John Lang (rugby league)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Lang (born November 7, 1950) is a former Australian Rugby league test player and a former coach of the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. Lang also coached the Cronulla Sharks between 1994 and 2001, and took the club to the Super League grand final in 1997. Lang coached the Australian Super League test team in 1997, although these matches are not given full test status by Rugby league historians.

After leaving the Sharks in 2001, he signed as the coach of the Penrith Panthers, who had just won the wooden spoon. Despite losing the first eight games of the 2002 season, Lang was able to develop a side capable of contending for the finals. In his finest coaching achievement, Penrith defeated the Sydney Roosters in the 2003 Grand Final by 18-6, thereby answering his detractors at Cronulla who argued that the Sharks could never win a premiership under Lang.

The Panthers finished fourth after the 2004 National Rugby League season, and were eliminated by the Canterbury Bulldogs one game short of the grand final. Penrith narrowly missed the finals in 2005.

On February 19, 2006 it was announced that Matthew Elliott would take over from Lang as coach of the Panthers at the end of the 2006 season. The Panthers subsequently missed the finals and finished in tenth position.

Lang's son, Martin Lang, also played for the Sharks, Panthers, Queensland and Australia, and uniquely played his entire first grade career with his father as coach.

Preceded by: Arthur Beetson 1992-1993	Coach Cronulla Sharks 1994-2001	Succeeded by: Chris Anderson 2002-2003
Preceded by: Royce Simmons 1994-2001	Coach Penrith Panthers 2002-2006	Succeeded by: Matthew Elliot 2007

Preceded by: Position created

Coach Australian Super League Test Team 1997

Succeeded by: Position abolished