May 19: Scott marched; Blues honoured; 'Chariots' welcomed
On this day, Martin 'Chariots' Offiah moves from the Roosters to the Dragons, the NSW team of the century is named, the eighth Immortal celebrates a birthday and Curtis Scott becomes the first player in four years to be sent off.
1974
Andrew Johns celebrates his 48th birthday today. He is a three-time Dally M Player of the Year, two-time Golden Boot winner and two-time premiership winner. He played 23 Tests for Australia and 23 Origins for NSW. He scored 2,176 points for Newcastle - fourth all-time in first grade - before he retired in 2007. In 2012, Johns was inducted as the game's eighth Immortal.
1991
Great Britain flyer Martin 'Chariots' Offiah celebrates his first game in the famous Red-V jersey of St George with a try in his team’s 30-6 thumping of South Sydney. He played 12 games for the Roosters in 1989 before returning to the Australian competition.
1992
Felise Kaufusi turns 30 today. The Storm back-rower had a break-out season in 2017 playing for Tonga in the mid-season Pacific Tests, then for Australia in the World Cup side. And in between he won the Telstra Premiership grand final over the North Queensland Cowboys. Kaufusi continued his rep footy run in 2018 by making his Origin debut for Queensland.
1997
NSW defeat Queensland 23-22 in a period of sudden death extra-time in the Tri-Series final at ANZ Stadium, for the Super League players not eligible for Origin. A New Zealand side was the third team in the Tri-Series.
2008
The NSW Team of the Century is announced in Sydney. The team is: Clive Churchill; Ken Irvine, Reg Gasnier, Graeme Langlands, Dally Messenger; Bob Fulton, Andrew Johns; John Raper, Ron Coote, Norm Provan, Frank Burge, Sandy Pearce, Glenn Lazarus. Reserves: Wally Prigg, Dave Brown, Steve Rogers, Roy Bull.
2017
Who said wingers should never meet?
2018
Melbourne centre Curtis Scott becomes the first player sent from the field since 2015 when he is marched for raining punches on Manly opposite Dylan Walker. Walker is left with a fractured eye socket and was expected to be sidelined for six weeks. Scott entered a guilty plea for striking and was suspended for two games.
2019
Newcastle halfback Mitchell Pearce is awarded maximum Dally M points for the fourth consecutive week as the Knights hammer St George Illawarra 45-12 in Mudgee. Pearce scores a try, sets up four more and kicks a field goal as he re-enters discussions for a State of Origin recall.
2020
Former Cronulla captain Paul Gallen says he would be prepared to come out of retirement if he could help the Warriors following injuries to prop Leeson Ah Mau and utility forward Jazz Tevaga.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
