Graeme Langlands, one of the greatest Dragons players, says Reg Gasnier had been one of the smartest rugby league footballers on the field.
‘‘Reg had a very good football brain,’’ Langlands said.
‘‘It’s also hard to describe to people what it was like playing with Reg.
‘‘I would be on the field with him and I would say ‘Look at this bloke running’ and I would marvel at what he did.’’
Langlands later joined fellow Dragons champions Gasnier and Johnny Raper as Immortals of the code.
Gasnier, Raper, Clive Churchill and Bob Fulton were the original Immortals when announced in 1981 by Rugby League Week.
The Immortal honour was bestowed upon Langlands in 1999.
Langlands said his close friend Gasnier — ‘‘Puff the Magic Dragon’’ — was a genius.
Gasnier’s footy brain was just as quick as his trademark acceleration.
‘‘Reg was a pretty smart footballer,’’ Langlands said.
‘‘He did captain Australia at a young age.’’
As a goal-kicking fullback and centre, Langlands played 227 games for the Dragons in 1963-1976; he played in four grand final victories and Gasnier in six.
Langlands said he was privileged to had played with someone of the ethereal qualities of Gasnier.
Gasnier died on Sunday at a Miranda nursing home after a lengthy battle with illness. His funeral will be at 2pm, Thursday, at Woronora Cemetery’s south chapel crematorium.
