Footy fans lash out at Anthony Albanese for playing a starring role in the NRL’s most

Footy fans have savaged Anthony Albanese following his turn in the limelight at the NRL Hall of Fame gala night in Sydney on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister endured an embarrassing moment on stage before he eventually announced Rabbitohs and Roosters great Ron Coote as the code’s 14th Immortal.

A frozen teleprompter appeared to leave ‘Albo’ red-faced, before he finally confirmed Coote was the latest member of rugby league’s most exclusive club. 

Coote was also inducted earlier than expected as Albanese had to dash back to Canberra and couldn’t stay for the duration of the evening staged at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

That meant the Immortal’s induction happened in the middle of the night, instead of taking pride of place at the end. 

Despite Albanese’s dedication to deliver the biggest announcement of the night, the Rabbitohs tragic was slammed by frustrated footy fans on social media.

‘Why the F*** is Albo even there? Politics have nothing to do with sport. Can not wait to see how $600 millon dollars goes to PNG,’ one supporter fumed, referring to speculation the federal government wants to spend a huge sum to get a Papua New Guinean team into the NRL.

Another posted on X: ‘Congratulations to Ron. [But] why allow that clown to make the announcement ? Thanks NRL, you really really screwed up tonight.’

A third weighed in with: ‘Imagine finally being named an Immortal and having this goose induct you.’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulates Ron Coote after he was announced as rugby league’s 14th Immortal 

Albanese (pictured middle) presented Coote with his individual accolade before dashing back to Canberra for more pressing matters

Footy fans weren’t happy to see the Prime Minister at the gala evening

This supporter referred to Albanese as a ‘clown’ before stating the ‘NRL really screwed up’

Another supporter pointed out ‘politics has nothing to do with sport’ before bluntly questioning why the PM was in attendance

A fourth pointed out that Albanese ‘was out partying on Tuesday, and here you are out AGAIN ? 

‘Some of us [people] can’t afford to eat [due to a cost of living crisis].’

Meanwhile, Coote, 79, was elated to finally join such elite company following his decorated career from 1964 to 1978.

Coote was previously short listed for the individual accolade, but missed out to Andrew Johns (2012) then Norm Provan and Mal Meninga (2018).

‘The Prime Minister came up to me and he said, ‘good on you, Ronnie. I’ve been saying you are a moral [to be inducted],’ he said.

‘Every time they’ve announced the Immortals, I’ve been passed [over] so I thought this is not going to happen, but this time it’s come true.

‘I feel really proud to think that I’m up there with what is the 13 best players who have played the game.’

Aside from 257 premiership matches for the Rabbitohs and Roosters, he also represented Australia in 23 Tests and made 15 appearances for NSW.

Coote received a standing ovation as he walked towards the stage to receive his coveted jacket.

After retiring due to an arm injury, Coote became one of Australia’s first McDonalds franchise owners, opening a restaurant at Newtown in Sydney’s inner-west in 1978.