SEPTEMBER 1992
BRONCOS’ coach, Wayne Bennett predicted that his halfback and skipper, Allan Langer would go down as one of the greatest players in history, when the curtain finally came down on his career.
Bennett was commenting after Langer won the 1992 Rothmans Gold Medal at a glittering black-tie function in Sydney, the second Queenslander to do so (in the NSWRL), following on from Ray Higgs (Parramatta) in 1976. Langer (25 Points) beat Manly-Warringah second rower, John Jones and Newcastle hooker, Robbie McCormack (23 points each).
“Other than winning a Grand Final, nothing could give me greater pleasure out the game, than Alf winning this,” Bennett said. “It would have been a tragedy if he had gone through his career without that recognition. It’s another achievement in his career, and when they write the script about him, he will be seen as one of the greatest of them all.
“He will only improve as a player from here. He is learning more about the captaincy and other aspects of running a football team, on the field. Off the field he has been tremendous. If a player needs advice, Alf has the time to hang around after training to have a yarn to them.”
Bennett said he still regarded the Broncos’ inaugural season – 1988 – as Alf’s best.
Langer finished second to Wests’ Paul Langmack in Rugby League Week’s 1992 Player of the Year competition.
“I will always treasure the medal, but it won’t seem quite the same, unless I won it in a premiership year,” Langer said.
Allan’s older brother, Kevin, who won the Brisbane (BRL) Rothmans Medal in 1988, said, only half-jokingly, he expected their home city, Ipswich to declare a public holiday.
Kevin said Allan’s Medal win meant he had lost one of the few remaining advantages he had over his little brother.
“Whenever we have a go at each other, he always says to me: ‘Well, how many Tests did you play?’ and I have had to counter with: ‘Well, how many Rothmans Medals have you won?”
The Australian Rugby League named a World Cup train-on squad, selected from the 11 clubs that had failed to qualify for the NSWRL finals. The squad was: Brad Clyde, Ricky Stuart, Mal Meninga, Steve Walters, Laurie Daley, Brett Mullins (Canberra); Graham Mackay, Brad Fittler, John Cartwright (Penrith); Paul Sironen, Ben Elias, Tim Brasher (Balmain); Martin Bella, Geoff Toovey (Manly); Andrew Ettinghausen (Cronulla); Craig Salvatori (Roosters); Mark Carroll (Souths).
Australia and Great Britain were to meet in the final at London’s Wembley Stadium on October 24. The Kangaroos were set to play club sides, Sheffield and Huddersfield, and county side, Cumbria in the lead-up to the final.
Meanwhile there were reports out of England that Leeds were chasing Wally Lewis for a stint, even though Lewis had announced his retirement as a player.
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