Alex Glenn
A steadfast leader who captained the Brisbane Broncos with grit, bridging his Cook Islands heritage and New Zealand international career.
Born 1988 (age 38)·Cook Islands and New Zealand international rugby league footballer·Birthday: July 31·Millennials
Biography
Born in Auckland in 1988, Alex Glenn carved out a reputation as the ultimate club man for the Brisbane Broncos, a team he served for his entire 13-season NRL career. While his early years saw him as a dynamic centre, he matured into a hard-nosed second-row forward, valued for his defensive steel and work rate. His leadership qualities, often described as quiet and lead-by-example, were formally recognized when he was named co-captain in 2019, a role he held until his retirement in 2021. Glenn's international path was uniquely dual-faceted: he first represented the Cook Islands, the homeland of his father, in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, before later earning caps for the New Zealand Kiwis in 2017, embodying the modern Pacific diaspora in sport. His career, free of major scandal, is remembered for its consistency and loyalty in an era of frequent player movement.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alex was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played his entire 13-season NRL career (2009-2021) with the Brisbane Broncos, making over 280 appearances.
- Captained the Brisbane Broncos as co-captain from 2019 until his retirement.
- Represented two different nations internationally: the Cook Islands and New Zealand.
- Won the Broncos' Paul Morgan Medal as the club's player of the year in 2016.
Did You Know?
His father, Alex Glenn Sr., was a professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
He played his first NRL game against the very team his father played for, the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
He is a qualified carpenter, having pursued the trade as a backup plan during his rugby career.
Glenn was part of the Brisbane Broncos team that lost the 2015 NRL Grand Final in golden point extra time.
“I bleed maroon; this club is my home and my family.”
