The NRL have confirmed they will name another Immortal in August, and reports have already jumped to the conclusion that Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston are in the mix.

That comes with the NRL altering the rules, allowing players to be addmitted to the Hall of Fame just three years after their retirement.

There is little doubt that Smith and Thurston will be among the group of players added to the Hall of Fame at the ceremony, with a fair chance Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk will join them.

But the NRL simply can not admit any of those players as Immortals yet. The Immortals concept is supposed to recognise the greatest players in the history of the game, and while there is little doubt those players are going to be there one day, now would be too soon.

They were widely panned for adding Andrew Johns too early back in 2012, and can't afford to make the same mistake here, particularly given the number of other candidates who should be considered from previous generations, including one of Johns' great rivals.

Here are ten players the NRL should be considering for the next Immortal spot.

This story was originally published in July.

5. Allan Langer

One of the most gifted players to have ever laced up a boot, Langer had a storied career that saw him play 258 games for the Brisbane Broncos, 34 State of Origins for Queensland and 24 Tests for Australia.

Currently working as a trainer for the Brisbane Broncos, Langer played in the famous 1992 and 1993 premiership victories for the Broncos in what was then the NSWRL competition, as well as being part of the side that won the 1997 Super League title.

He won the Dally M Halfback of the Year medal on three occasions and was named both the Rugby League Week Player of the Year and Dally M Medallist in 1996.

Named in the NRL's team of the 1990s, Langer's name sometimes falls down the list of the greatest halves to play the sport, but his career accolades are undeniable and he will come into the conversation here.