Written by Oliver Kellner-Dunk
Allan Langer is one of, if not the best Rugby League player of the 1990’s who had both great team and individual success throughout his career.
There is one accolade that still alludes this legend of our game though, that being the status of immortal.
Regarded as one of the most naturally gifted halfbacks of the modern era, Langer was playing first grade for the Ipswich Jets in the Brisbane Rugby League competition at just 17 years of age under the coaching of Tommy Raudonikis in 1986.
The following year, legendary coach Wayne Bennett would pick a teenage Allan Langer for the 1987 State of Origin series in a selection that raised many eyebrows at the time. He would go on and repay the faith and win the man of the match award in the decider.
In 1988, he would then join the newly formed Brisbane Broncos club, where he would go on to make 260 appearances playing halfback, winning an astonishing four premierships in 1992, 1993, 1997 (SL) and 1998 and take home the club’s player of the year award a record five times. He also played 55 games for English Super League outfit the Warrington Wolves.
The now 55-year-old also had a great representative career, playing 34 games for Queensland and winning multiple series with the state.
He had the honour of representing Australia on 25 occasions, including two Kangaroo Tours in 1990 and 1994, captaining the nation twice and was the halfback in the 1988 and 1992 Rugby League World Cup winning Kangaroos sides.
During his career, Langer also accumulated his fair share of individual awards.
The former Bronco won the Dally M Halfback of the Year award in 1988, 1994 and 1996 and also won the Dally M Player of the Year award in 1996.
Other accolades include the Rothmans Medal in 1992, Clive Churchill Medal in 1992, Rugby League Week Player of the Year 1996, he won the Ron McAuliffe Medal in 1992, 1996 and 1998, was named in the NRL Team of the 1990s in 2003 and was inducted into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2008.
These achievements throughout Allan Langer’s career are on par with and even surpass the accomplishments of a few Rugby League Immortals, which begs the question, should Langer be given the same status?
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