Wally Lewis stunned as Broncos ‘sack Santa Claus’ with Allan Langer axing

Broncos legend Wally Lewis has revealed his shock after news dropped of a Brisbane axing that felt like ‘sacking Santa Claus’.

Broncos legend Wally Lewis has revealed his shock after fellow club great Allan Langer was dropped from the Brisbane football department and moved into an off-field role in one of the first major moves of the Michael Maguire revolution at Red Hill.

While Langer’s role as a blue shirt trainer has become synonymous with the Broncos, with many rival fans joking he spent as much time on the field as many of the players, the era is over as Maguire looks to put his stamp on the club.

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The Broncos move to oust former coach Kevin Walters reportedly hit Langer hard and left the 58-year-old “shattered”.

“I don’t have anything to do with Madge as a coach, so I don’t understand what his plans are or what his thoughts were prior to that decision making taking place,” Lewis told Wide World of Sports.

“But, if you try to come up with how many people expected that ... there wouldn’t have been a person in Brisbane or Queensland that expected that.

“Coaches are entitled to make a decision – I think he’s come in with the thinking ‘change is as is as good as a holiday’ and probably believed there needed to be a broom put through the Broncos.

“I was shocked ... f---ing stunned. Sacking Alf is like sacking Santa Clause.”

NRL legend Paul Gallen had a similar view to Lewis and argued it would be crazy to get rid of Langer given his unique ability to bring a playing group together.

“I’ve been involved with him with the Kangaroos and you can’t let a guy like Alfie Langer go,” Gallen said.

“That’s Madge’s decision but I’d be shocked if he was lost to the Broncos completely. He’s just a good bloke and his presence in that club is priceless.

“I remember he was a trainer for us (Kangaroos) and he was a guy who just kept everything happy, kept everyone onside, kept the connection of the group together.

“He does things that other people can’t do and I’d be shocked if he was lost to the Broncos.”

Wally Lewis (R) said getting rid of Langer is like ‘killing Santa Claus’. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Rated by legendary coach Wayne Bennett as the greatest Bronco and a snubbed Immortal, stating he would have been awarded the honour “if he’d been down in NSW”, Langer has been part of the furniture at Red Hill in the two decades since his retirement.

However, the club is hopeful that even though he’s been moved out of the football department that Langer will remain at the club.

News Corp reported Broncos officials will offer Langer a role as a corporate ambassador, working with sponsors.

While from the outside it could appear like another casualty of the club’s move to install Maguire as head coach, the former NSW and New Zealand mentor has stated he wants Langer to stay.

Allan Langer is one of the greatest Broncos of all. Picture: NRL Photos

Langer with the 1992 Winfield Cup.

He’ll reportedly meet with Langer in a bid to keep the icon at the club.

“Alf will be in the organisation,” Maguire said.

“I haven’t really had a chance to see him properly yet, but I have spoken to Alf over the phone and he’s a great man.

“I’ve been able to spend some time with him over the years.

“Now that I’m moving up, I want to sit down with Alf and see how best it all fits in together.”

Current captain and halfback Adam Reynolds said Langer was an important part of luring him to the club as he wanted to be mentored by the rugby league legend.

It’s unknown if it will effect his role as trainer for Queensland. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Maguire said Langer, who played 258 games for the Broncos, won four premierships and claimed the 1992 Clive Churchill Medal as well as 37 State of Origin matches for Queensland and 25 matches for Australia, still had a part to play at the club.

“He’s obviously one of the greats of the club and such a popular figure in the game,” he said.

“I think everyone enjoys Alf, but it’s just best how we put our program together.

“I’m looking forward to sitting down with him over the next couple of weeks to talk about where he fits in.

“Alf can play so many different parts within the Broncos organisation.”

Maguire has a huge challenge on his hands as he seeks to change the culture of the club, which has been in the spotlight in recent years.

Broncos legend Allan Langer with Reece Walsh. Picture NRL

The Broncos have missed the finals in four of the last five years, including claiming the club’s first wooden spoon in 2020.

Star centre Kotoni Staggs spoke to 2GB on Tuesday, revealing he found out Walters was being fired over the news.

“I have a good relationship with Kev, I loved playing under him,” Staggs said on 2GB.

“He helped me get the best out of my footy. I was pretty down by the way we found out actually, it was off the news, that’s not what you want to hear about your coach.

“I gave him a call after it and told him thanks for the last four years I’ve had, I learned a lot off him and wished him the best for his future. It wasn’t the thing I wanted to see on the news … that’s not the right way to go about it I guess but we’ve got to move on from there.”

Originally published as Wally Lewis stunned as Broncos ‘sack Santa Claus’ with Allan Langer axing