Rugby league Hall of Fame 2024 RECAP: How 'tall and rangy' Ron Coote became 14th Immortal

That concludes our live coverage of the rugby league Hall of Fame, and Ron Coote's elevation to become the game's 14th Immortal.

We'll be back tomorrow night as round 25 NRL action gets underway.

Join us then!

ARL commission chair Peter V'landys has paid tribute to Ron Coote, who was tonight elevated to become the 14th rugby league immortal.

"As a Hall of Famer and multiple premiership winner, Ron Coote was already an icon and a legend," V'landys said in a statement.

"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."

Lucy Morrow just took to the stage to accept her dad David's Hall of Fame ring and jacket.

With Morrow's famous call of the Ricky Stuart/Mal Meninga try in the second Ashes Test of 1990 playing in the background, Lucy thanked the NRL and Peter V'landys for rushing his induction through before he passed.

"Our family fundamentally believe he could only pass because he finally had it (membership)," she said with a grin.

"It was very emotional - it was one of the final days he could speak.

"We're nothing but grateful ... that gave him a peaceful passing."

Tarsha Gale is the first woman inducted into the rugby league Hall of Fame.

Gale skippered both Australia and NSW teams throughout the 1990s, and since retirement has worked tirelessly for the improvement of the women's game.

The NSWRL patways competition, the Tarsha Gale Cup, is named in her honour.

"It's an incredible honor. It was a dream to play rugby league in the first place - I watched my brothers both play," she said.

"I was so supported by so many great women, strong resilient women that made it possible for us to play. So it's a tremendous honor to be up here tonight, representing those great women.

"It's phenomenal how far we've come. I talk to the girls in the Tarsha Gale cup in the sheds and honestly, their jaws just drop and it's not because they're in awe of me - they're just like, 'oh my God, you're still alive'.

"Where we are today is absolutely outstanding and to think that I was a small part of that, I could not be prouder."

Gale's older brothers Brett and Scott both played first grade, and her dad Terry was an elite sprinter.

When she made her debut, her mum left her a charming, yet hilarious note.

"They both talked about how great it is to don the green and gold, and I never understood that until actually I donned the green and gold.

"My mum, it was her idea (for me) to put one of Scott's Australian socks on, and one of Brett's. She said, 'put Scotty's on the right foot, cos Brett can't kick'.

"But wrapped up in those socks was a little note from my mum that just said, 'have a great game darling, but stay away from the ball'.

Ron Coote has become rugby league's 14th Immortal, holding back tears as he got up to accept his award.

"I'm a bit taken for words at the moment," Coote began, wiping away tears.

"I never thought I'd be crying when I was 80, but I am.

"To me, it's just sensational, I never thought it would happen. I've been at this function a few times and this time, I got the gong ... I really appreciate it."

Coote reflected on the opportunity he had been given to give back to the game he loved.

"I've had a great life. I put that down to the opportunity I've been given through playing the game of rugby league," he said.

"I think it's the greatest game in the world.

"I'd just like to say thank you to everyone here tonight for all the applause and say, keep following rugby league, because you'll get a lot of pleasure and satisfaction from a great game."

Coote is truly one of the game's greatest, playing in nine grand finals for six premierships.

"I suppose I'd have to say my family. I've got a wonderful family. I've always put them first. I've been lucky in business ... I've always worked hard, but I've always had a lot of luck.

"I really appreciate what rugby league has done for me. I can go back to the days where I used to play junior leagues ... they were always supportive to us, when I was a kid."

The 14th immortal is Ron Coote.

We're through the inductions, and now PVL and Anthony Albanese are on stage.

Newly inducted Hall of Famer Cameron Smith has become emotional talking about the recent passing of his mother, on the eve of him receiving his jacket.

Smith joins Melbourne Storm teammates Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater in the prestigious club, but turned back the clock to thank his first supporter, his mother.

"I think she'd be pretty chuffed at this," Smith said, holding back tears.

"Every person that comes up on stage tonight to receive their jacket tonight, they don't get there alone. They get there through the help of many people.

"The teammates they play with, the coaches, administration ... but most importantly, their family.

"Mum was a big part of my life, a big part of my football career. She loved the game of rugby league."

Smith detailed just how much work his mother put in to kick start his career.

"She was heavily involved in my junior football in particular. She's a life member of my junior football club, Logan Brothers. She did a tremendous amount of work there for 20-odd years," he said.

Smith becomes the 120th member of the Hall of Fame.

The four Melbourne Storm inductees - Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis have all been introduced one after the other.

For Smith, it was a particularly emotional moment, given the loss of his mother this year.

More on that in a moment.

Sam Burgess is the latest inductee on the stage.

Lionel Morgan and Les Boyd were the first two inductees into the hall of fame tonight, followed by Benny Elias and now Steve Renouf.

Renouf revealed he nearly missed his own induction because he was ignoring calls from an unknown number!

That unknown number was from NRL football boss Graham Annesley, who was trying to tell him the good news and invite him to the ceremony.

"I had this phone number come up that said 'maybe Graham'," he said.

"I know a couple of grahams but I obviously don't know this number so I didn't answer it for over a week.

"I've apologised now and I caught up with him earlier ... we're all sweet."

He also revealed his sporting career could have gone down a very different path if his mum had her way.

But in a roundabout way, the reason led to him wearing his trademark headgear.

"I got knocked out when I was 14, and I wasn't allowed to play unless I wore head gear," he explained.

"Mum brought be a set of golf clubs - she wanted me to play golf. I had a little stint at golf when I was 15, 16."

Thankfully he got used to the headgear, and that was the end of that.