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Bob Boland

Coaching Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Nickname(s)
Bolo
Born
Monday, 1st April, 1935
Current Age
91 years and 153 days
Place Of Birth
Balmain, New South Wales, Australia

Competitions Won

Preseason Cup
1968

Biography

One of the most durable, and underrated, forwards of the late 1950s and 1960s, the Balmain junior appeared in the club’s grand final losses to St George in 1964 and 1966. In the first of these games, Boland’s misdirected kick for touch resulted in the only try of the match to champion St George winger John King while in the latter, he played as stand-in hooker. Boland captained Balmain in the 9-8 win over Great Britain in 1966, the first time a Sydney club defeated a touring Lions team, but representative honours eluded him during a long career. In 1968 he was lured to Penrith by club secretary Merv Cartwright as the Panthers’ captain-coach and brought immediate success with a win in the final of the pre-season competition. Injury forced Boland into retirement in 1970 but he battled on as coach with limited resources until he was sacked during the early stages of the 1973 season.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Coaching Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Club Career - Australia Comp WinsMatchesWLDWin% 
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) -1103968335.45%List
Preseason Cup 1271014337.04%List
Midweek Cup -211-50.00%List
Endeavour Cup -1-1-0.00%List
Overall Comp WinsMatchesWLDWin% 
First Class 1395083635.97%List

Australia - By Team

TeamYears GamesWLDWin% 
Illawarra Firsts1975 211-50.00%List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

TeamSeason GamesWLDWin% 
PenrithPenrith19681968 NSWRFL 221111-50.00%List
PenrithPenrith19691969 NSWRFL 22615127.27%List
PenrithPenrith19701970 NSWRFL 22714131.82%List
PenrithPenrith19711971 NSWRFL 221012-45.45%List
PenrithPenrith19721972 NSWRFL 22516122.73%List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

TeamYears GamesWLDWin% 
Penrith1968-72 1103968335.45%List

Your Say

  • LEO TUMETH
    16 Nov 2013 9:17am

    THE BEST FORWARD TO EVER NOT GAIN REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS.A REAL BALMAIN LEGEND.THEY THREW AWAY THE MOULD WHEN BOLO RETIRED.

  • Cec Quinnell
    19 Jun 2017 6:18pm

    A fair dinkum Tiger. How I wish the game was being played the same way as it was when Bob was running around. How many of todays "Stars" would have lasted the distance back then?

  • Anonymous
    17 Jul 2020 7:24pm

    I was a young Panthers fan back in their early years. We had Laurie Fagan, Bobby Mara and Bob Boland, all ex Balmain players. There was a great relationship between players and fans when both teams met in those days. One of the greatest games was in 1968 with a see-sawing game with Bobby Mara kicking his one and only career field goal to win the game. Bob Boland, an absolute legend for the Tigers and the Panthers.

  • Greg Horne
    7 Jun 2023 5:14am

    I was in my last year at school in 1968. I was At Penrith park that Sunday
    Penrith turned out with Bolo. George piper Ron clothier in the forward s. Laurie Fagan and Bobby Mara all ex tigers a great game and Bobby Mara kicked the winning field goal

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Rugby League Tables, Greg Fiveash, Tony McCarron, Max Turner, Alan Katzmann, Andrew Ferguson, Paul Carter, Wests Archives, Derek Farrar, Tim Costello