The NRL has opened the door for Cameron Smith to become rugby league’s next Immortal, after elevating all of Melbourne’s big three to Hall of Fame status.

Smith was one of 11 male players confirmed as Hall of Fame inductees on Wednesday, ahead of next week’s Immortal announcement.

His announcement came as one of several for the NRL’s modern-day stars, with each of Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater to receive the status.

Their former Storm teammate Greg Inglis and Queensland superstar Johnathan Thurston have also been added, alongside Benji Marshall and Sam Burgess.

Australia’s first Indigenous representative Lionel Morgan, league hardman Les Boyd, Balmain hooker Ben Elias and Brisbane’s four-time premiership winner Steve Renouf round out the list of new men’s inductees.

“I’m in awe of this group of players and what they have each done in the game and for the game,” ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said.

“This is the best of the best across several phenomenal eras. The group is full of premiership winners, Dally M Medal winners, Clive Churchill Medal winners, Australia, New Zealand and England representatives.

“There are brilliant halves, powerful and durable forwards and gifted outside backs. All of these players are exceptional.”

Theoretically any of the new inductees, along with all other 110 members of the Hall of Fame, are eligible to be granted Immortal status at next Wednesday night’s gala dinner at the SCG.

But it is Smith who is the most likely of the current generation to become the game’s next Immortal, as the only player to have featured in more than 400 first-grade games.

He is also the most successful State of Origin player in history, and won two World Cups with Australia.

NRL rules had previously stopped any player being given Immortal status within five years of their last game, but that has now been reduced to three.

In turn, Smith is currently eligible following his 2020 retirement at the Storm.

South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs legend Ron Coote is another option, as are Brian Bevan, Duncan Hall and Ken Irvine after they missed out in 2018. Each is already a member of the Hall of Fame.

Smith’s long-time Queensland teammate Darren Lockyer may also feature on the shortlist, as could his long-time Brisbane teammate Allan Langer.

Thurston could shape as an outside chance, given his achievements at all levels of the game.

Wednesday’s Hall of Fame announcement comes after coaches Wayne Bennett and Jack Gibson were revealed as new inductees last week.

Administrators Ken Arthurson and John Quayle have also been unveiled, along with referees Bill Harrigan and Col Pearce.

Broadcasters Frank Hyde and David Morrow have also been confirmed as new members, with the latter told just days before his death last month.

The NRL is expected to appoint the first six women’s players as Hall of Fame members on Thursday.