Allan Langer
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Allan Jeffrey Langer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Ipswich, Queensland, Australia | 30 July 1966|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 76 kg (12 st 0 lb; 168 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Halfback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Allan Jeffrey "Alfie" Langer AM[6] (born 30 July 1966) is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s and worked as an assistant coach for the Australian national team, the Queensland Maroons and the Brisbane Broncos.[2]
He was one of the pre-eminent halfbacks of his era, representing Australia on many occasions and holding the record for most State of Origin appearances, until being surpassed by his club, state and country team-mate Darren Lockyer. Langer played most of his career as captain of the Brisbane Broncos, with whom he won the 1992 Clive Churchill Medal and Rothmans Medal, as well as four premierships and the club's player of the year award a record five times. The Allan Langer Medal, which is the Ipswich Jets' player of the year award was named in his honour.[7] Alfie's Bar at the Broncos Leagues Club is also named after him.[8]
Early life
The youngest of Queensland Rail worker Harry and mother Rita Langer's four sons, Allan Langer was born in Ipswich, Queensland on 30 July 1966.[9] He attended Ipswich State High School.[10]
He grew up playing football at Ipswich's Northern Suburbs Tigers alongside his brothers and future
Playing career
Langer was selected as an Australian rugby league schoolboy representative in 1982. At 15 Langer's first job out of school was a truckie's offsider, delivering whitegoods. [citation needed] He then worked for the council making roads, but continued playing football.
1980s
Coached at the
Coached by Bennett and captained under
Suffering a broken leg in 1989, Langer missed most of that season. [citation needed]
1990s
Langer's leg recovered to go on the
For Langer to play as he did, after a week of hearing how St George must stop him, confirms he deserves to be talked about with
Peter Sterling and Wally Lewisas one of the three best players of the past decade.
The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 September 1992[20]
Along with
Later in the year Langer also played in Australia's
The following season saw Langer again lead the Broncos to a Premiership, the first time a team which had finished 5th in the regular season had gone on to win the competition.
The years 1994–1996 were characterised by successive failures by the Broncos to win the
In 1995, Langer, along with many other high-profile players, lost their representative positions because they had signed contracts to play for the newly formed Super League. However Langer won the Broncos' player of the year award every year from 1993 to 1996. He was also made captain of the Queensland State of Origin team in 1996 and was named by Rugby League Week as that season's player of the year.
Langer again captained the Broncos to victory in the
After a lacklustre start to the
2000s
Langer captained Warrington Wolves and took them to within one match of the Challenge Cup Final in 2000.[25][26] Also in 2000, Langer was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia "for service to Rugby League football as a player at national and international levels, and as a supporter of charities, particularly those raising funds for cancer research".[6] Later that year he was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal.[27]
As coach of the Maroons for the 2001 State of Origin series, Wayne Bennett made a surprise selection of Langer – then still playing in England – for the Queensland side in the third and deciding match. His comeback was arranged by Bennett under a shroud of secrecy.[28] There were doubts as to whether Langer, in the twilight of his playing career, would be able to withstand the physical rigours of State of Origin football. Some Sydney journalists, such as Phil Gould, questioned the state of Queensland's football talent, given that they had needed to "bring back 35-year-olds to win." However, on the night Langer set up two tries and scored one himself, leading Queensland to victory only a year after they had suffered their worst ever State of Origin defeat.
Langer was subsequently lured back to the Broncos for one final
At the time of his retirement, Langer had made the most appearances as captain for the Brisbane Broncos and became only the third player to have been named man-of-the-match in a State of Origin game more than three times.
Post-playing
After playing Langer spent time as a restaurateur in Queensland.[30]
In 2003 Langer was one of the first four former players inducted into the Broncos official Hall of Fame.[31] That year he considered another comeback with the Caloundra Sharks, who his older brother Kevin was coaching.[13] During the 2007 season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Langer.[32]
In February 2008, Langer was named in the list of Australia's
A few months later the Brisbane Broncos appointed Allan Langer, along with
He has also been named as a Queensland Maroons' assistant coach under Mal Meninga for the 2009 State of Origin series. In 2009, Langer could frequently be seen running water out to Broncos players during NRL matches, and even for Australia at the end of season Four Nations tournament. [citation needed]
In 2009 as part of the
Drink Driving Charge
On 29 March 2010, Langer was charged with
Gambling
In 2015 Langer admitted he struggled with a gambling addiction for most of his career. "It is one of those things where you look back and wish you had never done it," he said.[40]
Personal life
Langer is married to his high school sweetheart Janine. They have three children. In 2009 he became a grandfather.[41][42]
Footnotes
- ^ "Statistics at 203.166.101.37". 203.166.101.37. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Steve Ricketts; Barry Dick; Paul Malone (23 May 2012). "The 30 greatest controversies in 30 years of State of Origin series". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Tollett, Tulsen (4 March 2002). "Little general continues to battle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Langer, Allan Jeffrey, AM". It's an Honour. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ "Sweeney wins Allan Langer Medal". qrl.com.au. 22 September 2008. Archived from the original on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
- ^ "Alfie's Bar". broncosleagues.com.au. 31 October 2010. Archived from the original on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "The Allan Langer file". Illawarra Mercury. Fairfax digital. 2 July 2001. p. 54. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- The Courier Mail. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ "Walters turns back clock". The Queensland Times. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
- ISBN 9780975770412.
- ^ a b AAP (18 November 2003). "Oh brother, Alfie's back". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ Fitzsimons, Peter (22 March 1994). "The making of Allan Langer". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. p. 25. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ Masters, Roy (25 September 1992). "What's it all about Alfie?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 75. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ^ John MacDonald; Brad Forrest (28 June 1988). "Victorious Lewis slams 'Headhunters'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- Sterling, Peter (23 April 1998). "Out of this world". Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Digital. p. 3. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ "O'Connor helps set Test records". The Age. 21 July 1988. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Honour Board". broncos.com.au. Brisbane Broncos. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ Williams, Daniel (27 September 1992). "Beaten Saints take Defeat on the Chin". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. p. 47. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ^ Hadfield, Dave (9 October 1992). "Alfie finds what life is all about". The Independent. independent.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ Middleton, David (30 September 2013). "Ten of the most dominant seasons in rugby league history from historian David Middleton". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-7022-3536-8.
- ISBN 978-1-86508-910-2.
- ^ Hadfield, Dave (6 March 2000). "Questionnaire: ALLAN LANGER – Australian Test halfback and captain of Warrington". The Independent. London, England. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ Burke, David A (25 March 2000). "This time we must tame raging Bulls". Daily Mirror. London, England: MGN LTD. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ "Langer, Allan: Australian Sports Medal". itsanhonour.gov.au. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Crawley, Steve (25 June 2001). "Alf's back". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. p. 21. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- News Limited. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Alfie Langer Makes Icon List". sunshinecoastdaily.com.au. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ "Broncos Hall of Fame". broncos.com.au. Brisbane Broncos. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ Dekroo, Karl (9 May 2007). "Still the king". The Courier-Mail. Australia: Queensland Newspapers. Archived from the original on 12 May 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ARL. 23 February 2008. Archived from the originalon 26 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
- ^ "Allan Langer". sahof.org.au. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Locky named No.1 but Wal's still King". news.com.au. 10 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2 July 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
- ^ Bligh, Anna (10 June 2009). "Premier Unveils Queensland's 150 Icons". statements.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ "Langer charged with drink driving". brisbanetimes.com.au. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Allan Langer pleads guilty to drink-driving charge". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 April 2010.
- ^ "Langer loses licence for eight months". abc.net.au. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "'I was betting most days': Langer". SBS. 20 September 2015.
- ^ Ricketts, Steve (29 April 2009). "Allan Langer a grandad after birth of grandson Cruz". Courier Mail.
- ^ "Janine rules in little general Alfie Langer's kitchen". Sunshine Coast Daily. 5 March 2013.
External links
- Allan Langer at stateoforigin.com.au
- Allan Langer at bronconet.org
- 28/04/1999 7:30 Report Transcript: Langer retirement spells end of a Rugby League era
- 25/06/2001 7:30 Report Transcript: Langer returns to State of Origin
- Langer, Webcke hired as Broncos assistants – article at abc.net.au
- Queensland Team of the Century named – article at nz.leagueunlimited.com