Rob Brough
Robert Edward Brough | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955 Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Television presenter, journalist, rugby league coach |
| Years active | 1970s–2025 |
| Known for | Hosting Family Feud (Australia), Seven News Queensland |
Robert Edward Brough (born 1955) is an Australian television presenter, journalist, and rugby league coach.
Radio
Brough launched his media journey in the 1970s as a radio announcer at 4VL in Charleville, Queensland. He subsequently worked at 4WK in Warwick, followed by stints at Brisbane’s 4BC and Gold Coast’s 4GG.
Sports Journalism
During the mid-1980s, Brough moved into television sports reporting, initially with ABC Television Brisbane. He later joined Channel 9 as the sports news anchor for National Nine News Brisbane, a role he held until 1989.
Family Feud
In 1990, Brough transitioned from news presenting to hosting the Australian adaptation of Family Feud on Channel 7 Brisbane, which was broadcast nationally. He remained host until 1995, after which John Deeks took over until the program ended in 1996. Subsequent revivals featured hosts Bert Newton and Grant Denyer on the Nine Network and Network Ten, respectively.
Brough’s persona was often humorously impersonated by Steve Vizard on Seven’s comedy series Fast Forward.
Seven News
Following his stint on Family Feud, Brough returned to news broadcasting with Seven’s regional Queensland affiliate Sunshine Television, based on the Sunshine Coast. After Seven acquired Sunshine Television, the news service was rebranded as Seven News, aligning it with metropolitan Channel 7 outlets.
Initially, Brough anchored the Sunshine Coast local edition and pre-recorded bulletins for the Wide Bay-Burnett and Mackay regions. He eventually presented seven separate local editions of Seven News every weeknight from the Sunshine Coast studio. These editions aired simultaneously at 6 pm on Channel 7 and were replayed at 6:30 pm on 7two.
Joanne Desmond co-hosted with Brough for editions covering Cairns, Townsville, Central Queensland, and Darling Downs. Meanwhile, Brough solo-anchored the Mackay, Wide Bay, and Sunshine Coast broadcasts.
In 2015, Brough fronted Seven Queensland’s "Leave TV Laws Alone" campaign in response to competitors WIN Television and Southern Cross Austereo's "Save Our Voices" initiative. The campaign encouraged audiences to oppose proposed changes to media ownership legislation and emphasized Seven Queensland’s commitment to producing local news content.
Brough has acknowledged television personalities Mike Walsh and Mike Willesee as key influences throughout his media career.
As of 2025, Brough no longer serves as a presenter for Channel 7’s local news bulletins. Various anchors including Joanne Desmond and Nathan Spurling have since taken over different editions. No formal statement has been issued regarding this transition.
The Coolangatta Gold
While employed at Gold Coast radio station 4GG, Brough appeared in the 1984 Australian film The Coolangatta Gold, which starred Joss McWilliam and Colin Friels. The movie revolves around the annual Gold Coast sporting event bearing the same name. In the film, Brough portrayed a roving sports reporter previewing the competition while holding a 4GG microphone. Michael Edgley of Hoyts Edgley, the production company behind the movie, played a role in encouraging Brough’s move from radio into television.
Rugby League
Brough currently serves as the head coach for the Kawana Dolphins, a team competing in the Sunshine Coast–Gympie rugby league circuit governed by the Central Division of the Queensland Rugby League. He built his coaching credentials by founding the "Rugby League School of Excellence" at Mountain Creek State High School and guiding various junior squads. Following a pre-season stint with the Dolphins' senior squad in 2005, he was appointed as the permanent coach for their A-grade team.
In 2013, although his team’s performance exceeded average expectations, Brough was criticized for an apparent lack of enthusiasm. The Dolphins, under his leadership, narrowly missed out on the 2016 grand final title, falling 18–14 to the Maroochydore Swans. Brough credited the Swans’ rapid style of play as a key factor in their victory.
His interest in rugby league began during childhood; he dreamed of playing for the St. George Dragons and competed in Brisbane’s grade football with Easts. Brough credits his grandfather for instilling his love of the sport, recalling attending a 1965 Brisbane grand final together.
Personal life
Rob Brough and his brother Mal Brough were raised in Slacks Creek, Queensland, in humble conditions; their father worked selling vegetables despite being disabled by poliomyelitis.
Rob experienced a profound personal loss when his son Sam passed away at age three in 1989 due to medical complications. He is also father to two other children, Jess and Tyson.
In 2014, Brough initiated "Rob's Ride for Kids," a charitable cycling event from Sydney to Brisbane aimed at supporting the Children's Hospital Foundation in honor of Sam. Although illness prevented him from finishing the ride, he successfully raised $16,000.
Mal Brough, Rob’s brother, was a Federal Member of Parliament from 1996 until 2016. Given Mal’s political career, Rob has reported extensively on stories involving his brother, including contentious issues such as the James Ashby scandal.