November 3: Elford's sacrifice for Tigers; Bella rides again with Cowboys
On this day, Rabbitohs lose court battle, Shane Elford makes salary sacrifice to remain a Tiger, and Todd Carney is named world's best player.
1994
Canterbury forward Martin Bella decides against retiring and signs a one-year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.
1998
Adelaide Rams’ chief executive Michael O’Connor says the game will die in South Australia if the Rams are cut from the competition.
2000
Thousands of South Sydney fans despair when the foundation club loses its fight for reinstatement to the NRL. In a 180-page judgement, Judge Paul Finn ruled out all of South Sydney’s claims against News Limited, the NRL and the Australian Rugby League. Rabbitohs’ chairman George Piggins is quick to reassure fans he will fight on.
2003
Craig Wing and Phil Bailey are named as Australia’s centre pairing for the first Test against Great Britain. Trent Waterhouse and Michael Crocker are selected to make their Test debuts.
2005
Wests Tigers’ grand final-winning centre Shane Elford wins a release from a contract with Souths to return to the Tigers. He is reported to be sacrificing $190,000 to make the switch.
2006
New Zealand league chairman Selwyn Bennett resigns over the Nathan Fien Granny-gate scandal. “I take responsibility for it,” Bennett said. “Someone’s head had to roll, it might as well be mine. The buck stops with me.”
But Bennett disputes that the saga has damaged the game. “It’s been good the for game because it’s boosted its profile and got people talking about league. It’s not nearly as big a drama as some people make out.”
2009
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary produces a major shock by stripping veteran Australian prop Steve Price of the club’s captaincy, replacing him with Kiwi international Simon Mannering. Cleary reveals he wants Mannering to captain the club while Price is still playing.
2010
Sydney Roosters five-eighth Todd Carney is named RLIF International Player of the Year at a dinner in Auckland. Wayne Bennett wins the best coach award and Englishman Sam Tomkins claims the rookie of the year title.
2013
The United States continue their dream run at the World Cup when they down co-hosts Wales 24-16 at Wrexham. Afterwards The Wiggles release a song on YouTube, USA Tomahawks Shock the World. The clip attracts 17,000 views within 36 hours of its posting.
2014
Australia survive a late controversy to keep their Four Nations hopes alive when winger Ryan Hall is denied a try in the final seconds of the Test at AAMI Park. Australia win 16-12. Winger Sione Mata’utia becomes Australia’s youngest Test player when he debuts at the age of 18 years and 129 days.
2020
The Toronto Wolfpack are denied re-entry into the English Super League competition after Super League, the Rugby Football League and 11 current clubs vote 9-4 against their readmission. The decision is expected to end the career of 35-year-old Sonny Bill Williams, who was under contract to the Wolfpack for 2021.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
