Langi a ‘class act’ and deserved Ken Allen winner
By PETER ROWE
Photos By Carmel Potter-Green
Samisoni Langi’s amazing season, leading the South Perth Lions to the 2025 NRLWA Premiership grand final, was rewarded on Wednesday evening when he was named the Ken Allen Medal winner.
But the humble Langi heaped praise on his teammates, saying he wouldn’t have won the award without them.
Langi was one of only three players this season to have been named best on field in nine regular season games – Willagee’s Kainoa Gudgeon and Rockingham’s Chris Siddons the others.
“It’s an amazing honour to be recognised by the league community here in WA,” Langi said.
But Langi’s big challenge is to come in Saturday’s grand final.
“Yes, we’ve been working all season towards Saturday and we are focussed on that, but this award is a tremendous bonus,” he added.
“We’re confident but Willagee have a lot of strike weapons – so we have to be ready for that.
“It’s one more job to do, turn up on the day and get it done.”
Langi has been getting ‘it done’ since round one of the Fuel to go and Play Premiership, acting as the pivot, managing his team around the field.
He missed a couple of games through injury, but the former Super League star, who has played at the highest level in Europe, has been the outstanding player for 2025.
Week-in-week-out his name appeared as one of the best on-field – mentioned by his own coach, Duane Gwiazdzinski, and by virtually every other coach his team played.
Gwiazdzinski, his father-in-law, has often diplomatically deflected the attention to other solid performances, but after their semi-final win over North Beach, admitted what most have been saying all season, he was and is a ‘class act’.
Playing alongside fellow half Harry Debique the Lions were transformed from a wooden spoon side to minor premiers.
“Harry’s been great, awesome playing with him,” Langi said. “We got to work together a little at the end of last season, and worked on it in the preseason this year and it has worked so well.”
From humble beginnings in the game in Sydney’s southwest at the Bulldogs, to the Roosters, the Panthers, the Bears and then Europe, Langi has now written his name into NRLWA history.
The fifth born in a family of 10 siblings to Tongan parents, ‘Soni’ wasn’t sure he would make it.
“I started at Berala Bears, a junior club in the Canterbury-Bankstown district of Sydney. Peter Hislop Oval. From there to the Bulldogs,” he told NRLWA in March.
And from that beginning on Chisholm Road in Auburn he worked his way through the Dogs pathway – Harold Mathews and SG Ball teams before finding himself at the Roosters in the eastern suburbs in mid 2012.
“First grade debut in 2013. Three-and-a-half years at the club. 2015 was probably my best year and then the left ACL injury. My contract came to an end and North Sydney Bears was next in 2016. Then I did my right ACL. I guess I didn’t really reach my full potential.”
A train and trial contract at the Panthers followed before an approach from England and the Leigh Centurions in 2017.
A move to France to the Catalan Dragons was next as Langi established himself as a regular in the elite European competition.
A short stint at Wakefield Trinity then a return to Australia and family, where he eventually hooked up with the Lions at George Burnett Park.
And the grand final match-up?
“There’s so many good match-ups. Logan Barclay and John Leota on one side and Corban Daniels and Shae Wiperi on the other, and of course Kainoa and myself. It’s going to be a great game.”
