Bob Bennett (rugby league)

Bob Bennett is a former rugby league footballer and coach who played professionally for Past Brothers in the Brisbane Rugby League, along with Collegians and the Warwick Cowboys in the Toowoomba Rugby League. He also coached the Lae Bombers in 1995 as well as Papua New Guinea at the 2000 World Cup.

Bob Bennett
Personal information
BornAustralia
Playing information
PositionFive-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1979 Past Brothers 1 0 1 0 2
Coaching information
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1996–05 Papua New Guinea 4 3 0 1 75
2005 PNG PM's XIII 1 0 0 1 0
Source: RLP

His brother, Wayne, has coached Australia and Queensland as well as several National Rugby League clubs.

Early years

Bennett grew up in a working-class family in nearby Warwick with an alcoholic father who deserted the family. He has two sisters, Michelle and Gretta and a brother, Wayne.[1]

Playing career

Bennett played every position from fullback to front-row during his career and spent 1974 to 1981 with Past Brothers in the Brisbane Rugby League. In 1979, he represented the Queensland Police’s rugby league team. In 1981, he moved to Warwick and captain-coached the Collegians club’s A-grade side to three constitutive premierships in 1982, 1983 and 1984.

Coaching career

Bennett was, like his brother, involved with the Queensland Police and during the 1980s he coached the Police's Toowoomba Clydsdales side to a State Championship. He later became the first coach of the Australian Police Rugby League.[2]

Bennett was appointed the coach of the Papua New Guinea side in 1996 and led them to the 2000 World Cup.[3][4] He remained with the side until 2006 when he was replaced by his former captain, Adrian Lam.[5] Bennett became the Kumuls manager and served in this position at the 2008 World Cup.[6]

Later years

Bennett worked as a detective on the Gold Coast for the Queensland Police. After leaving the police, he worked as the manager of safety and security at Treasury Casino in Brisbane.[7]

At the Legislative Assembly of Queensland 2006 elections, Bennett stood for the Queensland National Party in the Southport electorate.[8] The seat was a safe Labor one and was retained by the incumbent Peter Lawlor.

In 2010, Bennett was appointed as the first CEO of the Men of League Foundation. He no longer lives with his brother Wayne.[9]

References
  1. Hardwick, Peter (28 December 2009). "Wayne Bennett in town for lunch". The Chronicle. Australia. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  2. Toowoomba Clydsdales policerugbyleague.com.au
  3. Rugby League: Eagles to share United's roost The Independent, 14 September 1996
  4. Wales' world in union blasted, BBC Sport, 10 November 2000
  5. PM's XIII outclasses Kumuls The Age, 18 September 2005
  6. PNG on red alert is danger for Kiwis goldcoast.com.au, 31 October 2008
  7. Southport (Key Seat) abc.net.au, 7 September 2006
  8. Bob Bennett wins Queensland National Party nomination AAP, 29 August 2003
  9. Is Bennett going to Souths or … cricket? Sydney Morning Herald, 1 April 2011
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