April 7: Vale, Tommy; O'Donnell's shocking injury

On this day, Tommy Raudonikis loses his battle with cancer, Gus gets creative to freshen up Origin camp and Luke O'Donnell tears his hamstring from the bone

2001

A crowd of 27,724 turns out at Wellington’s Westpac Trust Stadium for the Bulldogs’ transferred home game against the New Zealand Warriors. The Bulldogs are cruising toward victory when the Warriors score three tries in the final six minutes to snatch a remarkable 24-all draw.

2002

NSW State of Origin coach Phil Gould outlines an initiative to involve Blues supporters in the team’s campaign. Gould’s plan involves a series of fan days, a new cattle dog mascot to replace the cockroach and open training sessions. 

2004

Canberra fullback Clinton Schifcofske draws a second $2,000 fine from the NRL for slow goalkicking. On the same day Gold Coast’s bid for inclusion as the 16th team in the NRL is endorsed by the Queensland Rugby League executive.

2007

North Queensland second-rower Luke O’Donnell suffers a season-ending hamstring injury during his team’s 25-24 victory over Wests Tigers. O’Donnell’s hamstring was torn from the pubic bone after he fell awkwardly in a three-man tackle. The Test forward is told by doctors he went close to severing his sciatic nerve which could have left him paralysed in the left leg.

2014

Warriors coach Matt Elliott is sacked just days after previously winless Cronulla routs his team 37-6. Former Canberra halfback Andrew McFadden is appointed ostensibly in an interim role until a permanent replacement is found, but McFadden keeps the job for the next two years and coaches 62 games before Stephen Kearney is appointed for the 2017 season.

2016

St George Illawarra are held scoreless for the second successive game when they fall 26-0 to grand finalists Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium. Five nights earlier they were hammered 36-0 by premiers North Queensland in Townsville. It is the first time a St George or St George Illawarra team is held to nil in consecutive games.

2021

Legendary Western Suburbs halfback Tommy Raudonikis loses a decades-long battle with cancer at the age of 70.

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