Bob Lindner
Encyclopedia
Bob Lindner is a former Australian representative rugby league
player and coach. He represented his country in the sport and is one of a handful of players to be man-of-the-match in State of Origin football
more than once. Fifteen years after his retirement from football in Australia, he had made the most appearances and scored the most tries of any forward in State of Origin history.
(1985–86) before representing Australia on the 1986 Kangaroo Tour. He played in all six Tests (Papua New Guinea
, Great Britain
and France
).
Representative honours continued, and following a stint with Castleford
in England
, he played against New Zealand in 1987 and Great Britain in 1988.
A broken leg in a State of Origin
match in 1989 ruled Lindner out of the New Zealand
tour. However after joining a young Wests side, he was named man-of-the-match in the third match of the 1990 State of Origin series and at the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
.
Lindner suffered another broken leg injury in 1991 but made a great recovery before breaking the leg again while playing against New Zealand. 1992 saw him named man-of-the-match in the second game of the State of Origin series and during the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he helped Australia retain The Ashes, pushing his Test tally to 19, before playing in the World Cup final win.
Wests' salary cap problems saw him join his fourth premiership club, the Illawarra Steelers
, in 1993 but after playing for Australia (against New Zealand) and Queensland (an emotional try-scoring performance in the Maroons' 24-12 win), he announced his intention to leave Australia and play abroad. Lindner's player agent, the successful Sydney businessman Michael Saad, received many offers and the following year Lindner would play in England.
Lindner took over as captain-coach following the departure of fellow Australian forward, Peter Tunks
and successfully averted the team's relegation to Second Division.
where he was originally recruited as a player but hung up his boots to replace Bill Gardner as club coach in 1995-96. He stood down as coach in 1997, the Crushers' final year in the Australian Rugby League
premiership.
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. In 2008, the year of centenary celebrations for the sport in Australia, he was named at lock in Queensland's rugby league team of the century. In June 2008, he was chosen in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
at lock-forward.
Lindner is currently part of the National Rugby League
's judiciary panel.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player and coach. He represented his country in the sport and is one of a handful of players to be man-of-the-match in State of Origin football
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
more than once. Fifteen years after his retirement from football in Australia, he had made the most appearances and scored the most tries of any forward in State of Origin history.
BRL
Lindner played lock with South Brisbane Magpies (1983–84) and Wynnum-Manly SeagullsWynnum-Manly Seagulls
The Wynnum-Manly Seagulls are an Australian rugby league football club based at Kougari Oval, which is in the Eastern Brisbane suburb of Manly West. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1951 to 1997. Since 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is red, green and white...
(1985–86) before representing Australia on the 1986 Kangaroo Tour. He played in all six Tests (Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
, Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
and France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
).
NSWRL
Lindner played at Parramatta (as a much-anticipated replacement for Ray Price) and at the Gold Coast but both stays were short-lived.Representative honours continued, and following a stint with Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he played against New Zealand in 1987 and Great Britain in 1988.
A broken leg in a State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
match in 1989 ruled Lindner out of the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
tour. However after joining a young Wests side, he was named man-of-the-match in the third match of the 1990 State of Origin series and at the end of the 1990 NSWRL season, he went on the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
The 1990 Kangaroo Tour was the seventeenth Kangaroo Tour, where the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Europe and played eighteen matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches...
.
Lindner suffered another broken leg injury in 1991 but made a great recovery before breaking the leg again while playing against New Zealand. 1992 saw him named man-of-the-match in the second game of the State of Origin series and during the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he helped Australia retain The Ashes, pushing his Test tally to 19, before playing in the World Cup final win.
Wests' salary cap problems saw him join his fourth premiership club, the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
, in 1993 but after playing for Australia (against New Zealand) and Queensland (an emotional try-scoring performance in the Maroons' 24-12 win), he announced his intention to leave Australia and play abroad. Lindner's player agent, the successful Sydney businessman Michael Saad, received many offers and the following year Lindner would play in England.
England
At OldhamOldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
Lindner took over as captain-coach following the departure of fellow Australian forward, Peter Tunks
Peter Tunks
Peter Tunks is an Australian former rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, New South Wales and the Australian national side...
and successfully averted the team's relegation to Second Division.
South Queensland Crushers
Lindner then returned to Australia and linked with the short-lived South Queensland CrushersSouth Queensland Crushers
The South Queensland Crushers were an Australian rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. In 1992 it was decided that the team would be admitted into the New South Wales Rugby League competition, along with three other teams, as part of the League's expansion plans for professional...
where he was originally recruited as a player but hung up his boots to replace Bill Gardner as club coach in 1995-96. He stood down as coach in 1997, the Crushers' final year in the Australian Rugby League
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
premiership.
Later years
In the year 2000 Lindner was awarded the Australian Sports MedalAustralian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league. In 2008, the year of centenary celebrations for the sport in Australia, he was named at lock in Queensland's rugby league team of the century. In June 2008, he was chosen in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
The Queensland Rugby League Team of the Century is a hypothetical team comprising the best players who have played for Queensland to form a team for 1909 until 2008. Rugby league in Queensland was initiated in 1909 with the Queensland Rugby Football League competition, which evolved into the...
at lock-forward.
Lindner is currently part of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
's judiciary panel.