and guest on radio and TV talk shows. Much higher honours were to follow: an award of a Member of the Order of the British Empire; selection in 1985 as one of the initial four post-war "Immortals" of the Australian game with Churchill, Gasnier and Fulton; appointment in 1988 as an Australian Test selector and representative of the New South Wales Rugby League. Raper was also inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985. Always regarded as a larrikin in his playing days, Raper is now seen as one of Rugby League's most ardent ambassadors and senior statesmen. In 2000, his portrait was entered into the Archibald Prize. In 2002 Raper was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. In 2007 he was selected by a panel of experts at lock in an Australian 'Team of the 50s'. In February 2008, Raper was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia. Raper went on to be named as lock in Australian rugby league's Team of the Century. Announced on 17 April 2008, the team is the panel's majority choice for each of the thirteen starting positions and four interchange players. While playing football, Raper also served in the New South Wales Police Force and in 2008, rugby league's centenary year in Australia, he was named at lock-forward in a NSW Police team of the century. In 2008 New South Wales announced their rugby league team of the century also, and again Raper was named at lock. Raper was named captain and second-row forward in the Western Suburbs Rosellas’ team of the century. On 20 July 2022, Raper was named in the St. George Dragons District Rugby League Clubs team of the century at lock. Death Raper spent the last four years of his life in a nursing home, having been diagnosed with dementia. He died on 9 February 2022 in Caringbah, Sydney, at the age of 82. Footballing relatives A number of Raper's brothers had success in top-grade rugby league. Ron played a 128-game career for Canterbury over seven seasons from 1966, kicking a field-goal from the halfway line in their 1967 Grand final loss to South Sydney. He played out the end of his career as captain/coach at Wests Brisbane and made two representative appearances for Queensland