Family first for Gary Belcher and NRL hall of fame nomination

It'd been about six months since he'd been part of the first batch inducted into Green Machine royalty. Oh well, maybe they're just catching up.

But when he found out he'd been nominated for the NRL version, the former fullback's thoughts immediately turned to family.

How proud his dad and eldest son Michael would've been to hear the news.

Belcher was one of 25 names shortlisted for the NRL hall of fame on Thursday, along with fellow Raiders premiership players Ruben Wiki and Kevin Walters.

Throw in Canberra product Michael O'Connor, who ironically played in Manly's 1987 premiership against the Raiders, and you have the four hopes from the capital.

Not that Belcher liked his chances of being one of the up to four to be announced early next week. He looked through the list and put himself 25th.

But that didn't change how he felt about being there in the first place.

"It really makes me proud to be honest. When I read it and took it in I just thought how proud my dad would've been and how proud my oldest son would've been," Belcher said.

"It just makes me feel really proud and honoured. For me it's a long time ago when I played.

"It is really nice to be remembered. There's so many other great players that don't get that recognition, but I'm lucky I'm one of the ones that's still remembered.

"For whatever reason I've been nominated. It makes me proud. It didn't make me sit back and think about my games I played in.

"I just tried to think about the people it meant a lot to. My family.

"We lost our oldest boy last year. It was late last year. I immediately thought about him because he really loved his footy."

He was touched by the Raiders holding a ceremony for Michael, who died late last year.

It highlights the culture Belcher's former teammate and Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has created at the Green Machine.

"The Raiders had a little bit of a ceremony for him too last year when we had the funeral," Belcher said.

"It was really nice. There's a really great family feel about the Raiders. We always felt close to them.

"He spent his early years down there with us. He's always been a Raiders man. He loved it."

The past and present have been brought together perfectly in recent seasons. The Forever Green weekend held just a few weeks ago when the Raiders knocked off the Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium.

It also marked a 30-year reunion for the Raiders' inaugural premiership. The first of Belcher's two in lime green.

Belcher played 148 games for the Raiders from 1986-93 during a career that included six Tests for Australia and 16 State of Origins for Queensland.

It just overlapped Wiki's time in Canberra, with the powerful ball runner debuting in '93 - just in time to play in the club's third premiership.

Wiki played 224 games in lime green before spending the last four years at the New Zealand Warriors to become a 300-game player. Plus nine Tests for the Kiwis.

O'Connor started out in rugby union, playing for the Canberra Royals before going on to become a dual international code-hopper.

He played 13 Tests for the Wallabies and 18 for the Kangaroos, to go with his 211 first-grade games at St George Illawarra, the Sea Eagles and St Helens.

Queensland Origin coach Walters started his career with the Green Machine, before returning to his native state following the '89 premiership where he played in another five for the Brisbane Broncos.

Belcher had no idea who might get the nod next week. Too much quality to choose from. Throw a dart and go with that.

"Got a text from a mate last night and I thought, 'He's a bit late from the Canberra hall of fame'," he said.

"A couple came through this morning and I went back to one, 'No idea what you're talking about'.

"They said to check the NRL website and then I got the paper later. Nice, very nice."

Belcher was looking forward to Sunday. Raiders Roosters. Top-four clash. A cracker in the making.

But he was keeping a lid on it. Hoping the modern Green Machine were too.

Not do or die. Just the perfect guide to what needed to be worked on in the run home to the finals.

The Raiders are on a four-game winning streak. Roosters not far behind on three.

Both teams starting to click into gear with five rounds remaining. Roosters looking to go back-to-back. Raiders looking to end a 25-year drought. On their 30th anniversary.

"As we get closer to finals it's a really good test," he said.

"If they don't win I don't think they'll be completely shattered because they'll get a feeling of where they need to improve and what they've got to do.

"But if they have a win it will make them more confident for when they potentially face the Roosters again or any of the top sides.

"I don't think it will be much of a concern either way. I just want to see them continue playing the way they have been. It'll be great to watch."

The cherry on top? Jarrod Croker's 250th. Yet another milestone for the milestone man.

Like the tide. Croker slowly creeps up without anyone noticing until he's there. Blanketing everything. Points. Tries. Games.

Belcher's already got the crayon out. Writing Croker's name in the Raiders hall of fame.

"Yes. Considering the number of games, the records that he's broken. Point scoring. I think he's going to meet all of the criteria and a few more," Belcher said.

"I'd like to think there could be a few more teammates that could be there too. Just depends what happens in the next 9-10 weeks and coming seasons."

Hall of Fame nominees - Fullbacks: 1. Eric Simms, 2. Gary Belcher, 3. Garry Jack; Wing: 1. Denis Flannery, 2. Ian Moir, 3. Michael Hancock; Centre: 1. Steve Renouf, 2. Michael O'Connor; Five-eighth: 1. Kevin Walters; Halfback: 1. Geoff Toovey, 2. Stacey Jones, 3. Greg Alexander; Lock: 1. Les Cowie, 2. Bob Lindner; Second row: 1. Dick Thornett, 2. Terry Randall, 3. Rod Reddy, 4. Paul Vautin, 5. Paul Sironen, 6. Craig Fitzgibbon; Prop: 1. Craig Young, 2. Ruben Wiki, 3. Paul Harragon; Hookers: 1. Elwyn Walters, 2. Danny Buderus.

NRL ROUND 21

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at Canberra Stadium, 2pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (C), 4. Nick Cotric, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (C), 10. Sia Soliola, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Dunamis Lui, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Ryan Sutton, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Joey Leilua, 20. Emre Guler, 21. Michael Oldfield.

Roosters squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Brett Morris, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Sam Verrills, 10. Isaac Liu, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Mitchell Aubusson, 13. Victor Radley. Interchange: 14. Nat Butcher, 15. Zane Tetevano, 16. Poasa Faamausili, 17. Sitili Tupouniua, 18. Lindsay Collins, 19. Drew Hutchison, 20. Matt Ikuvalu, 21. Lachlan Lam.