Bob Bennett (rugby league)

Bob Bennett

Personal information
Born	Australia
Playing information
Position	Five-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

Bob BennettMBEis a formerrugby leaguefootballer, Administrator and coach who played professionally forPast Brothersin theBrisbane Rugby League,along with Collegians and the Warwick Cowboys in theToowoomba Rugby League.He also coached the Lae Bombers in 1995 as well asPapua New Guineaat the2000 World Cup.

His brother,Wayne,has coachedAustraliaandQueenslandas well as severalNational Rugby Leagueclubs.

Early years

Bennett grew up in a working-class family in nearbyWarwickwith an alcoholic father who deserted the family. He has two sisters, Michelle and Gretta and a brother,Wayne.

Playing career

Bennett played every position from fullback to front-row during his career and spent 1974 to 1981 with Past Brothers in theBrisbane 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 theQueensland Policeand 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.

Bennett was appointed the coach of thePapua New Guineaside in 1996 and led them to the2000 World Cup.He remained with the side until 2006 when he was replaced by his former captain,Adrian Lam.Bennett became the Kumuls manager and served in this position at the2008 World Cup.

Later years

Bennett worked as a detective on the Gold Coast for theQueensland Police.After leaving the police, he worked as the manager of safety and security atTreasury Casinoin Brisbane.

At theLegislative Assembly of Queensland2006 elections,Bennett stood for theQueensland National Partyin theSouthport electorate.The seat was a safeLaborone and was retained by the incumbentPeter Lawlor.

In 2010, Bennett was appointed as the first CEO of the Men of League Foundation. He now works at Toowoomba Grammar School as a housemaster.

Bennett was and had an integral part in completing the required paperwork behind the scenes in having theWestern Clydesdales,Formerly theToowoomba Clydesdalesback into the Intrust Super Cup (QLD CUP) in 2023.