EXCLUSIVE: Wally Lewis 'stunned' at Michael Maguire's decision to sack 'Santa Claus' at Broncos
New Broncos coach Michael Maguire's axing of Allan Langer is akin to "sacking Santa Claus", Wally Lewis has declared.
Having been involved with the club virtually since its inception, Langer will reportedly move to an ambassadorial role of sorts next year.
Lewis said there wouldn't be a Queenslander who wasn't shocked by the decision, and it indicated a desire for Maguire to "put a broom" through the club.
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"I don't have anything to do with Madge as a coach, so I don't understand what his plans are or what his thoughts were prior to to that decision making taking place," he told Wide World of Sports.
"But, if you try to come up with how many people expected that ... there wouldn't have been a person in Brisbane or Queensland that expected that.
Allan Langer has been a central figure at the Broncos virtually since its inception. Getty
"Coaches are entitled to make a decision – I think he's come in with the thinking 'change is as is as good as a holiday' and probably believed there needed to be a broom put through the Broncos.
"I was shocked ... f---ing stunned. Sacking Alf is like sacking Santa Clause."
Blues legend Paul Gallen echoed the sentiment, and said the Broncos could struggle even more next season without Langer's influence on the playing group.
Langer was a trainer during a Kangaroos tour Gallen was on, and said he was the glue that kept the side together.
"The Broncos struggled this year with 14 men on the field so without Alfie, they might struggle even more," he told Wide World of Sports.
Langer will reportedly move into an ambassadorial role with the club next season. Getty
"I've been involved with him with the Kangaroos and you can't let a guy like Alfie Langer go. He might not be running the water with a blue shirt on but I don't think Alfie will be lost to that club.
"That's Madge's decision but I'd be shocked if he was lost to the Broncos completely. He's just a good bloke and his presence in that club is priceless.
"I remember he was a trainer for us (Kangaroos) and he was a guy who just kept everything happy, kept everyone onside, kept the connection of the group together.
"He does things that other people can't do and I'd be shocked if he was lost to the Broncos."
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Maguire's arrival at the club comes in the midst of a cultural crisis at the Broncos.
Only weeks after making headlines for an incident while holidaying in Bali with teammate Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam was involved in a head-on car crash, after which he tested positive to a roadside drug test. His career in danger, he has since admitted himself to rehab.
The incidents only raised further questions about the club's off-field culture after a season of lacklustre on-field performances.
Lewis said those incidents give the opportunity for Maguire to go into 2025 with a clean slate.
Michael Maguire's first appearance as Broncos coach. Nine
"He's gone into the position when there's been a bit of uncomfortable news, and the Broncos have very, very rarely had that throughout their history," he said.
"He'll go in there with the idea none of that was of his making. He's just going in there to grab a hold of the side and create some some stability and confidence after what was a pretty ordinary year.
"He'll certainly dangle the carrot and make sure that the players are out there firstly to gain their place in the first grade side.
"I'm sure there will be a fair bit of competition for spots, because the one thing that can be guaranteed after a season of disappointment, is no one has a spot guaranteed for them in the following season."
