John Peard
Encyclopedia
John "Bomber" Peard is an Australian former rugby league
footballer and later coach. An Australian international representative five-eighth, he played for the Eastern Suburbs
, St. George
and Parramatta
NSWRFL
clubs in the 1960s and 70s. Peard's nickname, 'Bomber', came from his revolutionary towering punt kick, popularly referred to as a bomb, which terrorised opposition players. It has now became a common feature of the modern game.
failed to win a game but the five-eight
enjoyed more success over the next few years, semi finalist in 1967, '68 and winning the club championship before joinning former coach Jack Gibson
at St George in 1972. In 1974 Peard, along with coach Jack Gibson, rejoined the Roosters
for one of the most successful periods in the club's history. The five-eight was a key figure for the Roosters, winning back to back premierships in 1974 and 1975 and was a winner of mid-week and pre-season cups. In Easts 38–0, 1975 premiership victory over St George, Peard kicked 7 goals. At the end of the 1975 season Peard was selected to represent Australia in that year's world series.
Peard joined the Parramatta
club the following year and was named 'player of the year' that season. He was unsuccessful in two further premiership deciders in 1976 and 1977 but once again gained selection for Australia. Injuries brought about an end to Peard's playing career at the end of the 1978 season.
and NSW as well as working for the ABC
as a rugby league commentator. He was the New South Wales Origin team's first ever coach, but is the most unsuccessful Origin coach ever with no wins from three matches.
Peard is a life member of the Eastern Suburbs club. The John Peard Cup, which commenced in 2004, was named in his honour.
Peard suffered a life-threatening stroke in 2002 and he documents his rehabilitation in his autobiography
Fine Thanks Mate: John 'The Bomber' Peard on Football, Life and Second Chances, released in April, 2007. As part of the book promotion he appeared on The NRL Sunday Footy Show
on 1 April 2007.
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...
footballer and later coach. An Australian international representative five-eighth, he played for the Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, St. George
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
and Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
NSWRFL
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
clubs in the 1960s and 70s. Peard's nickname, 'Bomber', came from his revolutionary towering punt kick, popularly referred to as a bomb, which terrorised opposition players. It has now became a common feature of the modern game.
Playing career
Peard played in Eastern Suburbs lower grades before making his 1st grade debut in 1966. That year the RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
failed to win a game but the five-eight
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
enjoyed more success over the next few years, semi finalist in 1967, '68 and winning the club championship before joinning former coach Jack Gibson
Jack Gibson (rugby league)
Jack Arthur Gibson OAM was an Australian rugby league identity – a player, commentator and most notably a coach...
at St George in 1972. In 1974 Peard, along with coach Jack Gibson, rejoined the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
for one of the most successful periods in the club's history. The five-eight was a key figure for the Roosters, winning back to back premierships in 1974 and 1975 and was a winner of mid-week and pre-season cups. In Easts 38–0, 1975 premiership victory over St George, Peard kicked 7 goals. At the end of the 1975 season Peard was selected to represent Australia in that year's world series.
Peard joined the Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
club the following year and was named 'player of the year' that season. He was unsuccessful in two further premiership deciders in 1976 and 1977 but once again gained selection for Australia. Injuries brought about an end to Peard's playing career at the end of the 1978 season.
Post-playing career
Peard moved on to coach Parramatta, Penrith PanthersPenrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
and NSW as well as working for the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
as a rugby league commentator. He was the New South Wales Origin team's first ever coach, but is the most unsuccessful Origin coach ever with no wins from three matches.
Peard is a life member of the Eastern Suburbs club. The John Peard Cup, which commenced in 2004, was named in his honour.
Peard suffered a life-threatening stroke in 2002 and he documents his rehabilitation in his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
Fine Thanks Mate: John 'The Bomber' Peard on Football, Life and Second Chances, released in April, 2007. As part of the book promotion he appeared on The NRL Sunday Footy Show
The NRL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has...
on 1 April 2007.