April 2: Frizelle makes history; Rowdy mascot marched
On this day, the Sharks and Panthers debut, a mascot is marched and Rebecca Frizelle makes history on the Gold Coast.
1967
Cronulla and Penrith officially enter the competition when they play their first premiership matches. The Sharks have a winning debut with an 11-5 defeat of the Roosters, while the Panthers go down 15-12 to Canterbury, who were known as the Berries before changing their name to the Bulldogs in the late 70s.
1994
In a somewhat comical and possibly unprecedented scene, the North Sydney Bears' mascot is sent off. Spectators initially thought it was part of the day's planned entertainment but it was no joke. "Bear" got his marching orders for allegedly abusing a touch judge.
2000
Dragons back-rower Lance Thompson becomes one of the youngest players to reach the 100-game milestone. A former Hurstville United junior, Thompson had just turned 22 when he chalked up his 100th.
2006
Tim Sheens coaches his 500th game - the first coach to make it to 500 - as the Wests Tigers hold out Melbourne in a 30-28 thriller. The four-time premiership-winning coach finished on 671 NRL games.
2011
Luke Burt surpasses Eels legend Brett Kenny as Parramatta's most prolific try-scorer. Burt played with the Eels from 1999 to 2012 and holds the club record for most tries (111).
2014
Rebecca Frizelle becomes the NRL's first female leader when she is named chair of the Gold Coast Titans.
2020
The NRL and RL Players’ Association sign off on a revised pay deal in which players agree to a cut of around 71 per cent for the rest of the 2020.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
