St George Illawarra will pay tribute to Graeme Langlands in their first home game of the season

ST GEORGE Illawarra’s opening home game at Jubilee Oval is set to take on extra importance with the match to coincide with a public tribute to Immortal Graeme Langlands.

ST GEORGE Illawarra’s opening home game at Jubilee Oval is set to take on extra importance with the match to coincide with a public tribute to Immortal Graeme Langlands. The Dragons and the NRL have made plans to honour Langlands when St George Illawarra host the Broncos on March 8 — which doubles as the first game of the NRL season.

“As a rugby league Immortal, who played and coached at the club in a career that spanned 14 seasons, it is appropriate that we provide the opportunity for fans to honour and celebrate the rugby league career of Graeme Langlands at Kogarah,” said Dragons boss Peter Doust.

“He played 227 games, holds the club point scoring record (1554), and as history shows is one of the most gifted rugby league players ever to play the game.”

Langlands is one of the greatest players in rugby league history.

Langlands died in a Sutherland Shire nursing home aged 76 after suffering from dementia.

His daughter Monique said he battled until the end.

“We are devastated by the loss of Dad,” she said. “He fought to the very end after a very long illness, and it was a battle worthy of any champion.

“Dad was truly complete when playing the game that came so naturally to him and he loved rugby league with all his heart.”

Current Dragons players and coaching staff will be on hand for Langlands’ funeral at Woronora on Monday. It is understood Bob McCarthy, Steve Edge and Carol Raper will be among those to deliver eulogies.

Langlands is one of the cornerstones of the legendary Dragons teams of the 1960s.

It is unclear if Carol’s husband Johnny — a fellow Immortal — will attend as he battles his own serious health problems.

Dragons skipper Gareth Widdop said the match at Kogarah was the perfect opportunity to pay tribute to Langlands.

“As St George Illawarra Dragons players, we understand and respect the importance of Graeme Langlands to the club’s history and the legacy he leaves behind,” Widdop said. “To have our round one game against the Brisbane Broncos in honour of Graeme will certainly be a special occasion for not only Dragons members and supporters but also the players and fans of rugby league in general.”

Fans can leave tribute messages for the Langlands family via the Dragons website this week.