Langer’s tears for his mate

Fierce rivals friends

ALLAN Langer once broke his thumb having a swing at Paul Green but an hour later they shared a beer and a laugh in the dressing room.

This was life in one of rugby league’s most enduring friendships which meshed a deepseated mutual affection with a fierce, at times playful, rivalry which bubbled up in everything from rugby league to poker, darts, drinking games and anything else that pitted one man against each other.

Had Langer not roadblocked his career, Green might have played 17 State of Origin games instead of just seven yet, quite unusually for a key rival, Green considered Langer his favourite opponent.

The respect flowed both ways, leaving Langer shattered by news of Green’s sudden death on Thursday.

“Andrew Gee rung with the news (of Green’s death) this morning,’’ Langer said.

“I was at home by myself and I cried. It’s just devastating. I still cannot believe it. He had been going so well and enjoying life. I saw him recently at Andrew Gee’s wedding and really enjoyed his company.

“I can’t stop thinking about his lovely wife and kids. Greeny and I shared a lot of great times.’’

They did indeed. Super intense Green and playful potstirrer Langer were, in a way, rugby league’s true odd couple but that is one of the reasons they gelled.

You only had to mention the word “Alfie’’ within Green’s vicinity and Green would smile and ask “what’s he up to now?’’

When the two halfbacks confronted each other they would go hammer on tongs in the day then quiet drink for quiet drink at night.

When they played in Cronulla they would go out in Cronulla. When they played in Brisbane it was off to City Rowers.

“I’ll never forget that day at ANZ Stadium when he hit me a late and I gave him a bit of a clip and I came out second best with a broken thumb. But after the game we had a beer.

“We were really fierce competitors during a game but would always have a beer afterwards. He was a great competitor in anything he did in life.’’

Green once said nothing in life would match guiding the Cowboys to their first premiership in 2015 but said some of his favourite memories of coaching was spending less stressful times with Langer when they were assistant coaches at the Broncos.

When the Cowboys beat the Broncos in the epic 2015 Grand Final the last place Broncos trainer Langer wanted to be was the Cowboys dressing room but he made a special visit to shake Green’s hand.

“I never normally go in the winner’s room but it was something I felt I had to do. He was a great competitor and we were great friends.’’ “When he coached State of Origin he was pretty serious and intense and I was there to take the heat off him. He was a great bloke and we will all miss him.’’