Bob Bennett is a former

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer and coach who played professionally for the Past Brothers, Brisbane and Collegians and The Cowboys, Warwick sides and also coached Lae 'Bombers' in 1995 as well as

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

at the 2000 World Cup. His brother, Wayne, has coached

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

as well as several National Rugby League clubs.

Early years

Bennett grew up in a working-class family in nearby

Warwick Warwick ( ) is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Warwickshire in the Warwick District in England, adjacent to the River Avon. It is south of Coventry, and south-east of Birmingham. It is adjoined with Leamington Spa and Whi ...

with an alcoholic father who deserted the family. He has two sisters, Michelle and Gretta and a brother, Wayne.

Playing career

Bennett played from fullback to front row during his career and spent from 1974-1981 seasons with Past Brothers, Brisbane. In 1979 he represented he represented the Qld Police. In 1981 he moved to Warwick in Qld. and Captain/Coached Collegians 'Á' Grade to 3 constitutive premierships 1982, 83 & 84.

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. Bennett was appointed the coach of the

side in 1996 and led them to the 2000 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 the 2008 World Cup.

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 The Treasury Casino, also known as The Treasury is a casino in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It also houses a hotel, 6 restaurants, 5 bars, and a nightclub. The casino is operated by Star Entertainment Group. One percent of the casino's g ...

in Brisbane. At the

Legislative Assembly of Queensland The Legislative Assembly of Queensland is the sole chamber of the unicameral Parliament of Queensland established under the Constitution of Queensland. Elections are held every four years and are done by full preferential voting. The Assembl ...

2006 elections The following elections occurred in the year 2006. * Elections in 2006 * Electoral calendar 2006 * 2006 Acehnese regional election * 2006 American Samoan legislative election * 2006 Bahraini parliamentary election * 2006 Costa Rican presidenti ...

Bennett stood for the Queensland National Party in the Southport electorate. The seat was a safe Labor seat and incumbent

Peter Lawlor Peter Lawlor (born 1 March 1948 in Ayr, Queensland) is a former Labor Member for Southport in the Queensland Legislative Assembly. He served as Queensland Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Prior to his term in state parliament he previous ...

retained the seat. In 2010 Bennett was appointed as the first CEO of the Men of League Foundation. He no longer lives with his brother Wayne.Is Bennett going to Souths or … cricket?
''Sydney Morning Herald'', 1 April 2011

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Bob Living people Australian police officers Australian rugby league administrators Australian rugby league coaches Australian rugby league players Country New South Wales rugby league team players National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Queensland Papua New Guinea national rugby league team coaches Rugby league five-eighths Veivers family Year of birth missing (living people)