March 29: Hindmarsh ready to retire; Ref earns Irvine's ire

On this day, North Sydney's Ken Irvine tries to stage a walk-off while a Parra legend signals the end of a stellar career.

1970

North Sydney's Ken Irvine attempts to lead his team from the field in protest against referee Keith Page.

Irvine is incensed after late knees in the back from a Canterbury player lead to an all-in but the only player sent off was one of Irvine's players, John McDonell.

He blows up at Page and is warned but tees off again and Page sends him from the field, reducing Norths to 11 men.

Bears players feel Page has lost control and is favouring the opposition but coach Brian 'Chicka' Norton tells his players to calm down and get on with the job and a walk-off is averted.

1981

Newtown hooker Barry Jensen becomes the first player sent to the sin bin.

The new sin bin concept was introduced in 1981 and Jensen claimed a little piece of history by being the first man banished.

1987

Issac Luke is born. The passionate hooker debuts for South Sydney in 2007 and spends nine seasons at the famous club before moving to the New Zealand Warriors in 2016. He spent four seasons with the Warriors before moving to the Dragons in 2020 and then shifting to the Broncos after just three games in the Red V.

In 2014, Luke played a big part in getting the Rabbitohs into the grand final but he missed the drought-breaking premiership triumph due to a dangerous throw suspension.

Luke has also played 43 Test matches for his beloved Kiwis, placing him seventh on the all time list behind Ruben Wiki, Adam Blair, Stacey Jones, Gary Freeman, Stephen Kearney and Simon Mannering.

2004

The NRL issue the Brisbane Broncos with a breach notice for having 14 players on the field  against the Wests Tigers.

Corey Parker was judged to have entered the field of play against the instructions of an interchange official. Parker scored a try for Brisbane soon after to level the scores at 18-all.

The Broncos go on to win 32-24.

"As hard as this issue is to deal with, it comes down to the point that a player took the field despite twice being told not to and in spite of an attempt to recall him, and that his presence on the field had an immediate impact on the game," said NRL boss David Gallop.

2012

Nathan Hindmarsh announces his intention to retire at the end of the season.

The durable back-rower was part of the Eels' grand final teams in 2001 and 2009, making an incredible 59 tackles in '09 against the Storm, but was unable to capture an elusive premiership. 

Hindmarsh would sign off at the end of 2012 with 330 games to his name - the only Eel to play more than 300 games.

Meanwhile, premiership-winning playmaker Cooper Cronk announces he has re-signed with the Storm for a further four years.

2013

Billy Slater lit up Suncorp Stadium with a hat-trick in Melbourne's 32-26 win over the Broncos.

This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.