Graeme Langlands: Is league legend a saint or a sinner?

FIRST he lost his fortune, then his health — and now the sporting status of league “Immortal” Graeme Langlands could be at risk after he was sensationally charged with historic child sex offences.

FIRST he lost his fortune, then his health — and now the sporting status of rugby league “Immortal” Graeme Langlands could be at risk after he was sensationally charged with historic child sex offences.

Langlands faces six counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 on the Gold Coast in the 1980s, a time when he was operating a juice bar after retiring as one of the most revered players rugby league has ever known.

Graeme Langlands faces six charges of indecent treatment of a child.

NSW police served the 76-year-old with a warrant two weeks ago at the Sutherland nursing home where he is suffering from dementia so severe that it is possible he will never be able to answer the charges in court. Details of the charges, which followed an investigation by Queensland Police’s Child Abuse and Sexual Crimes Group, have not been revealed.

But the news rocked the rugby league world and distressed his family, who yesterday leapt to the defence of the former St George and Australian captain known universally as “Changa”.

“My brother Graeme has always been, and is, a good man. I am shocked at this allegation, he is just not that type,” his sister Paula Langlands told Channel 7.

“His colleagues have always admired Graeme and looked up to him, supported him on the field and off and would readily agree that Graeme is basically a gentleman and would deny this allegation if his current mental and physical health allowed.”

Langlands’ daughter Monique was made aware of the likelihood of charges three weeks ago. She immediately hired a lawyer.

The charges relate to when Langlands operated a juice bar on the Gold Coast following his retirement.

The case was scheduled to be heard for the first time in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 6, but was brought forward to yesterday in an attempt to suppress the allegations.

Lawyer Colin Townes, acting on behalf of Langland’s Sydney-based solicitors, said the St George legend could not make the trip to Queensland to defend the charges because of his health.

Magistrate Suzette Coates recommended his Sydney lawyers organise a psychiatric assessment and rejected the need for bail given Langlands’ dementia. The case was adjourned to Monday.

Langlands is a member of the most select group in rugby league, named the fifth rugby league “Immortal” in 1999 in honour of a playing career that included 45 Tests for the Kangaroos between 1963 and 1975 and four premierships with the then-dominant Dragons.

The case was heard in a Gold Coast court and will resume on Monday.

Bail was not an issue due to the league legend’s declining health.

His trademark sidestep running at full speed as a fullback or centre captivated fans. But many also remember his disastrous appearance in white boots in the 1975 grand final, when a painkilling injection left him with no feeling in one leg.

He moved to the Gold Coast after his playing career and was on the coaching staff at the region’s original NRL franchise, the Giants, during the late 1980s.

Langlands later lost his house in a failed business venture and was forced to live with his children in Sydney and raise money by selling his football memorabilia.

Langlands has been battling dementia.

His health suffered when he was knocked unconscious at Suncorp Stadium in 2008 during the World Cup, after falling from an open-topped car being driven around the ground. Later he was diagnosed with dementia.

Friend and former TV commentator Barry Ross said: “He’s asleep a lot of the time when we visit. He’s on a lot of drugs and he’s getting worse.”

A NRL spokesman would not speculate on the future of Langlands’ Immortals status.

An SCG spokesman said a plaque honouring Langlands at the ground may be removed if he were convicted.

IMMORTAL COMBAT
* Born September 1, 1941, in Wollongong, “Changa” moved to Sydney to play at fullback for a dominant St George side in 1963.

* Played 227 first grade games for St George from 1963-76. Won four grand finals for the Dragons, famously wearing white boots in the 1975 grand final

* The former Australian captain played 45 tests for the Kangaroos between 1963 and 1975.

Langlands was named the fifth rugby league “Immortal” in 1999.

* Awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire, (MBE) medal for his contribution to Rugby League and club life

* He suffered serious injuries and was knocked unconscious at Suncorp Stadium in 2008 during the World Cup, after falling from an open-topped car being driven around the ground.

* Lost his house and life savings from a failed venture in 2011 which led fraud squad detectives to investigate his business partner.

* The case ended up in the NSW Supreme Court when the lenders sought to recoup the debt. Justice David Davies ordered Langlands to pay back $352,158.91 and foot all legal costs. With an existing mortgage on his Alexandria property, the bank foreclosed on the home which sold for $901,500,

* Now 76, he lives in a Sutherland nursing home and suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

Originally published as Graeme Langlands: Is league legend a saint or a sinner?