After nearly 35 years administration in the engine room of Rugby League, NSWRL Head of Football Robert ‘Bert’ Lowrie will retire at the end of the year.
Lowrie, 65, said he wanted to now spend some down time with his wife Maureen, family and grandchildren.
Lowrie is a Life Member of Scone JRL and Group 21 Rugby League in the Hunter Valley, recognising his pride in being a bush footy player with the Scone Junior and Senior Thoroughbreds before moving into the administration side of the sport.
After Lowrie’s on-field playing days ended, his off-field contribution went into full swing with administration jobs in Scone and Group 21 Junior-Senior Leagues, Northern Division and the Management Committee of Country Rugby League (CRL) before being appointed to a full-time position as CRL Operations Manager in 2005.
Lowrie was central to the planning and restructuring that came with the merger of the CRL and NSWRL in 2019.
He was appointed manager of several NSW Country sides as well as NSW Residents before going on to manage the NSW Blues Origin team for 30 games in a 10-year period spanning 2008 to 2017 alongside coaches Craig Bellamy, Ricky Stuart, and Laurie Daley.
Lowrie was also team manager of the Australian Kangaroos from 2011–2015.
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said Lowrie had made an enormous contribution to the success of Rugby League state-wide.
“People don’t realise how many projects, how many changes, how many improvements Bert has been the driving force behind,” Trodden said.
“There are so many people in the game, who will be saying a mighty ‘thank you’ to Bert for his leadership, his counsel, and his footy brain.
“On top of that he’s an old-school, straight shooter, who has a wonderful calming quality about him and always made time for everyone.
“I have placed a high value on his knowledge and his unwavering support and I will miss him as he takes this next step.”
