FORMER Warrington Wolves scrum half Allan 'Alf' Langer is back in the headlines.
The rugby league icon has received a prestigious honour in his homeland of Australia.
Langer has officially been unveiled as the 21st Legend of Queensland Sport, a title bestowed on elite athletes from the state in recognition of their significant achievements and contributions to their chosen sport.
The ex-Kangaroo and Queensland State of Origin star, who captained Brisbane Broncos to Grand Final glories in the 1990s, made a successful comeback from retirement to play for The Wire under Darryl Van de Velde in the 2000 and 2001 seasons.
As skipper he guided Warrington to two Challenge Cup semi-finals as the club battled to find its feet in the new summer era.
Langer famously answered Queensland's SOS call in unprecedented style in 2001, flying back to Australia to feature in Wayne Bennett's side for the third and deciding match in that year's State of Origin Series.
At the age of 35 Warrington's captain was the star of the show, setting up two tries and scoring another to steer Maroons to an unexpected series triumph.
Really enjoyed watching him play in the primrose and blue for @WarringtonRLFC If I’m not mistaken, he’s the only player to be selected to play State of Origin whilst playing overseas.
— Wire (@FletcherEnder) November 26, 2021
He was confirmed as the latest member of the Legend of Queensland Sport Hall of Fame at the state's annual awards ceremony staged in Brisbane earlier today.
Langer is the fourth rugby league player among the 21 Legends, following in the footsteps of Arthur Beetson, Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga – all players who plied their trade in England at one time in their careers.
Forward Beetson played at Hull KR in 1968, stand-off Lewis at Wakefield in the 1983/84 season and centre Meninga at St Helens in 1984/85.
Langer has company in the Legends list from household names in the world of sport such as cricketers Allan Border and Greg Chappell, golfer Greg Norman, athlete Cathy Freeman, rugby union's Tim Horan and tennis player Rod Laver.
An audience of more than 600, including the Premier of Queensland and Lord Mayor of Brisbane, witnessed the presentations to top Queensland sporting achievements past and present.
Langer, who went on to become an assistant coach at Broncos, is no stranger to accolades in his highly decorated playing career, capped by being honoured in 2000 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'.
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