David Penna


David Penna is an Australian rugby league coach and former footballer who played for the Parramatta Eels and the South Sydney Rabbitohs during his long professional career.
Penna is the current assistant coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

Playing career

Penna made his debut for Parramatta in 1990. He played 22 games over four seasons, often at centre or five-eighth.
In 1994 he moved to join the South Sydney Rabbitohs and played 56 games for the club over four seasons, usually at centre or fullback. Penna played for Souths in their upset 1994 Tooheys Challenge Cup final victory over Brisbane.
In 1998, Penna returned to Parramatta where he was usually used at five-eighth before moving into the halfback position in 1999. In 2000, Penna was forced to retire after breaking his neck twice and suffering six concussions in the single season.

Coaching career

Penna turned his attention to coaching. In 2009 he coached an Italy national [rugby league team|Italian XIII]. Penna has also coached the Manly-Warringah [Sea Eagles] Toyota Cup team. Penna was appointed as Manly's assistant NRL coach for the 2012 season, after Geoff Toovey was promoted to the position of head coach.
On 30 November 2016, he became the assistant coach to Des Hasler at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
In November 2018, he was announced as the new head coach of Canterbury's Jersey Flegg Cup side.