Latest news with #AlfieLanger
Sydney Morning Herald
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Maradona, Mourinho … and the Panthers trainer. Welcome to sporting skulduggery
And we cannot omit Jose Mourinho, who trained his ball boys to slow down games and once hid in a laundry basket to sneak into the Chelsea dressing room during a touchline ban. Nor the NHL's unforgettable 'Fog Game' of May 1975, when the Buffalo Sabres used the pre-game entertainment smoke machines to raise the arena humidity and fog the rink so the Boston Bruins struggled to see (and lost). Cuban Rosie Ruiz is another step up still, for hopping onto the Boston Marathon course near the end and briefly being declared the female winner. Likewise, rugby union's Bloodgate scandal, when Tom Williams feigned an injury using a fake blood capsule in order for Harlequins to make another substitution late in their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Irish side Leinster. This stuff is premeditated, like the drone spying by Canadian football officials in the women's Paris Olympics tournament, and the even more serious ball-tampering, match-fixing and doping. When it comes to the lower-grade stuff, though, perhaps gamesmanship is just a more accepted element of some sports than it is others? And perceptions of seriousness partly depend on what's at stake, in this case, the Titans battling against the wooden spoon and Des Hasler battling for his job? Further, do bundle deals count for more? Apparently so, based on the NRL's statement that Penrith's 'proposed penalty takes into account previous breaches by Penrith Panthers trainers'. There are four controversies in as many years, including in May when Shane Elford was given a one-match ban (and the club fined $10,000) for squirting water on the ball. And here's an outrageous thought: is likeability a factor? Are Penrith's trainers just not charming enough to get away with it? Maybe, just maybe, they lack the Alfie Langer charisma? Johnathan Thurston remembers that particular twinkle in the eye well from the closing stages of the 2015 grand final. North Queensland, trailing by four points as the final siren sounded, scored at the death to level the score at 16-16, setting the scene for Thurston to slot a title-winning conversion. Langer, the Brisbane Broncos great turned club water carrier, made a beeline for the right touchline where the Cowboys halfback was lining up his kick. 'I remember grabbing the ball, and I was getting towards my set-up when Alfie Langer runs past me, and he goes 'I'll give you $500 if you miss',' Thurston told the Bloke In A Bar podcast in 2023. Loading Thurston hit the post, though insisted the sledge did not affect his concentration, and went on to nail a golden-point field goal that secured the Cowboys' maiden premiership. He revealed he did not demand the $500 Langer promised. Even if he had, it would have been a bargain compared to the $50,000 the Panthers now owe.
The Age
04-08-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Maradona, Mourinho … and the Panthers trainer. Welcome to sporting skulduggery
And we cannot omit Jose Mourinho, who trained his ball boys to slow down games and once hid in a laundry basket to sneak into the Chelsea dressing room during a touchline ban. Nor the NHL's unforgettable 'Fog Game' of May 1975, when the Buffalo Sabres used the pre-game entertainment smoke machines to raise the arena humidity and fog the rink so the Boston Bruins struggled to see (and lost). Cuban Rosie Ruiz is another step up still, for hopping onto the Boston Marathon course near the end and briefly being declared the female winner. Likewise, rugby union's Bloodgate scandal, when Tom Williams feigned an injury using a fake blood capsule in order for Harlequins to make another substitution late in their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Irish side Leinster. This stuff is premeditated, like the drone spying by Canadian football officials in the women's Paris Olympics tournament, and the even more serious ball-tampering, match-fixing and doping. When it comes to the lower-grade stuff, though, perhaps gamesmanship is just a more accepted element of some sports than it is others? And perceptions of seriousness partly depend on what's at stake, in this case, the Titans battling against the wooden spoon and Des Hasler battling for his job? Further, do bundle deals count for more? Apparently so, based on the NRL's statement that Penrith's 'proposed penalty takes into account previous breaches by Penrith Panthers trainers'. There are four controversies in as many years, including in May when Shane Elford was given a one-match ban (and the club fined $10,000) for squirting water on the ball. And here's an outrageous thought: is likeability a factor? Are Penrith's trainers just not charming enough to get away with it? Maybe, just maybe, they lack the Alfie Langer charisma? Johnathan Thurston remembers that particular twinkle in the eye well from the closing stages of the 2015 grand final. North Queensland, trailing by four points as the final siren sounded, scored at the death to level the score at 16-16, setting the scene for Thurston to slot a title-winning conversion. Langer, the Brisbane Broncos great turned club water carrier, made a beeline for the right touchline where the Cowboys halfback was lining up his kick. 'I remember grabbing the ball, and I was getting towards my set-up when Alfie Langer runs past me, and he goes 'I'll give you $500 if you miss',' Thurston told the Bloke In A Bar podcast in 2023. Loading Thurston hit the post, though insisted the sledge did not affect his concentration, and went on to nail a golden-point field goal that secured the Cowboys' maiden premiership. He revealed he did not demand the $500 Langer promised. Even if he had, it would have been a bargain compared to the $50,000 the Panthers now owe.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Inside the Origin after-party: Badly hungover star opens up about Queensland's wild celebrations - and reveals who the ringleader was: 'It was scary'
Queensland 's wild celebrations continued well into Thursday morning with players partying past sunrise after Billy Slater's side claimed back bragging rights over New South Wales in the State of Origin decider. It was a heroic, underdog victory by the Maroons, who came back after losing the first match in the series to seal a 24-12 victory at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Emotional scenes unfolded at fulltime after Tom Dearden had starred alongside Queensland skipper Cameron Munster, who courageously led his side out following the sudden passing of his father, Steven, over the weekend. After celebrations on the pitch, players moved to the sheds to continue the party and sing their hearts out. Queensland prop Pat Carrigan was asked by reporters what the beer quota would be for the afterparty. 'Not enough cartons,' he laughed. 'I'll say that much.' Queensland legend Alfie Langer, who was a trainer for the Maroons throughout the series, was showered with beer as he led the celebrations. 'I definitely didn't get 8 hours of sleep last night,' Josh Kerr told the Today show on Thursday morning. 'It was good, we were up all night, a few birthdays apparently with Alfie. We had a few boys spewing up. I'm not going to say who - but they are probably one of the best-looking blokes I've ever seen in my life.' Langer is known as an enthusiastic leader of the beery parties after games, and this one left a mark on Kerr. 'It's one of the scariest things I've seen,' he said. 'He [Langer] is walking around with a tray of Sambuca, there's bloody vodka Red Bulls... Alfie's drunk, saying, "I heard it's your birthday"... it was a cool experience.' A bleary-eyed Reuben Cotter told reporters that celebrations went into the 'early hours of the morning' when he fronted up to leave the team hotel on Thursday. When asked about what time he got back to his hotel room, Cotter replied, 'Just then.' Queensland were written off before the Origin decider, but once again have found a way to defy the odds. 'I just have so much love for this team and our state, and I'm sure the other team do as well, but it's hard to put into words,' Munster said after the match. 'I'll go back to the Storm, and no disrespect to the Storm, but it's a different feeling when you come into Origin. 'Bill [Billy Slater] and obviously the coaching staff just have that belief and instill that history in us.'
