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Live sport on SN this weekendJones, Taumalolo and Hireme-Smiler among International Rugby League Hall of Legends inductees
Sport Nation •  November 12th, 2026 3:06 pm
Stacey Jones | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Stacey Jones, Jason Taumalolo and Honey Hireme-Smiler are among 42 players named in the inaugural International Rugby League Hall of Legends.
A total of eight nations are represented - Australia, England, New Zealand, France, Wales, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
Inductees will be celebrated at a ceremony at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday, ahead of this weekend’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 finals between the Kiwis and Kangaroos and the Kiwi Ferns and Jillaroos.
Taumalolo is the only current player inducted. His decision to represent Tonga at the 2017 World Cup helped reshape international rugby league.
Stacey Jones, who will coach New Zealand in Sunday's World Cup final will be inducted alongside, Ruben Wiki and Mark Graham.
Kiwi Ferns legend Honey Hireme-Smiler will also feature, as will Trish Hina and Luisa Avaiki, who also represented Samoa.
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Karyn Murphy, Tahnee Norris and Ali Brigginshaw, who retired at the end of the 2026 NRLW season, is also among the honourees. Brigginshaw made 29 appearances for Australia and was Player of the Match in the finals of the 2017 and 2022 World Cups.
Long serving Kangaroos captains Darren Lockyer, Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith head the list of Australian stars from the modern era, which includes Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater and Petero Civoniceva.
They are joined by the likes of Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Andrew Johns, Reg Gasnier, John Raper, Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton, Arthur Beetson, Ron Coote and Clive Churchill.
International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant said "the inaugural IRL Hall of Legends Inductees is a special group of players and a real who’s who of International Rugby League.
"This is long overdue recognition for these players whose contribution to international rugby league was not just confined to the playing field but transcended into the betterment of the game and into the lives and memories of rugby league fans worldwide.
"The list of nominees was exceptional and there will be further inductions to come into the IRL Hall of Legends. We simply couldn’t induct every deserving nominee at our first attempt; their recognition will come."
Jason Taumalolo | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
More than 240 nominees were considered by a committee of rugby league coaches, players, administrators, journalists and commentators from around the world, with eligibility including making a significant contribution to international rugby league, receiving recognition in a national Hall of Fame, earning an IRL Golden Cap for 50 Tests, or winning the IRL Golden Boot or RLIF International Player of the Year Award.
Wheelchair Rugby League players will be considered for the next induction, during the 2030 World Cup, as the IRL expands the Hall of Legends to recognise every discipline of the international game. This will enable the Wheelchair game to mature and grow the pool of candidates.
IRL Hall of Legends:
Pre-1954: Clive Churchill, Dally Messenger, Dave Brown, Frank Burge (Australia), Puig Aubert, Jean Galia (France), Jim Sullivan, Gus Risman (Great Britain), Harold Wagstaff, William 'Billy' Batten (England/GB).
Post-1954: Darren Lockyer, John Raper, Wally Lewis, Reg Gasnier, Mal Meninga, Cameron Smith, Arthur Beetson, Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton, Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston, Ron Coote, Brad Fittler, Billy Slater (Australia), Billy Boston, Mick Sullivan (Wales/GB), Ellery Hanley, Alex Murphy, Malcolm Reilly, Roger Millward, Neil Fox (England/GB), Mark Graham, Ruben Wiki, Stacey Jones (New Zealand), Petero Civoniceva (Fiji/Aus), Jason Taumalolo (Tonga/NZ).
Women: Ali Brigginshaw, Karyn Murphy, Tahnee Norris (Australia), Honey Hireme-Smiler, Trish Hina (New Zealand), Luisa Avaiki (Samoa/NZ).
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