Three New Zealanders in contention to be named in the NRL Hall of Fame

New Zealand rugby league legends Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki and Mark Graham are three of 25 candidates bidding for six spots to enter the NRL Hall of Fame.

The Kiwis are up against the likes of modern-game legends Greg Alexander, Cliff Lyons, Gorden Tallis and Petero Civoniceva.

The six players that will be inducted into the revamped Hall of Fame will be announced in July and will join the 100 greatest players in rugby league history.

Should either of Jones, Wiki or Graham be selected they'd be the first from New Zealand to be inducted, with the original 100 selected from Australian players.

Those already in the Hall of Fame include Darren Lockyer, Andrew Jones, Brad Fittler, Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga.

New Zealand's Stacey Jones against Australia in 2005. Photo / File

Jones led the Warriors to their first ever grand final in 2002 and was awarded the Golden Boot at the end of the season as the game's best player.

The halfback scored 77 tries for the club, second only to Manu Vatuvei's 152.

Jones played 45 Test matches for the Kiwis, including in the Tri-Nations final in 2005 which saw New Zealand defeat Australia 24-0.

Wiki is one of the games greatest hard-men and is the record holder for most Tests for New Zealand with 55 caps.

He played 16 years in first grade, notching up 311 NRL games for the Warriors and Canberra.

Wiki won a title with the Raiders in 1994 and shared a Tri-Nations victory with Jones over Australia in 2005.

Warrior's Ruben Wiki runs the ball at Rabbitohs Fetuli Talanoa, left, and John Sutton. Photo / File

Graham played 29 Tests for New Zealand between 1977-1988 and won a premiership under Kiwi Graham Lowe at Brisbane Norths in 1980.

He moved to the North Sydney Bears the next season and played there for the next eight season, racking up 146 games for the Bears.

The giant second-rower is widely regarded as one of the greatest Kiwis players of all time.

There have been more than 300 origin games and over 400 Test appearances for those featuring in the 25-strong shortlist, meaning selections into six will be tough.

Senior manager of the NRL Awards Frank Puletua said that every player from the 25 had a strong case to be included in the Hall of Fame.

''Every one of the nominees displayed excellence, persistence and sheer determination time and again during their playing career and each has a strong case to be included as a Hall of Fame inductee this year," Puletua said.

Kiwi vice-captain Mark Graham on the burst against Papua New Guinea at Carlaw Park, 11th July 1986. Photo / File

A panel of 25, made up of historians, administrators, veteran media members and 10 current Hall of Fame members, will decide the final six players to join the Hall of Fame.

Puletua added that the voters will select their top five players of whom they believe should make the cut.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said that all the nominees were well deserving to have been included in the shortlist.

''The players nominated collectively represent thousands of matches, hundreds of rugby league years and millions of memories for fans," Greenberg said.

''Their on-field performances live on today among the many passionate supporters who saw them play - and they will never be forgotten.

As with the Immortals concept, Hall of Fame contenders must have been retired for at least five years before being nominated.

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