Martin Lang (rugby league)

Martin Lang
Lang in 2013
Personal information
Nickname Bam Bam
Born (1975-09-26) 26 September 1975
Australia
Playing information
Height 188 cm
Weight 110 kg
Position Prop
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

Martin Lang (born 26 September 1975) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in Australasia's National Rugby League and his usual position was at prop. During his career he played 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 former Australian international and coach John Lang, under whom he played his entire top-grade career.

Lang was a hard-running prop with a straight, unswerving style when taking the ball forward.[1] He ran 4,571 metres with the ball over the 2000 NRL season, more than any other player in the competition.[2] 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.[3][4][5]

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."[6]

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 Panthers 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."[7]

Moving to the Gold Coast, Lang started a career as a professional trainer. He later worked as a strength and conditioning coach for the Gold Coast United FC soccer team.[7]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.bigpondsport.com/lang-may-you-run/tabid/91/newsid/84720/default.aspx
  2. ↑ Proszenko, Adrian (6 May 2012). "Gallen set to smash record". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "One more big hit could spell the end for Lang" (fee required). AAP Sports News (Australia). 2002-04-22. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  4. ↑ "Lang to miss start of season" (fee required). AAP Sports News (Australia). 2003-02-06. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  5. ↑ "Don't blame my running style says battered Lang" (fee required). AAP Sports News (Australia). 2000-03-12. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  6. ↑ Chris Barrett (12 May 2012). "'It's not good, but I loved every minute'". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  7. 1 2 Josh Massoud (20 April 2012). "Ya want fries with that belting?". Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 23 April 2012.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Martin Lang.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/14/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.