Allan Langer

There has to be something about Ipswich, as it has been the breeding ground of so many great rugby league players, such as Dud Beattie, the Walters boys, Henry Bichel, John Cleary, Dan Dempsey, Frank Doonar, Denis Flannery, Eric Frauenfelder, Hec Gee, Ron Griffiths, ''Monty'' Heidke, Noel Kelly, Doug McLean, Gary Parcell, Bill Paten, Les Sellers, Bill Smith, Bob Tubman and Joe Wilson.

There was also Jimmy Craig, but he was an import. Great players all, but in the eyes of most critics, Allan Langer would reign supreme among them.

A man of jockey-like height, Langer was never daunted by bigger players, bringing them down with remarkable ease.

His first Origin game was in 1987, when his selection was criticised but he proved the sceptics wrong.

In 2001 he returned from Warrington in England to play in an Origin series decider. His final club game was the 2002 preliminary final for the Broncos.

Langer won a Rothmans Medal in Brisbane, the Clive Churchill Medal, led the Broncos to three grand-final wins and a Super League crown and captained his country.

Wayne Bennett wrote of him in Don't Die With The Music In You: ''Pound-for-pound ... he was rugby league's top performer of the 1990s. Day in, day out. Year after year. By 'performer', I'm not just talking natural gifts. He has those, but what he also has is a determination and dedication to always put in''.