Despite being suspended for Melbourne’s Grand Final loss to Manly, Cameron Smith did have something to smile about in Grand Final week of 2008 when the Test rake was named the Melbourne Storm’s greatest ever player at the 7th annual AMP Men of League Gala Dinner at Star City’s Grand Harbour Ballroom on the 30th September.
The culmination of the Men of League Foundation’s ‘Byron Bay Premium Ale Centenary of Club Greats’ promotion saw Smith named alongside the Game’s biggest stars. The promotion celebrated 100 years of Rugby League club tribalism and honoured the Game’s biggest names, who have made an unequalled contribution to these famous clubs.
Smith was present to collect his accolade at the Gala Dinner alongside Team of the Century half and Newcastle’s finest player Andrew Johns, the Game’s greatest lock forward and greatest St George Dragon John Raper, Team of the Century reserve and Manly’s greatest Bob Fulton, Penrith’s Greg Alexander, Canterbury’s Steve Mortimer, Illawarra’s Rod Wishart and the Gold Coast’s Scott Prince.
Also at the dinner were Mick Cronin who was elevated above Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Ray Price and Ken Thornett to be named Parramatta’s best and Darren Lockyer who out pointed the brilliant Broncos of the past two decades, including Allan Langer, Wally Lewis, Gene Miles and Shane Webcke.
A proud Tommy Raudonikis picked up the award for the best ever Magpie, ahead of Noel Kelly, Harry Wells, Keith Holman and Vic Hey, while Keith Barnes had his family in the crowd to see him named as the best Balmain Tiger, ahead of 1980s stars Wayne Pearce and Ben Elias and the legendary Balmain pair, Arthur “Pony” Halloway and Charles “Chook” Fraser, who led the Tigers to five premierships in six years from 1915 – 1920.
The father of Rugby League in Australia, Dally Messenger, was suitably named the Roosters top pick and was represented by his grandson Ken Messenger while the “Little Master” Clive Churchill, represented by his son Rodney and wife Joyce, was named the greatest Rabbitoh of the Century.
Notorious Newtown hard man Frank “Bumper” Farrell was announced as the greatest “Blue Bag” of the Century, represented on the night by his grandson – Manly and Roosters flyer Jack Elsegood.
Try scoring sensation, the late Ken Irvine, fended off Greg Florimo, Brian Carlson, Harold Horder and Duncan Thompson to be named the greatest North Sydney Bear.
Queensland and Prime Ministers XIII coach, Mal Meninga was unable to attend due to his commitments in Papua New Guinea but he beat a field including Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Glenn Lazarus and Bradley Clyde to be named the best ever Canberra Raider.
Finally, Stacey Jones, the man have called out of retirement to guide the Warriors to the 2009 grand final, has been named the greatest player in the history of New Zealand’s NRL franchises.
The greatest player from each of the 20 clubs who have played a minimum 10 years in the NRL or its predecessor competition were named as part of the Byron Bay Premium Ale Centenary of Club Greats theme at the AMP Men of League Gala Dinner.