John Lang

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Tuesday, 7th November, 1950
Current Age
73 years and 143 days

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Hooker Of The Year
1980
Dally M Coach Of The Year
1995, 1999

Biography

Busy, constructive Brisbane Easts hooker was one of only two Queensland players selected on the 1973 Kangaroo tour. Lang played in the First Test against France, and in 7 other matches, and the following year was a tireless performer in three interstate matches played over a six-day period. Lang played in the Second Test against Great Britain in 1974 and continued to toil tirelessly for Queensland (he was a try-scorer in each of three interstate matches in 1976) and for Australia (1975 World Series competition and against NZ in 1978). He won three premierships with Brisbane Easts (1972 & 1977-78) before accepting an offer from former Kangaroo teammate Bob Fulton to play for Easts in 1980. A member of the Australian squad that toured NZ that year, Lang had been the star of NSW's win over Queensland that year but then had the satisfaction of returning 'home' to play for Queensland in the first ever State of Origin match. Following Easts' 19-4 loss to C’bury in the grand final, he turned his back on Sydney to coach Brisbane Easts in 1981-84 and 1990-93, capturing premierships in 1983 and 1991 (and runners-up to Brisbane Wests in 1992-93). Having achieved so much in Brisbane Lang accepted a new challenge in taking over from coach from Arthur Beetson as Cronulla coach in 1994. He had a great season in his first year, moulding the young talent in the club into a formidable force on their home ground, before signing with Super League in 1995. In 1997 he coached Super League Australia in all five Tests and took the Sharks to the Telstra Cup grand final against Brisbane. His sixth season as coach found the Sharks vying for premiership favouritism in 1999 but despite making qualifying finals in 1999 and 2001 Cronulla could not break through and win a maiden premiership title. In 2001 Lang announced his departure from the Sharks after eight seasons and was snapped up by Penrith for 2002. At the Panthers Lang took a club that had finished last in 2001 to premiership success in 2003 – a just reward for one of the hardest-working men in rugby league. After five seasons with the club his contract was not renewed when Penrith failed to make the play-offs in 2005-06.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Interstate Matches 19 6 -   - 18 2 15 2 10.53% List
Tour Matches Australia 13 3 -   - 9 9 2 2 69.23% List
Test Series 3 1 -   - - 2 1 0 66.67% List
Tour Matches Queensland Firsts 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches Brisbane Firsts 3 - -   - - 2 1 0 66.67% List
The Ashes 1 1 -   - 6 0 1 0 0.00% List
World Cup 5 - -   - - 4 0 1 80.00% List
National Panasonic Cup 1 3 -   - 9 0 1 0 0.00% List
NRL 22 2 -   - 6 14 6 2 63.64% List
State of Origin 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
NRL Finals 3 - -   - - 1 2 0 33.33% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1973-75, 1978 9 3 -   - 9 7 1 1 77.78% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1973-1980 1 - -   - - 0 0 1 0.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1973-1975 5 - -   - - 4 0 1 80.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
QLD Firsts 1972-76, 1978-79 20 6 -   - 18 2 16 2 10.00% List
Brisbane Firsts 1974-75, 1979 4 1 -   - 3 2 2 0 50.00% List
QLD 1980 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
NSW City Seconds 1980 1 1 -   - 3 1 0 0 100.00% List
NSW Firsts 1980 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1972-1980 27 8 0   0 24 7 18 2 25.93% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1980 22 2 -   - 6 14 6 2 63.64% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Eastern Suburbs 1980 22 2 -   - 6 14 6 2 63.64% List

Your Say

  • Len Conroy
    12/01/2012

    John played under 14 for easts in 1964 and I was his first coach and I said then this kid will play for Australia, He was great in the scrums and always won a lot ball for his team but he was wonderful running with the ball and he was a great defender I had the great pleasure of presenting John with an Easts Life membership in 2010. Len Conroy

  • john spackman
    23/03/2014

    Can anyone tell me if John Langs father was a policeman

  • Anonymous
    03/09/2023

    No John Lang's father was not a policeman he was a chef. He worked at the old Bellevue Hotel on George Street, Brisbane City at one time.

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Contributions: Greg Fiveash, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Paul Carter, Rugby League Tables, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates, AJ Lucantonio

Sources: Match Video, Newspapers