Bob Lindner

Bob Lindner (born 10 November 1962) is a former professional rugby league footballer and coach of the 1980s, and 1990s. An Australia national and Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he is one of a handful of players to be named 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.

Lindner played lock forward for South Brisbane Magpies in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1983 to 1984, playing in South's losing 1984 Grand Final team alongside Mal Meninga, Gary Belcher and Peter Jackson. In 1985 he signed with the team who had defeated Souths in the 1984 Grand Final, the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls, where he played alongside Queensland and Australia captain Wally Lewis, Gene Miles, Greg Dowling and Colin Scott. The 1985 BRL Grand Final saw Souths Magpies defeat Wynnum-Manly 10-8.

Lindner won his only BRL premiership in 1986 as the Seagulls defeated Past Brothers 14-6 in the Grand Final at Lang Park. In 1986 Lindner was first selected for the Australian national team, the last player to do so from a non-NSWRL club. Representing Australia on the 1986 Kangaroo Tour, he played in all six Tests (Papua New Guinea, Great Britain and France). Despite not having played a test before his selection, Lindner was chosen as the #1 Lock-forwad on the tour following the controversial omission of incumbent test lock Wayne Pearce. Pearce had ruptured his Anterior cruciate ligament in the third test against New Zealand at Lang Park earlier in the year, and despite a sustained rehabilitation and being declared fit by his surgeon Dr Merv Cross, was ruled out by Kangaroos team doctors following a pre-tour medical. Also not considered for selection was Lindner's Queensland team mate, Manly-Warringah lock forward Paul Vautin who had broken his arm during the 1986 NSWRL season.