Langer back at Brisbane

Brisbane Broncos legend Allan Langer is back at the club - but not as a player. The veteran halfback has been called in to training by coach Wayne Bennett to help fine-tune the game of Brett Seymour, who lines up against Stacey Jones when the Broncos play the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

"I just wanted to help Brett out with a few little things I used to do when I was playing, nothing special," Langer said.

The Broncos used Shaun Berrigan at halfback for much of last season but Bennett believes he is better suited to the centres and has given Seymour the first crack at the number seven jumper this year.

"Brett's got great skills, including a fine kicking game," Langer said.

"He's just got to use his authority as a halfback up in the line. He's got to work on that area but the platform is there."

The Broncos are injury free heading into Sunday's match and will be looking to end a lengthy losing streak that saw them barely make the finals last season.

Meanwhile, Penrith are technically aiming to equal a club record they set last year for most consecutive wins when they meet Newcastle at Penrith Stadium tonight.

The Panthers won seven matches in a row to conclude the 2003 season, including the Grand Final, and victory over Newcastle would make it eight in a row, equalling the record. Victory over Canberra next weekend would technically break the record, but the club are maintaining the record has to be set in a single season.

The Panthers have also been given a boost by news that they are set to re-sign some of the biggest players in the early weeks of the 2004 season. Top of the list is Grand Final hero Luke Priddis and pointscoring whiz Ryan Girdler, whose contracts both end at the conclusion of the current season.