This weekend Macquarie University welcomes all Silver Kookas (Old Boys) to University Oval for our official Heritage Round and the playing of the JB Cup.
The JB Cup is the most important club game the Warriors (Kookas) play each year during the home and away rounds and is played verses Sydney University to honour the memory of the late John “the Rookie” Benson.
John Benson was tragically lost on 11 November 2002 after the plane he was travelling on while on route to the Philippines for a surfing holiday was forced to ditch in the ocean after suffering mechanical failure. John was one of approximately 20 others who drowned in that accident.
John Benson was recruited to Macquarie University in 1998 by great mate, the late Will Ley after meeting in an economics lecture. Although, never having played senior footy before, in that same year ‘JB’ won Macquarie University’s First Grade Best & Fairest award and was pivotal in the Kookas' first ever grand final win over Sydney University. In that same year John Benson was nominated as Macquarie University's "Rookie of the Year" (judged across all sports), thus earning him the nickname "The Rookie".
In Rookie's second season in 1999, the Kookas went on to win another premiership; again verses Sydney University. In 2000, John played a season in SAFL Premier League with East Coast Eagles, proving he could cut it in the big time. His most memorable game was a “Best On Ground” performance against the Sydney Swans Reserves, who were playing in the SAFL at the time. It was the Swans only defeat for the season.
In 2001, Rookie returned to the Kookas, continuing to play scintillating footy that saw Macquarie University’s First Grade figure prominently in finals campaigns in both 2001 and 2002.
Last Modified on 27/06/2011 09:07