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Graeme Langlands inclusion, along as one of the Australian game's
Immortals was long overdue as I regard him as the finest player
I have ever seen and that includes fellow Immortal "The King"
Wally Lewis.
This are a number of reasons for this, none the least his toughness
and durability. On a site that tends to recognise fistic prowess
as the great indicator, it is foolish to ignore some of the
best exponents of the game who dominated the world's most exacting
competition, then known as the New South Wales Rugby League,
over a long period of time.
In his 15 years at the top with the great St George teams, Langlands's
emerged as the fiercest and most dedicated competitor the game
has seen. After the Saints had annexed their world record 11th
straight premiership, St George began to haemorrhage great players
and would lose the likes of Ian Walsh, Johny Raper, Reg Gasnier,
Norm Provan Johny king etc as the club sought to rebuild.
This left two players to dictate the club's fortunes in the
years 1967-75 - fullback Langlands and his great playing partner
and mate Test halfback Billy Smith. Both were gamebreakers in
every sense of the word. In the 1971 grand final the Saints
took on unbackable favorites South Sydney, a club at the end
of its last great era. Nearly all the Souths players that day
had or were to play for their country.
The Dragons had Langlands and Smith, and names like Col Rasmussen,
Geoff Carr, Bob Clapham, Peter Fitzgerald, Graeme Bowen, Harry
Eden and Ted Walton who were, to be fair, outmatched by their
more highly credentialled opponents on that great day at the
SCG.
Almost singlehandedly, the pair had driven the Dragons to victory
over the star studded Manly-Warringah side in the preliminary
final and nearly pulled off a miraculous upset in the grand
final.
Smith was a danger in attack every time he ran the football
and tackled fearlessly throughout. Langland's leadership on
the day was impeccable as he dictated terms from fullback -
he too a dangerman every time he chimed into the backline or
returned the ball from kicks. Souths only ran out winners after
extending an 11-10 scoreline with a Bob McCarthy try late in
the game.
Langlands other great quality was his ability to play with serious
injury. Week in week out he would rank in the Saints' best players,
despite carrying injuries that would sideline mere mortals for
weeks. He would never be denied the chance to lead the famous
Blood and Bandages into battle.
My other great memory of the one they called "Changa" was the
final test match against the Chooms at the SCG in 1974 when
a late conversion from the touchline lifted the Australians
to a series victory. The chants of "Changa" "Changa" reverberated
in and around the Sydney Cricket Ground for hours.
The great Changa getting chaired from the field
after leading Australia in his last test - 3rd test
1974 L-R Coote, Stevens, Williamson, Chang, Raudonikis,
O'Neill, (maybe fulton obscured) and Turner.
Langlands is an immortal in every sense of the word. He is a
shy man and often reluctant entertain the great plaudits that
come his way but I do hope he appreciates and celebrates each
and every day the immense enjoyment he gave to supporters of
all clubs during what was the greatest league career in living
memory.
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