LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Broncos icon Wally Lewis was left gobsmacked by the news of Allan Langer's axing, likening it to the shocking moment when 'Santa Claus got the boot'.
The move, which saw Langer transition from his role as a blue shirt trainer to an off-field position, marks one of the first major shake-ups under the reign of coach Michael Maguire at Red Hill.
Langer, a beloved figure whose on-field presence was as ubiquitous as the players themselves, has been a fixture at the Broncos for years.
However, Maguire's arrival signals the end of an era as he looks to make his mark on the club.
The decision to part ways with former coach Kevin Walters reportedly hit Langer hard, leaving the veteran "devastated".
Lewis expressed his surprise at the move, stating that it caught everyone off guard in Brisbane and beyond.
"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 that decision making taking place," Lewis remarked.
"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."