View source for Allan Langer

{{Short description|Australia international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name           = Allan Langer
|fullname       = Allan Jeffrey Langer
|image          = Allan Langer (28 July 2009, Sydney).jpg
|image_size     = 150
|caption        = Langer in 2009
|position       = {{rlp|HB}}
|birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1966|7|30|df=y}}
|birth_place    = [[Ipswich, Queensland]], Australia
|height         = {{convert|165|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight         = {{convert|76|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
|retired        = yes
|club1          = [[Ipswich Jets]]
|year1start     = 1986
|year1end       = 87
|appearances1   = 25
|tries1         = 6
|goals1         = 4
|fieldgoals1    = 1
|points1        = 33
|club2          = [[Brisbane Broncos]]
|year2start     = 1988
|year2end       = 99
|appearances2   = 240
|tries2         = 95
|goals2         = 8
|fieldgoals2    = 6
|points2        = 402
|club3          = {{Nowrap|[[Warrington Wolves]]}}
|year3start     = 2000
|year3end       = 01
|appearances3   = 55
|tries3         = 16
|goals3         = 4
|fieldgoals3    = 0
|points3        = 72
|club4          = [[Brisbane Broncos]]
|year4start     = 2002
|year4end       =
|appearances4   = 18
|tries4         = 5
|goals4         = 0
|fieldgoals4    = 0
|points4        = 20
|teamA          = [[Queensland Maroons|Queensland]]
|yearAstart     = 1987
|yearAend       = 02
|appearancesA   = 34
|triesA         = 10
|goalsA         = 0
|fieldgoalsA    = 1
|pointsA        = 41
|teamB          = [[Super_League_Tri-series#Queensland|Queensland (SL)]]
|yearBstart     = 1997
|yearBend       =
|appearancesB   = 3
|triesB         = 1
|goalsB         = 0
|fieldgoalsB    = 0
|pointsB        = 4
|teamC          = [[Australian Kangaroos|Australia]]
|yearCstart     = 1988
|yearCend       = 99
|appearancesC   = 24
|triesC         = 5
|goalsC         = 0
|fieldgoalsC    = 0
|pointsC        = 20
|teamD          = [[Super League Test series|Australia (SL)]]
|yearDstart     = 1997
|yearDend       =
|appearancesD   = 1
|triesD         = 0
|goalsD         = 0
|fieldgoalsD    = 0
|pointsD        = 0
|source         = <ref name="Statistics at 203.166.101.37">{{cite web|url=http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003075532/http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=14|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 October 2008|title=Statistics at 203.166.101.37|publisher=203.166.101.37|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/allan-langer/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/allan-langer/summary.html|title=Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>
}}

'''Allan Jeffrey "Alfie" Langer''' [[Order of Australia|AM]]<ref name="am">{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1129699|title=Langer, Allan Jeffrey, AM|publisher=It's an Honour|access-date=10 October 2013}}</ref> (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 [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian national team]], the [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland Maroons]] and the [[Brisbane Broncos]].<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/>

He was one of the pre-eminent {{rlp|hb}}s of his era, representing [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] on many occasions and holding the record for most [[State of Origin series|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.<ref name="Sweeney wins Allan Langer Medal">{{cite web|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=4233|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922085217/http://www.qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=4233|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 September 2009|title=Sweeney wins Allan Langer Medal|publisher=qrl.com.au|date=22 September 2008|access-date=1 January 2009}}</ref> Alfie's Bar at the Broncos Leagues Club is also named after him.<ref name="Alfie's Bar">{{cite web|url=http://www.broncosleagues.com.au/default.asp?contentID=788|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031214828/http://www.broncosleagues.com.au/default.asp?contentID=788|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 October 2010|title=Alfie's Bar|publisher=broncosleagues.com.au|date=31 October 2010|access-date=1 January 2011}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite news
| title = The Allan Langer file
| work = [[Illawarra Mercury]]
| pages = 54
| publisher = Fairfax digital
| date = 2 July 2001
| url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=ILL01070232JIH25RPEA
| access-date = 6 October 2009}}</ref> He attended [[Ipswich State High School]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Andrew Dawson |agency= |title=It is the school which produced Alfie Langer, now another Ipswich SHS student is NRL bound |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/rugby-league/it-is-the-school-which-produced-alfie-langer-now-another-ipswich-shs-student-is-nrl-bound-ng-54b1bfe2d6f2f6f7eb6354489e072f9c |quote= |newspaper=[[The Courier Mail]] |date=2019-08-30 |access-date=2023-05-08 }}</ref>

He grew up playing football at Ipswich's Northern Suburbs Tigers alongside his brothers and future [[Brisbane Broncos]] (as well as [[Queensland Maroons]] and [[Australian Kangaroos]]) teammates [[Kevin Walters|Kevin]] and [[Kerrod Walters]]. This combination of players would become known as "The Ipswich Connection".<ref>{{cite news|title=Walters turns back clock|url=http://www.qt.com.au/story/2011/03/07/walters-turns-back-clock-in-fun-filled-allstars-en/|access-date=4 August 2011|newspaper=The Queensland Times|date=7 March 2011}}</ref>

==Playing career==
Langer was selected as an Australian rugby league schoolboy representative in 1982.

===1980s===
Coached at the [[Ipswich Jets]] by Australian former international {{rlp|hb}} [[Tommy Raudonikis]], Langer was playing first grade when he was only 17 in the [[Brisbane Rugby League premiership]] by 1986. He played as a {{rlp|hb}} for Ipswich and in 1987 opposed his older brother [[Kevin Langer|Kevin]], who was {{rlp|hb}} of [[Western Suburbs Panthers|Wests]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Warren Boland|title=Voices from Brisbane Rugby League|date=2010|publisher=Boolarong Press|location=Australia|page=xiii|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T2IhAwAAQBAJ|isbn=9780975770412|author1-link=Warren Boland}}</ref><ref name=brother>{{cite news|last1=AAP|title=Oh brother, Alfie's back|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/17/1069027049659.html|access-date=9 September 2014|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|date=18 November 2003}}</ref> That year his selection from left field for the [[Wayne Bennett (rugby league)|Wayne Bennett]]-coached [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland side]] in the [[1987 State of Origin series]] was questioned by several key figures in the Maroons camp who called for the selection of in-form [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]] {{rlp|hb}} [[Laurie Spina]].<ref>{{cite news
| last = Fitzsimons
| first = Peter
| title = The making of Allan Langer
| work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]]
| pages = 25
| publisher = Fairfax Digital
| date = 22 March 1994
| url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news940322_0006_4356
| access-date = 6 October 2009}}</ref> It was Raudonikis who stood up for him, backing Langer's selection and he made his Queensland début in the [[1987 State of Origin series]] while still playing for the Jets.<ref>{{Cite news
| last = Masters, Roy
| author-link = Roy Masters (rugby league)
| title = What's it all about Alfie?
| work = The Sydney Morning Herald
| place = Australia
| page = 75
| publisher = [[Fairfax Media]]
| date = 25 September 1992
| url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news920925_0122_0734
| access-date = 13 February 2011}}</ref> [[Paul Vautin]] claimed in his autobiography that during a team meeting, Bennett kept going on about where they were going to hide Langer in defence. He was upset that no-one was defending him against Bennett's comments and so stood up and said "He's a Queenslander and won't let us down". Langer's superb performance, including a man-of-the-match award in the decider, silenced the critics and saw him signed on with the newly established [[Brisbane Broncos]] team who would enter the [[New South Wales Rugby League premiership]] in [[Brisbane Broncos 1988|1988]].

Coached by Bennett and captained under [[Wally Lewis]] at the Broncos, Langer developed further skill with the ball and learnt much from his mentors, and his two tries in Game I of the [[1988 State of Origin series]] saw him named Man of the Match again. He scored tries in the other two Origin fixtures as well. On the 2nd Ashes Test of the [[1988 Great Britain Lions tour]] which was played at [[Lang Park]], on the electronic scoreboard the message "Bullfrog - shame our favourite No 7 isn't here" was displayed in a reference to Langer being overlooked for selection by Kangaroos team manager [[Peter "Bullfrog" Moore|Peter Moore]] in favour of [[Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)|Peter Sterling]].<ref>{{cite news|author1=John MacDonald|author2=Brad Forrest|title=Victorious Lewis slams 'Headhunters'|url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news880628_0268_4573|access-date=16 February 2014|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=28 June 1988}}</ref> Langer made his début for the Australian test side against [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]] due to a shoulder injury to Sterling.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Sterling
| first = Peter
| author-link = Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)
| title = Out of this world
| work = [[Newcastle Herald]]
| pages = 3
| publisher = Fairfax Digital
| date = 23 April 1998
| url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news980428_0078_6553
| access-date = 6 October 2009}}</ref> This made him the first Bronco to earn international representative honours. On 20 July 1988 Langer played for Australia in their record 62-point win over [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinea]], scoring two tries.<ref>{{cite news|title=O'Connor helps set Test records|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r3BVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3512,275171|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=[[The Age]]|date=21 July 1988}}</ref> At the end of the [[1988 NSWRL season]] Langer was named the Broncos' player of the year,<ref>{{cite web|title=Honour Board|url=http://www.broncos.com.au/honour-board|work=broncos.com.au|publisher=[[Brisbane Broncos]]|access-date=22 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126143426/http://www.broncos.com.au/honour-board|archive-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> then went on to score two tries in Australia's win in the [[1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup#Final|1988 World Cup final]] over New Zealand.

Langer played in the Broncos' win in the final of the [[1989 Panasonic Cup (rugby league)|1989 Panasonic Cup]] before suffering a broken ankle in Game 2 of the [[1989 State of Origin series]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heming |first1=Wayne |title=Life After Origin {{!}} Michael Hagan FOG #61 |url=https://www.fogs.com.au/news-post/life-after-origin-michael-hagan-fog-61 |website=fogs.com.au |publisher=FOGS Queensland |access-date=1 September 2025}}</ref> Langer missed the rest of the 1989 season.

===1990s===
Langer's leg recovered to go on the [[1990 Kangaroo tour]]. following the axing of Lewis from the Broncos and later the retirement of [[Gene Miles]], the diminutive Langer became captain of the Broncos in 1992. Alfie then played in all three matches of the [[1992 State of Origin series]], scoring one try and kicking the match-winning field goal in Game II. He also won the [[Wally Lewis Medal]] for being the best player in the Match. He helped Australia retain [[The Ashes (rugby league)|The Ashes]] during the [[1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand]] and also won the [[Rothmans Medal]] for best and fairest player in the [[Winfield Cup]] competition that season.
{{Quote box|quoted=true|bgcolor=#FFFFF0|salign=center|width=30em
| quote  =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 (rugby league commentator)|Peter Sterling]] and [[Wally Lewis]] as one of the three best players of the past decade.
| source =''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'', 27 September 1992<ref>{{Cite news
| last = Williams
| first = Daniel
| title = Beaten Saints take Defeat on the Chin
| work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]]
| place = Australia
| page = 47
| publisher = [[Fairfax Media]]
| date = 27 September 1992
| url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?&docID=news920927_0109_1116
| access-date = 13 February 2011}}</ref>
| align = left
}}Along with [[Steve Renouf]], Langer was the year's top try scorer for the Broncos. He also steered his team to their maiden Premiership, winning the [[Clive Churchill Medal]] for best and fairest player on the field in [[NSWRL season 1992#Grand final|the grand final]].

Later in the year Langer also played in Australia's [[1992 Rugby League World Cup]] Final victory, and captained the Broncos to victory in the [[1992 World Club Challenge]], the first time Australian premiers had won the title on British soil. By this time Allan Langer's fame was such that he starred with his mother in the advertising campaign for Australia's top-selling bread and also had his own doll on toy store shelves.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Hadfield
| first = Dave
| title = Alfie finds what life is all about
| work = The Independent
| publisher = independent.co.uk
| date = 9 October 1992
| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-alfie-finds-what-life-is-all-about-dave-hadfield-on-the-brilliant-australian-halfback-who-has-passed-into-folklore-1556409.html
| access-date = 17 December 2009}}</ref>

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 [[Australian Rugby League]] Premiership. During the [[1994 NSWRL season]], Langer played as a {{rlp|hb}} for defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] for the [[1994 World Club Challenge]] and lost. Langer then lost his position in the test squad to [[Ricky Stuart]] after an opening loss to [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] in the [[Rugby League Ashes|Ashes series]] of the [[1994 Kangaroo tour]].

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 (Australia)|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 [[1997 World Club Championship]] and the [[Super League (Australia) season 1997|Super League premiership]]. In the first game of the [[1998 State of Origin series]] Langer was named man-of-the-match. Also that year, for the second time, Langer captained the Broncos to a second consecutive premiership when they won the [[1998 NRL grand final]]. In 1998, Langer was also appointed Australian national team captain. That year he and his mentor, Broncos, Queensland and Australian coach, [[Wayne Bennett (rugby league)|Wayne Bennett]], became the first captain-coach combination to win the NRL Premiership, State of Origin and Test series in the same year. Langer's 1998 season has since been described as one of the greatest individual seasons in Australian rugby league history.<ref>{{cite news|last=Middleton|first=David|title=Ten of the most dominant seasons in rugby league history from historian David Middleton|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/ten-of-the-greatest-seasons-in-rugby-league-history-according-to-historian-david-middleton/story-fni3fbgz-1226729899765|access-date=6 February 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=30 September 2013}}</ref>

After a lacklustre start to the [[Brisbane Broncos 1999|1999 season]], Langer announced his immediate retirement from rugby league mid-year, leaving many, including teammates, bewildered as to why.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Harms
| first = John
| title = The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story
| publisher = [[University of Queensland]] Press
| year = 2005
| location = Australia
| pages = 198
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=OFE2EZ7JyEkC
| isbn = 978-0-7022-3536-8}}
</ref> His departure prompted the [[Queensland Premier]] and even the [[Australian Prime Minister]] to eulogise his contribution to the sport.<ref>{{cite book
|author1=Barbara Alysen|author2=Gail Sedorkin|author3=Mandy Oakham|author4=Roger Patching| title = Reporting in a multimedia world
| publisher = Allen & Unwin
| year = 2003
| pages = 92
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qLtoTmMZ2v4C
| isbn = 978-1-86508-910-2}}
</ref> However, Alfie soon came out of retirement to play in the [[Super League]] for the [[Warrington Wolves]].

===2000s===
Langer captained Warrington Wolves and took them to within one match of the [[Challenge Cup]] Final in 2000.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Hadfield
| first = Dave
| title = Questionnaire: ALLAN LANGER – Australian Test halfback and captain of Warrington
| work = [[The Independent]]
| place =London, England
| date = 6 March 2000
| url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5061710.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121102113947/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5061710.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 2 November 2012
| access-date = 5 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| last = Burke
| first = David A
| title = This time we must tame raging Bulls
| work = [[Daily Mirror]]
| place =London, England
| publisher = MGN LTD
| date = 25 March 2000
| url = https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-60819727
| access-date = 5 October 2009}}</ref> 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".<ref name="am"/> Later that year he was also awarded the [[Australian Sports Medal]].<ref name="Langer, Allan: Australian Sports Medal">{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/972450|title=Langer, Allan: Australian Sports Medal|publisher=itsanhonour.gov.au|date=10 October 2013|access-date=1 January 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Crawley
| first = Steve
| title = Alf's back
| work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]]
| pages = 21
| publisher = Fairfax Digital
| date = 25 June 2001
| url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=SMH010625V058J1JRSFA
| access-date = 6 October 2009}}</ref> 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 (rugby league)|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 [[Brisbane Broncos 2002|season in 2002]]. In doing so he became the NRL's oldest player that year at 36 years and 60 days.<ref>{{Cite news
| last = Toohey
| first = Barry
| title = Still some bite in old Mad Dog
| work = [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]
| place = Australia
| publisher = [[News Limited]]
| date = 2 February 2011
| url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/still-some-bite-in-old-mad-dog/story-e6frfgbo-1225998290314
| access-date = 2 February 2011}}</ref> He was named man-of-the-match in the third and deciding game of that year's State of Origin series and became the oldest player to play in State of Origin football. However, despite his good form, Brisbane were unable to win the Premiership, falling four points short of the Grand Final (losing the preliminary final to eventual premiers the [[Sydney Roosters]] by a scoreline of just 16-12).

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.<ref name="Alfie Langer Makes Icon List">{{cite web|url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2009/02/24/alfie-langer-makes-icon-list|title=Alfie Langer Makes Icon List|publisher=sunshinecoastdaily.com.au|date= 24 February 2009|access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref>

In 2003 Langer was one of the first four former players inducted into the Broncos official Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|title=Broncos Hall of Fame|url=http://www.broncos.com.au/broncos-hall-of-fame|work=broncos.com.au|publisher=[[Brisbane Broncos]]|access-date=31 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126143431/http://www.broncos.com.au/broncos-hall-of-fame|archive-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> That year he considered another comeback with the Caloundra Sharks, who his older brother Kevin was coaching.<ref name=brother/>
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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dekroo |first=Karl |title=Still the king |work=The Courier-Mail |place=Australia |publisher=Queensland Newspapers |date=9 May 2007 |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21701434-10389,00.html |access-date=8 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512101607/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0%2C23739%2C21701434-10389%2C00.html |archive-date=12 May 2007}}</ref>

In February 2008, Langer was named in the list of Australia's [[List of Australian rugby league's 100 greatest players|''100 Greatest Players'']] (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the [[National Rugby League|NRL]] and [[Australian Rugby League|ARL]] to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[National Rugby League|NRL]] & [[Australian Rugby League|ARL]]|title=Centenary of Rugby League – The Players |url=http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/the-players.aspx?cat=3&list=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226180521/http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/the-players.aspx?cat=3&list=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 February 2008 |access-date=23 February 2008 |date=23 February 2008}}</ref> Langer was also inducted into the [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]] in 2008.<ref name="Allan Langer OAM">{{cite web|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/allan-langer/|title=Allan Langer|publisher=sahof.org.au|date=10 October 2013|access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref> In June 2008, he was chosen in the [[Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century]] as a {{rlp|hb}}.<ref name="Locky named No.1 but Wal's still King">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23843448-10389,00.html&|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702003008/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23843448-10389,00.html|url-status=dead|title=Locky named No.1 but Wal's still King|work=news.com.au|date=10 June 2008|access-date=1 January 2009|archive-date=2 July 2008}}</ref>

A few months later the Brisbane Broncos appointed Allan Langer, along with [[Shane Webcke]] as full-time assistant coaches to work alongside new head coach [[Ivan Henjak]] from the [[Brisbane Broncos 2009|2009 season]].

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|date=May 2017}}

In 2009 as part of the [[Q150]] celebrations, Allan Langer was announced as one of the [[Q150 Icons]] of Queensland for his role as a "sports legend".<ref name="Premier Unveils Queensland's 150 Icons">{{cite web|last=Bligh|first=Anna|author-link=Anna Bligh|url=http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524033717/http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 May 2017|title=Premier Unveils Queensland's 150 Icons|publisher=statements.qld.gov.au|date=10 June 2009|access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref>

===Drink Driving Charge===
On 29 March 2010, Langer was charged with [[Driving under the influence|drink driving]].<ref name="Langer charged with drink driving">{{cite web|url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/langer-charged-with-drink-driving-20100329-r6wh.html|title=Langer charged with drink driving|publisher=brisbanetimes.com.au|date=29 March 2010|access-date=1 January 2011}}</ref> At the time of the incident, Langer was ambassador for [[Lion Nathan]] brewery. He went to the Normanby Hotel in inner [[Brisbane]], where he was photographed dancing in his underpants in front of patrons. Langer drank 8 to 10 glasses of beer and a couple of vodkas, before driving his car. He had intended to drive all the way to his home on the Sunshine Coast, but a police patrol pulled him over in the Brisbane suburb of [[Everton Park, Queensland|Everton Park]]. The police found Langer to be 3 times over the legal [[Blood alcohol content|blood alcohol]] limit.<ref name="SMH_1">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/allan-langer-pleads-guilty-to-drinkdriving-charge-20100412-s1q9.html|title=Allan Langer pleads guilty to drink-driving charge|date=12 April 2010|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> Langer pleaded guilty to the offence in [[Brisbane Magistrates Court]]. Lion Nathan cancelled Langer's brewery ambassadorship, and he was suspended from his coaching position with the Broncos.<ref name="SMH_1"/> The court banned Langer from driving a motor vehicle for eight months. However no criminal conviction was recorded, as the judge accepted Langer's argument that a conviction would hurt his football coaching career.<ref name="Langer loses licence for eight months">{{cite web|url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/12/2870085.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100414125650/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/12/2870085.htm|url-status= dead|archive-date= 14 April 2010|title=Langer loses licence for eight months|publisher=abc.net.au|date=12 April 2010|access-date=1 January 2011}}</ref> By the following weekend Langer had returned to work as Broncos assistant coach.

===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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/i-was-betting-most-days-langer|website=SBS|date=20 September 2015|title='I was betting most days': Langer}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Langer is married to his high school sweetheart Janine. They have three children.  In 2009 he became a grandfather.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/grandad-alfie-in-cruz-control/news-story/25842a0139263c06a3162a850f12b19d?sv=dcfe5ad2278904064274f61b56b34a|title=Allan Langer a grandad after birth of grandson Cruz|first=Steve|last= Ricketts|newspaper= Courier Mail|date=29 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sunshine Coast Daily|url=https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/janine-rules-in-langers-kitchen/1780552/|title=Janine rules in little general Alfie Langer's kitchen|date=5 March 2013}}</ref>

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071024195653/http://www.stateoforigin.com.au/SOOgame/PlayerDetails.aspx?Pid=350 Allan Langer at stateoforigin.com.au]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070214145749/http://www.bronconet.org/index.cfm?MenuID=213&TopMenuID=183 Allan Langer at bronconet.org]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080401002438/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s23344.htm 28/04/1999 7:30 Report Transcript: ''Langer retirement spells end of a Rugby League era'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090226165115/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2001/s318365.htm 25/06/2001 7:30 Report Transcript: ''Langer returns to State of Origin'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080503203303/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/01/2232569.htm ''Langer, Webcke hired as Broncos assistants'' – article at abc.net.au]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120213152729/http://nz.leagueunlimited.com/news.php?newsid=16380 ''Queensland Team of the Century named'' – article at nz.leagueunlimited.com]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=[[Australian national rugby league team#Captains|Australian national rugby league captain]]|before=[[Geoff Toovey]]|after=[[Gorden Tallis]]|years=1998}}
{{s-end}}
{{Brisbane Broncos squad 1992 NSWRL premiership}}
{{Brisbane Broncos squad 1993 NSWRL premiership}}
{{Brisbane Broncos squad 1997 Super League premiership}}
{{Brisbane Broncos squad 1998 NRL premiership}}
{{Australia squad - 1985-88 World Cup champions}}
{{1990 Kangaroo Tour squad}}
{{Australia 1992 Rugby League World Cup final squad}}
{{1994 Kangaroo Tour squad}}
{{Clive Churchill Medallists}}
{{Dally M Medallists}}
{{Rothmans Medallists}}
{{Brisbane Broncos captains}}
{{1988 Brisbane Broncos}}
{{The Queensland Rugby League Team of the Century}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Langer, Allan}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Australia national rugby league team captains]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league players]]
[[Category:Australia national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Brisbane Broncos captains]]
[[Category:Brisbane Broncos players]]
[[Category:Clive Churchill Medal winners]]
[[Category:Ipswich Jets players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Queensland Rugby League State of Origin captains]]
[[Category:Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal]]
[[Category:Rugby league halfbacks]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Ipswich, Queensland]]
[[Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Warrington Wolves players]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]