Rugby League
Your Stories

Videos - A tribute to the Seven Australian rugby league immortals Reg Gasnier, Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Johnny Raper, Changa Langlands, and Arthur Beetson, includes talk of whether Andrew Johns should become the eighth. To view just click the Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae4cGeJWVKA

Video Links

Langlands Tribute(links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

VIDEO LINK
Chang Try 63 Roos tour 2nd test(links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

VIDEO LINK
Shows Bruce Picketts try for Easts in the 75GF but it also highlights Changas leg injury (and the famous white boots)
(links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

Stats available from 1976 on -

A QUOTE BY THE GREAT MAN SATTLER...........

He was a very tough warrior and the captain-coach of larrikins. Chang was the greatest rugby league player I've ever seen…He didn't have a weak link—he amazed all who played with or against him. John Sattler, South Sydney and Australian Captain

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

I was there in 1974 when Changa played his last test.
(Reproduced with permission from the Saints Immortals website)

A magnificent sunny day at the SCG, versus the Poms. The deciding Test of the series, the series that introduced the around the corner kicking style.

This is the game that Ron Casey claimed that the young Graham Eadie should have been in the test in front of Changa. Casey saying he was over the hill and past it.

I was 13 at the time, my father and I sat behind the goals in front of the Bradman Stand It is much of a blur to me now but the three most enduring memories are of John Gray kicking goals from anywhere and every where with this weird kicking style. They would look like missing and just bend back to add the their score.

At half time when Australia were down, the man sitting next to me was telling me that they should have picked that bloke "REDDY" from St George because he's going to be a star.

But undoubtly the memory that is etched in my mind is Changa scoring in the hill corner and converting from the sideline. This if my memory hasnąt failed me, sealed the win for Australia. I had a tear in my eye that day as I do now. Changa again proved one of the greatest footballers ever. He may not have finished club football as he deserved but he finished International football the champion he was and the IMMORTAL he will always be.

David Whyte

PS I also remember the next day Ron Casey being put into stocks and I think it was Peter Peters who gave him egg on his face for his comments about Chang

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

Oh Chang!! That dry retching.

I can't remember the details about the game but I do remember the look on my mate's face at the end of the match. He saw Changa being 'sick' prior to the game and, not knowing that Chang violently dry retched before every game, thought that his team was home with a big win even before the whistle was blown for the kick-off.

Saints had one of their biggest wins for that season and needless to say the star of the game was 'Changa'

My mate put a bundle on his team and lost the lot.

JD [name supplied]

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

It was the 1971 final between St George and Manly with Manly red hot favourites with players like Fulton, Reilly, McDonald, Hamilton, Freddy Jones etc.

St George looked like a bunch of no name easybeats with only two exceptions in Graeme Langlands and Billy Smith.

St George had won the 1st Semi Final against Parramatta in an extra time thriller but were still absolute underdogs for the final.

It's a pity no one told Smith and Langlands.

From a position deep in the south west corner of the SCG Smith went to dummy half having stacked the blindside with 3 players one of which was Langlands,as the Manly defence slid across to cover the blindside raid Langlands sidestepped inside as Smith pivoted and changed direction to the open side, firing an inside pass to "Chang" who sliced between the Manly slide defence to score.

Barely ten minutes later Smith in the identical position this time ran to the open side from dummy half , stopped, pivoted and put up a bomb into the south west ( Randwick) corner where again the ever-present Langlands was scooting down the blindside, dived through the air like Nureyev catching the ball on the full in mid air, crashing over to score.

Manly and the bookies were in disbelief, St George fans were ecstatic.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

Changa was a hero and a legend to me as a kid.

I still have a signature from him my dad obtained from him one night at the "Cecil" pub in Cronulla.

That was one of Chang's favourite places to have a beer. I also remember in july 1970 when changa kicked a penalty goal from the half way line at Kogarah Jubilee stadium.

I can't recall who they were playing on that day.

He was one of a kind. And yet, in 1975, when I was at the SCG to watch the grandfinal between Saints and Easts, I will never forget when I saw changa run out with those bloody white boots... I will never forget when chang attempted to kick for touch and the ball just rolled off his boot, and everyone just looked in disbelief...however, even that game did not diminish the respect and love i had for this great footballer....You were the greatest Changa and no one will ever come close to you........

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

Graeme Langlands inclusion as one of the Australian game's Immortals was long overdue. I regard him as the finest player I have ever seen and that includes fellow Immortal "The King" Wally Lewis.

There 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 to entertain the many 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.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

Prop John Wittenburg, playing in his first Test, was flattened by British front-rower Brian Edgar early in the match, Australian centre Graeme Langlands laid out little English halfback Tommy Bishop with a copybook "coat-hanger", Dick Thornett and Billy Smith tag-teamed on British forward Jim Mantle, and former Queenslander Noel "Ned" Kelly and fearsome Englishman Cliff Watson fought a running battle.

From Memorable Match No31- click here to read more.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

The 1st test series I remember was as a small boy reading about the 1962 series.

1963 was the first series I saw on TV.

The 1st test was played at Wembley, but only highlights were shown on TV, although I think Reg Gasnier scored 3 tries.

The match at Swinton was the first test I saw live.

It left an indelible imprint on me, which remains to this day.

Australia have never played better in my opinion. Langlands, Irvine, Gasnier, Raper would walk into any greatest team that I could think of.

The abiding memories are of Ken Irvine's chase down of Neil Fox, with John Stopford scoring a try.

But watching Australia that day was like watching the Harlem Globetrotters.

Raper never played better. Chang wasn't far behind. Still the best team I've ever seen.

As memorable was the 3rd test (Battle of Headingley) when the fists flew. Noel Kelly was indeed a very hard man. A scrum broke up and he delivered a couple of beauties on one of the English props.

Cliff Watson got sent off in the same game.

I have highlights of the 63 Tour on DVD and it's a prized possession.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

text

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

text

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

text

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -