August 19: Junior's emotional goodbye; Freddy outguns Joey

On this day, Wayne Pearce farewells the Leichhardt faithful, Brad Fittler gets one over Andrew Johns, and Mitchell Pearce hits 150 games at just 24 years of age.

1912

Hall of Fame member Herb Narvo is born. Narvo signed with Newtown in 1937 and was one of the form forwards in the competition. Narvo was brought into the Kangaroos squad for the 1937-38 tour after Joe Pearce broke his leg on the first stop of the tour.

He appeared in every game on that tour. The St George side he was captain-coach of in 1946 was crowned club champion but lost the grand final 13-12. 

1990

Balmain’s Local Hero Wayne Pearce makes an emotional farewell to his legion of fans at Leichhardt Oval in the last match at his home ground of the past 13 years.

1996

Western Suburbs five-eighth Andrew Willis kicks a last-minute, 45-metre field goal to give his side a 23-22 win over North Sydney in a memorable Monday Night Football fixture. Brandon Costin, Aseri Laing and Willis scored Wests' tries.

2000

After trailing 16-2 at half-time, the Sydney Roosters advance to the grand final with a 26-20 defeat of Newcastle led by a magnificent performance from Brad Fittler. Matthew Johns and Tony Butterfield play their last matches for the Knights.

2011

South Sydney keep their finals hopes alive with a controversial 26-24 golden point win over North Queensland at ANZ Stadium after trailing the Cowboys 24-12 with 15 minutes to play. A sideline conversion from Chris Sandow sent the game into extra-time. 

2013    

Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce becomes the second-youngest player to reach the milestone of 150 first-grade games when he plays against Wests Tigers at the age of 24 and 134 days. Only former international Paul Langmack was younger when he played his 150th game (aged 24 and 81 days).

2018

Five players are fined for throwing punches in a melee that erupted late in Newcastle’s 20-12 upset defeat of Penrith. Viliame Kikau, Tyrone May and Waqa Blake (Penrith) and Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Danny Levi are hit with fines ranging from $750 (Kenny-Dowall) to $1100 after entering early pleas on striking charges.                         

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