Rugby league legends Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have been inducted into the Stadium Australia Hall of Fame.
A gala function to mark 25 years since the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics was staged on Monday night with Johns and Fittler among the first 10 inductees into the Hall of Fame.
The inaugural inductees were drawn from the sports that have attracted more than 35 million people through the venue since it opened in 1999.
Others to receive the honour were John Aloisi (football), John Eales (rugby), Cathy Freeman (athletics), Louise Sauvage (athletics), Mark Schwarzer (football), Tim Sullivan (athletics), Ian Thorpe (swimming) and Jonny Wilkinson (rugby).
“This is more than a celebration of individual excellence,” said David Gallop, Venues NSW and Accor Stadium Chairman.
“It’s a tribute to the collective effort of the people of NSW and the enduring legacy of a venue that has hosted the world’s biggest events, from the Olympics to World Cups, Grand Finals and concerts by global superstars.”
Andrew Johns
'Joey' was in the Newcastle team that defeated Manly 41–18 in the first NRL game played at Stadium Australia, on 6 March 1999, scoring a try, six goals and a field goal. Later that season, he played in the first Test and first Origin game staged at the venue. By this time, Johns was recognised as one of the best halfbacks in the premiership, having led the Knights to grand final glory in 1997. Over the next seven seasons, he produced so many brilliant efforts, several of them at Stadium Australia, that in 2012 he was named the game’s eighth Immortal. Johns won three Dally M medals, awarded to the NRL’s best player
(1998, 1999 and 2002), the Clive Churchill Medal in 2001 (when he led Newcastle to a 30–24 win over favourites Parramatta in the grand final), two Golden Boots as the best player in the world, and four State of Origin player-of-the-match awards (three of them won at the Stadium). He suffered a broken jaw early in 2005, but was back for Origin II in Sydney and was involved in all five NSW tries in a 32–22 win. A neck injury forced his retirement early in 2007. Twelve months later, Johns was named the halfback in Australian rugby league’s
Team of the Century.
97. Brad Fittler - Hall of Fame
Brad Fittler
'Freddy' played 336 premiership matches from 1989 to 2004: 119 for Penrith and 217 for the Sydney Roosters. He won premierships at both clubs, for the Panthers in 1991 and the Roosters in 2002, appeared in 31 State of Origin matches for NSW, first playing as an 18-year-old in 1990, and in 40 Tests. He won the Golden Boot as the world’s best player in 2000 and captained his country 25 times, including in the first rugby league Test staged at the Stadium - the Anzac Test of 1999, won by Australia 20–14. Fittler was also NSW skipper for
the first Origin match at the venue, a 12–8 home win in 1999. He would lead his state to further victories in 2000 (twice, the second by 56–16) and 2001, and then return in his final season, 2004, to inspire another famous Blues triumph. Fittler was Roosters captain in four of the first six NRL grand finals played at the Stadium (2000, 2002–2004). His kick to set up a try for winger Chris Walker against Canterbury in his final appearance was masterful.
