Tina Turner was simply the best. Allan Langer was right up there, too.
The worlds of music, theatre and hard-nosed sport collided on Thursday night, 11th July when the cast of Tina — The Tina Turner Musical welcomed on stage Allan “Alfie” Langer, the retired rugby league legend.
Alfie, a former star with the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Maroons and Australian Kangaroos made his cameo during the encore at Brisbane’s QPAC, alongside Ruva Ngwenya as Tina Turner.
As he did throughout his playing career, the little maestro had the crowd on its feet and singing along to Turner’s anthemic late-‘80s hit “The Best.”
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The late Turner was, of course, the queen of rugby league in Australia thanks to a series of much-loved TV campaigns, orchestrated by her manager Roger Davies.
From 1989 to 1995, Turner was the face of the National Rugby League (NRL) (then the New South Wales Rugby League or NSWRL) for ads soundtracked by “What You Get Is What You See” and “The Best” — which she performed in the round at the 1993 grand final at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Alfie appeared alongside Turner in the 1990 “Simply The Best” ad campaign, and the American soul legend presented him with the Winfield Cup when the Broncos won the 1993 title.
Tina later re-recorded the single as a duet with Jimmy Barnes, released in 1992 as “(Simply) The Best.”
When Turner died May 24, 2023, at the age of 83, the NRL remembered the star with several social posts. “Vale Tina Turner, the Queen of Rugby League” read one.
Langer will be on the sidelines next Wednesday, 17th July, for the State of Origin decider at Brisbane Suncorp Stadium, while Ngwenya will perform the national anthem.
Produced by Paul Dainty/TEG Dainty in collaboration with Stage Entertainment, Tali Pelman and Turner, the musical traces the iconic performer’s comeback story, against a backdrop of 23 songs including “What’s Love Got To Do With It”, “Nutbush City Limits” and “Proud Mary.”
The season officially opened last Friday, 5th July, and heads to Melbourne’s Princess Theatre from 21st September.
Watch Alfie singing along at Tina — The Tina Turner Musical.
