Players will qualify for the International Rugby League Hall of Legends through their international achievements, peer recognition and contribution to the game while representing their country.
The first group is described as 30 inductees, to be announced this week before the 2026 Rugby League World Cup Final in Brisbane.
The projected intake comprises 10 players from before 1954, 24 from after 1954 and six from the international women's game.
The IRL announced the Hall's creation at a board meeting in Singapore earlier this year. Chair Troy Grant called it a "missing piece" for international rugby league.
"A lot of the member countries do well in honouring legends of the game with Immortals, Hall of Fame and other formats across the nations," Grant said.
"As owners of the international game it has been a gap in the history that we don't have an established International Rugby League Hall of Legends.
"With the growth of the game now it is the chance to finally acknowledge the legends who helped ensure international rugby league is the pinnacle of the game," Grant continued.
Grant said new members would be inducted at each Rugby League World Cup, representing the men's, women's and wheelchair games.
A panel of judges from around the rugby league world has shortlisted past and present players, with a final vote to determine the first inductees.
The inductees and 2026 Golden Boot winners will be announced this week. Expected names include Dally Messenger, Clive Churchill, Puig Aubert, Malcolm Reilly, Roger Millward, Graeme Langlands, Arthur Beetson, Wally Lewis, Ellery Hanely, Mark Graham, Stacey Jones, Garry Schofield, Natalie 'Nat' Dwyer and recently retired Ali Brigginshaw.