes, Graham Eadie and Garry Jack; five-eighths Laurie Daley, Eric Weissel and Summons; halfbacks Peter Sterling, Steve Mortimer, Ricky Stuart and Tom Raudonikis and front-rowers John Sattler, John O’Neill, Paul Harragon and Craig Young.

Chairman of the NSW Country Rugby League Mr Warren Kimberley said the team was a timely reminder of the strength of talent country football has produced.

“The team is a fitting reminder of the calibre of wonderful players the bush had produced over a long time, since two Newcastle players toured with the first Kangaroos – Pat Walsh and Bill Bailey – and another from Lismore in Ernest Anlezark,” Mr Kimberley said.

“It is interesting too that it includes Wally Prigg who never left his home town of Newcastle and was the first player to make three Kangaroo tours.

“Country Rugby League is proud of its heritage and the announcement of a team is a wonderful occasion in rugby league’s centenary year – and a fitting honour for those chosen.”

The current VB Gold Country Origin team was present at the celebratory dinner.