Queensland's first State of Origin hooker John Lang is set to deliver this year's Ross Livermore Memorial Lecture today.
For the first time in its 11-year history, the prestigious lecture will be broadcast live on QRL.com.au.
Ross Livermore Memorial Lecture: John Lang
Lang is a fitting choice, given 40 years of State of Origin football is being celebrated across the country.
In 1980, Lang played for Easts (Roosters) in Sydney, where he finished his career.
He also represented Australia on a tour of New Zealand before being chosen in the inaugural Queensland State of Origin side, captained by Arthur Beetson and coached by John McDonald.
To cap a remarkable season, Lang also played in the Sydney grand final, with Easts losing 18-4 to Canterbury-Bankstown.
Lang had already won three premierships as a player, with Easts in Brisbane in 1972, 1977 and 1978.
He then went on to coach Easts to a Brisbane premiership some years later in 1991; and then in 2003, coached Penrith to an NRL premiership.
He played 22 matches for Queensland between 1972 and 1979 and played eight Tests for Australia, making two tours of Britain and France (1973 and 1975), in addition to the 1980 tour of New Zealand.
Now based on the Gold Coast, Lang is still involved with the code, through the Men of League Foundation and the NRL Competitions Committee.
His address will cover the different eras of his playing and coaching career and will commence at 10.25am.
Please note this year's Ross Livermore Lecture is not open to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions.
