{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Russell Bawden |fullname = |image = Rusty Bawden 2023.jpg |caption = Bawden in 2023 |country = |position = {{rlp|SR|PR}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1973|07|24}} |birth_place = Ingham, Queensland, Australia |height = {{convert|183|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|104|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |retired = yes |club1 = Brisbane Broncos |year1start = 1994 |year1end = |appearances1 = 2 |tries1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 0 |club2 = London Broncos |year2start = 1996 |year2end = 97 |appearances2 = 4 |tries2 = 7 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 28 |club3 = Melbourne Storm |year3start = 1998 |year3end = 01 |appearances3 = 101 |tries3 = 23 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 92 |club4 = London Broncos |year4start = 2002 |year4end = 04 |appearances4 = 58 |tries4 = 8 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 32 |teamA = Queensland |yearAstart = 2000 |yearAend = 01 |appearancesA = 3 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |updated = |source = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Russell_Bawden.html Rugby League Project]</ref><ref name="StormInfo" /> |new = yes }}
'''Russell Bawden''' (born 24 July 1973 in Queensland) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he played in the National Rugby League for the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm (with whom he won the 1999 NRL Premiership), as well as in the Super League for the London Broncos.
==Playing career== Bawden grew up playing rugby league in Mount Isa, making his first grade debut for Brisbane Broncos in 1994. Failing to crack the Brisbane first grade team, Bawden moved to London Broncos in the 1995-96 off season.<ref name="StormInfo">{{cite book |title=Melbourne Storm 2000 Info Guide |publisher=Melbourne Storm |page=17}}</ref> He was signed by the newly formed Melbourne side from the London club and helped Melbourne to a premiership in their second ever season,<ref>{{cite news | last = Cockerill | first = Ian | title = Eye of the Storm | work = The Sunday Age | pages = 4 | date = 1999-10-03 | url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news991004_0014_7918 | access-date = 2009-10-06}}</ref> playing from the bench in their 1999 NRL Grand Final victory. The following pre-season he travelled with the Storm to England to play in the 2000 World Club Challenge which they also won. During the 2000 NRL season, while playing for Melbourne, he was selected to make his State of Origin debut for Queensland.
In 2020, Bawden spoke to NRL.com about his time at Melbourne winning the premiership saying "I wanted it so bad that I swore off the grog for three months – and anyone who knows me knows what a massive sacrifice that was. And my mates didn't help. At the pub, they would dip their fingers in beer and smear it on my lips. I tried not to lick it... not easy. The week itself just goes so quickly, but it was great". Bawden then spoke about his departure from Melbourne saying "Mark Murray took over as coach. He didn't like blokes having a good time – so he and I didn't get on. He dropped me to Brisbane club footy a few weeks after Origin. But he did recall me so I could play my 100th game for the Storm, for which I was very grateful. But after that, he pushed me out".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/09/legend-qa-russell-bawden/|title=Legend Q&A: Russell Bawden|publisher=National Rugby League}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== <!-- *{{Broncos player|111}} --> *{{FOGS player|russell-bawden}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090929090626/http://www.qrl.com.au/qrl_history/qld_rep_b.php Queensland Representatives at qrl.com.au]
{{Melbourne Storm squad 1999 NRL premiership}} {{Melbourne Storm - 2000 World Club Challenge winners}} {{1998 Melbourne}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bawden, Russell}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Brisbane Broncos players Category:Melbourne Storm players Category:London Broncos players Category:Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players Category:Rugby league props Category:Rugby league second-rows Category:Rugby league players from Ingham, Queensland {{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-1970s-stub}}