Fellow Immortal Bob Fulton says Graeme ‘Changa’ Langlands the best all-round player he’s seen

EVERYONE remembers the sidestep. Bob Fulton certainly remembers the famous step but says there was much more to Graeme ‘Changa’ Langlands’ game.

BOB Fulton describes fellow Immortal Graeme Langlands as the best “all-round” footballer he has ever seen.

Known for his prestigious sidestep “Changa” Langlands finished his career as one of the most decorated rugby league players of all time playing a then record 45 Test matches and 227 games for St George.

Langlands died in a Sutherland Shire nursing home aged 76 after suffering from dementia. He is in the rarest of company as one of just eight Immortals.

Fulton has no doubt about Langlands greatness.

Graeme Langlands at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“He was the best all-rounder that I’ve played with or against,” Fulton said.

“Every aspect of the game he could cover whether it was being brilliant, his leadership or his ability to play a number of positions. His coaching ability has to be taken into consideration when you’re assessing the impact he had on the game. He was a player players liked playing with. He could win games single-handedly.

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“He played for Australia and NSW for a long time. He had great longevity in the game. He would play wing, centre or fullback and could genuinely play in any of those positions at international level. Not too many players have been able to do that.”

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Langlands was born in Wollongong on September 2 — despite most records indicating he was born a day earlier — in 1941.

Former TV commentator and primary school mate of Langlands, Barry Ross said Langlands was a child prodigy.

“He was brilliant from the time he was 12,” Ross said. “He stood out with individual brilliance. His sidestep is what everyone remembers. (Souths legend) Bob McCarthy tells a good story about how he and Ron Coote were picked to play for a South Sydney under-18 side against a Wollongong team. They were told to watch out for Langlands’ right foot step. After the game he said Langlands’ left foot was as dangerous as his right.”

Graeme Langlands in those famous white boots.

Langlands was picked for the NSW while impressing for Country Firsts a year before being graded by St George in 1963 — the same year he would win a premiership and make his Test debut.

Former St George premiership winning and international centre John Riley remembers first laying eyes on a young Langlands who was not overawed by joining the high flying St George side in the midst of their record breaking 11 premiership run.

“He made an impact straight away,” Riley recalls. “St George in those days were full of internationals and he just fitted in straight away. You could see he was one going to be one of the greats as well. “He had a great sidestep, speed and anticipation. And he was a great team player.

Graeme Langlands (front, second from left) was named in Rugby League’s Team of the Century.

“Norm Provan was our captain-coach and he took no prisoners. We all respected Norm like crazy so we did what we were told. Chang was young so he was a little a bit immature but he quickly got the message from Norm and did everything Norm’s way.

“He was a star player every time he ran out on the field.”

Langlands won four premierships with the Dragons, going on to captain-coach his club and country. He led Australia to success at the 1974 World Cup before retiring from representative football.

Australia captain Graeme Langlands is chaired off after a Test against Great Britain.

Langlands played one more full final season with St George — which was overshadowed by the infamous white boots he wore during the Dragons record breaking grand final loss to the Roosters. An injection to his groin which went wrong left Langlands a virtual passenger on the field. He would retire the following season.

Langlands was given Immortal status in 1999 and picked as an interchange player in Team of the Century.

In November 2017, he was charged with six counts of indecent dealings with a girl under 16, dating back to the early 1980s on the Gold Coast.

GRAEME “CHANGA” LANGLANDS

1941-2018

Birthplace: Wollongong

HONOURS

Named rugby league’s fifth “Immortal: in 1999

Inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. Named among Australia’s 100 Greatest Rugby League players.

Most prolific pointscorer in St George club history (1554 points – 86 tries, 648 goals).

Won premierships with the Dragons in 1964, 1965 and 1966.

CAREER

Club

1959–62 Wollongong

1963–76 St. George Dragons 227 games

Representative

1962 NSW Country Firsts 1 game

1962–75 NSW 33 games

1963–75 Australia 45 games

1966–75 NSW City Firsts 8 games

COACHING CAREER

Club

1972–76 St. George 119 games, 70 wins, 5 draws, 44 losses

Representative

1973–76 NSW City Firsts 3 games, 2 wins, 1 loss

1973–76 NSW 12 games, 9 wins, 3 losses

1973–75 Australia 24 games, 18 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses

Originally published as Fellow Immortal Bob Fulton says Graeme ‘Changa’ Langlands the best all-round player he’s seen