December 10: Crowe comes to Rabbits' rescue; Moose gets life

On this day in rugby league history, Tonga becomes a top-four nation, Russell Crowe puts his financial clout behind the Bunnies and the Moose gets life.

1967

Rod Silva was born. A dynamic fullback, he had a lengthy stint with the Roosters, playing 92 matches after making his debut in 1988, before making a mid-season switch to Canterbury in 1995. He was part of the team which upset Manly in the grand final and registered 100 games for the Dogs before retiring in 2001.

1975

Logan Swann was born in Auckland. A tall back-rower, he made his debut for the Warriors in the 1997 and played 195 matches for the club in two stints, interspersed by a three-year Super League sojourn with Bradford and Warrington. Swann was also a mainstay for New Zealand in the Test arena around the turn of the century.

1993   

Canterbury captain Terry Lamb is rushed to hospital with a suspected blood clot in his lung.

1994   

The Queensland Rugby League sack long-term selectors Hugh Kelly and Dud Beattie, in favour of Des Morris and Arthur Beetson. Les Geeves survives the purge to be promoted to selection chairman, while coach Wayne Bennett earns voting rights on the selection panel.

1999   

Dual international and long-time commentator Rex Mossop is awarded life membership of the NSWRL.

2001   

Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe offers to underwrite a contract for a South Sydney player in 2002.

2007   

A group of 30 former players, coaches, administrators, historians and media representatives meet in Sydney to vote on Australian Rugby League’s Team of the Century.

2012   

North Queensland Test forward James Tamou turns his back on an offer from Parramatta to sign a three-year contract extension with the Cowboys.

2015   

Former Queensland State of Origin players throw their support behind Kevin Walters as the Origin coaching successor to Mal Meninga after the QRL indicate their preference for North Queensland coach Paul Green.

2017   

World Cup powerhouse Tonga climb from 11th to fourth in updated RLIF world rankings. The other significant movers are Fiji, who climb from seven to fifth.

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