Bennett calls for Langer league statue

Wayne Bennett says Allan Langer is worthy of his own bronze statue outside Suncorp Stadium, describing him as 'the making' of NRL club Brisbane.

The way retired Brisbane NRL captain Justin Hodges sees it, pint-sized playmaker Allan 'Alfie' Langer should be given a bronze statue outside Suncorp Stadium simply for the cheap price of construction.

"He's not that tall - it shouldn't cost much," Hodges laughed.

But coach Wayne Bennett was deadly serious when he suggested Langer should have been one of the first immortalised outside the venue once known as Lang Park.

Momentum is gathering for ex-Broncos skipper Langer to join Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Arthur Beetson and Darren Lockyer in bronze outside Brisbane's home ground.

A petition has begun and a Facebook group launched but the campaign to have the ex-halfback bronzed appears to have received its biggest push from Brisbane's foundation coach Bennett.

"He's one of the top-five players I have coached," seven-time premiership-winning mentor Bennett said.

"There's been no more influential player in the 25 years I have been here.

"He was the making of us (Broncos).

"I don't think a player has given more to the club.

"My opinion is that he was the player in the NRL for a decade - no one matched him in any position."

Meninga planted the seed for a Langer statue when he unveiled his own in 2014.

"Hopefully, one day there will be another statue, maybe Alf. Let's get that campaign started," Meninga said.

Bennett believed it was time the vertically challenged Langer stood tall among the fellow greats outside Suncorp Stadium.

"If they look at what he has done for the game - four premierships here and Origin, Australian level, the whole lot - he is certainly deserving of being considered," Bennett said.

"His career stacks up with anyone who has played the game."


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Source: AAP



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