It will be the signature event of Rugby League's centenary year – the naming of the Team of the Century: the 13 players, four ‘reserves' and a coach that will be immortalised as the game celebrates its grand history during 2008.

The make-up of that team was decided on December 10th at Peter Doyle's seafood restaurant, with the magnificent backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay, by the 27 ‘experts' encumbered with the monumental task.

"Team of the Century" voting - photo courtesy NRL

And what a task it must have been. How would the ‘selectors' choose, for  example, their centres between the likes of the game's first superstar Herbert ‘Dally' Messenger, Magic Dragon Reg Gasnier, the Bradman of League Dave Brown, four-time Kangaroo Mal Meninga and possibly Graeme Langlands (with Clive Churchill a leading contender for the fullback spot) or Bob Fulton (equally recognised as a five-eighth).

How would they separate Fulton and fellow Immortal Wally Lewis, plus perhaps Vic Hey, Brett Kenny and others, as five-eighth. What about the talent at halfback considering the dominance over the ages of Chris McKivat, Keith Holman, Peter Sterling, Allan Langer, Steve Mortimer, Ricky Stuart and Andrew Johns.

“There were naturally those legends of the game who had to be included but there was no easy position, no easy decision in balancing such great talent into 17,” said leading historian and author Ian Heads.

After three hours of fascinating debate, the private nominations of the 27 judges were placed in ballot boxes federal election-style, to be tallied by Ernst and Young representatives then locked in a vault until the announcement at the Hall Of Fame dinner on April 16th, 2008.

Discussions included personal tales of their experiences playing or coaching against the contenders from former players like Ferris Ashton (Roosters 1950 and Australia), Frank Stanton (Manly utility back of the 1960s, premiership coach 1976,78; Kangaroo player in 1963-64 and coach of the Kangaroos in 1978 and 1982), Cyril Connell (a 1956-57 Kangaroo who captained Queensland for many years and has been the Brisbane Broncos chief talent scout for almost two decades), John Hayes (Wests 1960s and current City selector), current QRL chairman John McDonald (Australian centre 1966-70), Chris Anderson (Canterbury 1971-84, two-time premiership coach and Australian coach up to 2003) and modern day players Greg Alexander (Penrith and the Warriors 1984-99) and Mark Coyne (St George/St George Illawarra 1984-99). Then there was Ron Massey, master coach Jack Gibson's right-hand man for two decades and one of the great rugby league minds.

The knowledge of leading historians Heads, David Middleton, Sean Fagan, Geoff Armstrong and Max Howell was co-opted along with former ARL president Ken Arthurson, current ARL general manager Geoff Carr and media men with a wealth of experience including the Daily Telegraph's Ray Chesterton, Sydney Morning Herald's Roy Masters (and former first grade coach), the Courier-Mail's Steve Ricketts, former Sydney scribes Gary Lester, Alan Clarkson and Brisbane-based broadcaster John McCoy and the ABC's David Morrow.

Some magical lines were recorded for prosperity. When asked how good was Churchill as a running fullback, Ashton replied: “I chased him all over the field for years and never once cornered him.”

Massey recalled how he burst out laughing when Gibson told him in late 1966 he was going to take up coaching with the Roosters side that hadn't won a game that season. “Jack was no shrinking violet as a player and I just didn't see him as a coach … I was very glad to be proven wrong.”

Connell recalled how the touring Kangaroos faced Warrington in 1956 and a balding, bandaged Bevan – who left Sydney's eastern suburbs after just a handful of games for the Roosters to forge a brilliant career that produced 796 tries from 1946-64.

A team-mate commented to halfback Connell who was the baldy, skinny old wreck on the wing. “That's Brian Bevan, an Australian,” he said. Five minutes later Bevan beat six players to score a spectacular try, and Connell quipped to the inquirer: “You'll remember his name now won't you.”

While Bevan's career was virtual unseen by most Australians in pre-video days, he is a leading contender as a winger of the century based on his world-record feats in England.

There was the picture of Frank Burge, the Glebe forward of the 1910s-20s who held the record for most tries by a forward until beaten by Manly veteran Steve Menzies. Burge was “the forward who stood out ahead of all others in the first three decades of Australian rugby league” who scored his tries – at a time when the game was much more stifled – at almost twice the rate of Menzies.

The candidates the judges had to decide between were those judged the top 100 players in the game's first century, as judged by the Hall Of Fame voting collegiate. The greatest 100 will be unveiled in February 2008.

2008 RUGBY LEAGUE CENTENARY NEWS & UPDATES