August 21: Mal farewells Canberra; Western Division are Cup kings

On this day, Mal Meninga farewells Bruce Stadium, the first Amco Cup final was held and an Eastern Suburbs legend was born.

1915    

Balmain become the first team to go through a season undefeated and the first club to win all three grades in the same year. The Tigers are captained by New Zealand-born Bill Kelly and win 12 and draw two of their 14 premiership matches. A crowd of 15,000 watch the Tigers in their final match of the season against South Sydney.

1926

Easts legend Ferris Ashton was born. He served in the Australian Navy towards the end of World War II before becoming a punishing second-rower for the Tricolours in 1950. He made his Test debut two years later, playing a key role in the 25-13 win over New Zealand. He was picked for the Kangaroos Tour the following year. He died in 2013.

1974

Coached by former Test star Johnny King, Western Division complete a fairytale run, when they defeat Penrith 6-2 in the final of the inaugural Amco Cup midweek knockout competition.

1994

A ground record crowd farewells Mal Meninga in his final match at Bruce Stadium. The Raiders thump Wests 40-22. Five games later and Meninga captained the Raiders to their third premiership in their 36-12 win over the Bulldogs.

1999     

Auckland inflict the heaviest defeat in Newcastle’s history with a 42-0 thrashing at Ericsson Stadium. Warriors halfback Stacey Jones becomes the first Auckland player to play 100 first-grade games.

2005     

Former Test star Cliff Lyons steers Manly A Grade club Narraweena Hawks to a 34-8 grand final victory over Forestville Ferrets at the age of 43.

2017    

Neil Henry is sacked as coach of the Gold Coast Titans following the breakdown of his relationship with star recruit Jarryd Hayne. Assistant coaches Terry Matterson and Craig Hodges are appointed to take charge of the team for the final two games of the season.

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