Bob Cooper (rugby league)

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Bob Cooper
fullname = Bob Cooper
nickname = Longback


caption =
country =
position = Back row
currentclub = Retired
dateofbirth =
placeofbirth =
countryofbirth =
height = 196 cm
weight =
club1 = Western Suburbs Magpies
year1start = 1977
year1end = 1982
appearances1 = 76
tries1 = 14
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 42
club2 = North Sydney Bears
year2start = 1984
year2end =
appearances2 = 4
tries2 = 0
goals2 = 0
fieldgoals2 = 0
points2 = 0
teamA = New South Wales
yearAstart = 1980
yearAend =
appearancesA = 1
triesA = 0
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 0
updated =
source = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/Bob_Cooper.html RL stats]
new = yes

Bob Cooper is a former professional rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition. Cooper primarily played in the back row for Western Suburbs Magpies, North Sydney Bears and the New South Wales State of Origin team.

Cooper was selected to represent New South Wales for the inaugural Origin game in 1980. [cite web|publisher="Rugby League Tables"|title=State Of Origin - Game 1, 1980 |url=http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/soo/game1.html |accessdate=2007-11-27]

In 1982, Cooper was given the equal-longest suspension in rugby league history after he ran in to join a brawl and left three Illawarra Steelers flattened during a match at Wollongong Showground. Chairman of the NSWRL's judiciary, Jim Comans, when handing down a fifteen-month suspension to Cooper, said, "Acts such as these must be obliterated from the game, and I'll begin by obliterating you." [cite news|publisher="The Sydney Morning Herald"|title=No such thing as a free punch |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/no-such-thing-as-a-free-punch/2006/08/25/1156012745430.html |accessdate=2007-11-27|date=2006-08-26]

Cooper attempted to keep fit during his suspension by playing Australian Rules football but after only four games with North Sydney in 1984 he dislocated his shoulder and retired from football.

Footnotes

External links

*StateofOrigin player|107