It would in itself be racist to select a statue because it's of a black person though.

Whoever it is should be wearing an international jersey. I don't want some Goon representing the sport unless they are clearly in an England/GB kit.

Quote: g_balls "Where abouts can you vote for this?'" IRL have done a new poll with the updated list: www.internationalrugbyleague.net/polls.htm

Quote: g_balls "Where abouts can you vote for this?'" IRL have done a new poll with the updated list: www.internationalrugbyleague.net/polls.htm

I'm uncomfortable with positive discrimination in a general sense but in this instance, for all the reasons you've already articulated, it seems unnecessary.

For me it should be on merit, and I can't see past Neil Fox.

Totally agree it should be on merit (as stated in my post) and that positive discrimination would be patronising. However given that names of the calibre of Boston, Offiah, Sullivan and Hanley are amongst the running there is a good chance of this happening, and it is the quality of the above list of great black players that we should be proud of.

Fox's missed kick or Offiah with head in hands after skinning Alan Tait.

Can't choose between these two.

I'm proud of all the players and to quote the great philosopher Michael Jackson, it don't matter if they're black or white.

Before we all get high and mighty with Nathanwood7 he was just pointing out a positive and did specificaly say they should be selected on merit.

I'm not getting high and mighty - I'm having an interesting discussion about positive discrimination and the contribution of black players to RL.

However, for accuracy, he said if one of those 4 were selected, on merit.

i think, thought it is an iconic picture....., having don fox with his head in his hands would be quite disrespectful to a great player that should be remembered for everything else. yes it is iconic and he is a great player, but to have that as a permanent memory of him would be very disrespectful.

neil fox all the way. not just because im a wakefield fan and called neil after the great man. top points scorer. great contribution. and would be the top points scorer in a match had tries been worth the same in both eras. i cant see past him

Sorry Bren2k, it looked like I aimed that at you as I typed straight after but I was just saying generally as a few had jumped on his comment.

I dont think they made a point to pick non white players and those 4 players were picked on merit.

I do however believe that if it was Football or Rugby Union there is no way in a list of 10 four would be non white. No chance!!

I hope that race hasn't been used for determining who the statue should be.Sporting prowess should be the only determinant.

Either way, I can't see how Jim Sullivan wasn't included in that list.

Lance Todd is more well known due to the fact that the MOM at the Wembley CC final decision being named after Lance Todd because he was a journalist, not because of his playing career.

AFAIK Todd never played at Wembley. Even though Todd was a member of the great Wigan threequarter line of 'Leytham,Jenkins,Todd and Miller' of pre-WW1, his playing career profile didn't increase after he left Wigan.

He did play for NZ pre-WW1.

It does seem to me an odd inclusion.

Lest we forget that Lance Todd is also one of the most successful coaches in rugby league history. He was the first man to manage a club to back-to-back Wembley finals — in 1938 & ’39 with Salford.

As a bloke of 28 and a Wigan fan my stand out memory from all my Wembley visits is Martin Offiah knelt with his head in his hands after scoring a simply amazing try.

Im bias but I'd love to see that.

I really dont agree with any one player being raised above all the rest in this way , after all so many greats have played this great game over the last hundred years or so and not one of the took to them field alone .
Something iconic of the sport would be more fitting to be raised so every fan of every club can look at it and know there team had a part in it .

I have posted this elsewhere and will bang my lonely drum in the hope that someone somewhere will see the logic behind it .