Former international Samisoni Langi was rewarded for his role in transforming South Perth Lions from wooden spooners to NRLWA grand finalists when he received the 2025 Ken Allen Medal from Mal Meninga.
Langi, who made his NRL debut for Sydney Roosters in 2013 and played 130 Super League matches, as well as World Cups with Tonga (2013) and France (2022), led the Lions to Saturday's NRLWA Premiership decider.
The veteran playmaker was one of three players to have been named best on field in nine regular season games, along with Willagee’s Kainoa Gudgeon and Rockingham’s Chris Siddons.
A humble Langi, who is overseeing Western Australia's first female rugby league program at Baldivis Secondary College, heaped praise on his teammates and said he wouldn’t have won the award without them.
“It’s an amazing honour to be recognised by the league community here in WA,” Langi said after receiving the award from Meninga, the 13th Rugby League Immortal and coach of Perth Bears, who are joining the NRL in 2027.
But Langi’s biggest challenge of the season is to come in Saturday’s grand final against Willagee Bears.
“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, as he managed his team around the field.
Despite missing several games through injury, he has been the outstanding player of 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 the Lions have 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 - Langi was and is a ‘class act’.
With Langi partnering Harry Debique in the halves, the Lions were transformed from wooden spooners 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 Sydney’s southwest, Langi has now written his name into NRLWA history - and he is giving back to the game in Perth.
A father of two young girls, Langi is juggling finishing his Teaching Degree, while also a working at Baldivis Secondary College.
Under the direction of WARL stalwart Isaac Thomas, who is also the state's U15 Schoolboys coach and a three-time Ken Allen Medallist, Langi is overseeing the school's groundbreaking female rugby league program.
The fifth born 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 club's Harold Mathews and SG Ball teams before finding himself at the Roosters 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 the Catalan Dragons was next as Langi established himself as a regular in the Super League and he represented France on residency grounds at the World Cup in 2022.
After a short stint at Wakefield Trinity, Langi returned to Australia and family, where he eventually hooked up with the Lions at George Burnett Park.
And now for a grand final appearance against the Bears.
“There’s so many good match-ups," he said. "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.”
