NSWRL is devastated today following the sudden passing of beloved staff member and True Blue Paul Langmack, aged 61.
Paul had a decorated Rugby League career and was one of only 58 players to pass the 300-game milestone. He played 314 games across three clubs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Western Suburbs Magpies and Sydney Roosters from 1983-99. He also had a 19-game stint with Halifax in the UK in the off season of 1984-85.
A talented young forward, Paul captained the Australian Schoolboys side in 1982 and was still a schoolboy at Patrician Brothers when he was graded by the Bulldogs.
He made his first-grade debut in 1983 and became a key member of the ‘Dogs of War’ era under coach Warren Ryan that captured premierships in 1984, 1985 and 1988.
Paul moved to the Magpies in 1991 and under the coaching of the late Tommy Raudonikis helped steer the club into the Semi-finals in 1995, winning the Dally M Captain of the Year in the process.
He represented NSW four times in 1987-88 and Australia in 10 tour matches on the 1986 Kangaroos tour of Great Britain and France.
Post-playing, Paul coached South Sydney Rabbitohs during a difficult time for the club after they had been reinstated to the NRL before joining NSWRL to work in community and welfare.
Decorated as his football career was, his greatest legacy to our organisation and to his community was as the NSWRL Community and Welfare Officer. Paul was a driving force in the establishment of NSWRL’s Changing Rooms Program, using his own life experiences to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
He travelled throughout metropolitan and regional NSW visiting junior Rugby League clubs, schools and communities to deliver important messages around mental fitness, wellbeing, resilience, bullying and suicide prevention.
Since its introduction in 2019, the success of the program has reached and helped thousands of young people, providing them with valuable tools and encouraging them to look after themselves.
"Our organisation was shattered this morning to learn of the news of Paul’s passing. We are all hurting deeply," NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said.
"Way beyond his wonderful football career, his energy was the spark which drove the atmosphere of our office every day of the week and I just don’t know how we can replace that.
"From the Board all the way through to our newest employee, he knew everyone, had an impact on everyone, treated everyone exactly the same way irrespective of status, and we all loved him for it.
"With his work in Changing Rooms, he had found his niche, and he was in such a happy place because of it."
NSWRL extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Paul Langmack.
