Martin Lang (rugby league)

Martin Lang (born 26 September 1975) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played as a prop in the National Rugby League for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Penrith Panthers as well as representing for the Queensland Maroons in State of Origin. Martin Lang is the son of Australian former international and coach John Lang, under whom he played his entire top-grade career.

This article is about the rugby league footballer. For the Olympic fencer, see Martin Lang (fencer).

Martin Lang
Lang in 2013
Personal information
Born (1975-09-26) 26 September 1975
Playing information
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st 5 lb; 240 lb)
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1996–01 Cronulla Sharks 109 2 0 0 8
2002–04 Penrith Panthers 67 0 0 0 0
Total 176 2 0 0 8
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1998–00 Queensland 8 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Playing career

Lang made his first grade debut for Cronulla-Sutherland against the Sydney City Roosters in round 21 1996 at the Sydney Football Stadium. In the same year he played in the club's qualifying final victory over Western Suburbs.

In 1997, Cronulla joined the rival Super League competition during the Super League war. Lang missed out on playing in Cronulla's grand final team which lost to the Brisbane Broncos. In 1999, Lang played 23 games as Cronulla won the minor premiership but suffered preliminary final heartbreak against St. George at Stadium Australia.[2]

Lang was a hard-running prop with a straight, unswerving style when taking the ball forward.[3] He ran 4,571 metres with the ball over the 2000 NRL season, more than any other player in the competition.[4]

Lang's final game for Cronulla was the club's preliminary final loss against eventual premiers Newcastle in the 2001 NRL season.

In April, 2002, Lang was knocked unconscious by a high-tackle from Petero Civoniceva. The resulting concussion, his tenth, led to calls for the prop to retire or to change his running style.[5][6][7] Commenting later on his concussions, Lang said, "There was times when I'd been knocked out that you weren't aware of anything until you're sitting on the sideline and you're thinking, 'Geez, what happened?' You're not feeling fresh. It's liked you've been drugged or had an anaesthetic or something like that, you're feeling very ordinary."[8]

Lang played at prop forward for the Penrith Panthers in their 2003 NRL grand final victory over the Sydney Roosters. As 2003 NRL premiers, the Penrith travelled to England to face Super League VIII champions, the Bradford Bulls in the 2004 World Club Challenge. Lang played at prop forward in the Penrith's 22-4 loss.

Retiring at the end of the 2004 NRL season, Lang spent a period recovering from surgery on a disc in his spine. He has said he, "pretty much couldn't do a thing for the whole of 2005. For about nine months there, I couldn't even lift up my kids."[9]

Post playing

Moving to the Gold Coast, Lang is now a qualified Exercise Scientist and is involved in the medical device industry. He has a research interest in the neuropathology of traumatic brain injury and the biomechanics of intervertebral disc degeneration. He previously worked as a strength and conditioning coach for the Gold Coast United FC soccer team.[9]

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References
  1. "Martin Lang - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  2. "A history of heartbreak: Cronulla Sharks' tale of woe in NRL finals". www.smh.com.au.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Proszenko, Adrian (6 May 2012). "Gallen set to smash record". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  5. "One more big hit could spell the end for Lang". AAP Sports News (Australia). 22 April 2002. Archived from the original (fee required) on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
  6. "Lang to miss start of season". AAP Sports News (Australia). 6 February 2003. Archived from the original (fee required) on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
  7. "Don't blame my running style says battered Lang". AAP Sports News (Australia). 12 March 2000. Archived from the original (fee required) on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
  8. Chris Barrett (12 May 2012). "'It's not good, but I loved every minute'". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  9. Josh Massoud (20 April 2012). "Ya want fries with that belting?". Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 23 April 2012.
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