January 28: Tommy enjoys first win; NRL bans gambling
On this day, Tommy Raudonikis wins his first match as Western Suburbs coach; while the NRL issues a ban on gambling by all players and officials; and Paul McGregor finally makes his comeback.
1995
Former Test halfback Tom Raudonikis celebrates the start of his coaching career at Western Suburbs with a victory when his team down Penrith 20-6 in a trial at Campbelltown. He also enjoyed a win in round one that year over Illawarra 25-24.
1999
The NRL ban all players and officials from gambling on rugby league.
2000
The draw for the World Cup is announced at a launch in Leeds. Australia and England are drawn to meet in the tournament opener at the home of rugby union, Twickenham.
2001
St George Illawarra centre Paul McGregor makes his comeback to rugby league after a 16-month lay-off in the Dragons’ 36-12 trial game win over the Sydney Roosters at WIN Stadium. McGregor captained the Dragons in the 1999 grand final but then a shoulder reconstruction wiped out his entire 2000 season. He retired at the end of 2001.
2009
The NRL outline plans for the controversial two-referee system to be introduced at premiership level for the upcoming 2009 season.
2011
South Sydney co-owner Russell Crowe announces a three-year major sponsorship deal with Star City but rejects claims of hypocrisy over previous calls to remove poker machines from South Sydney Leagues Club.
2015
Five years after the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal, in a lengthy radio interview, the club’s former CEO Brian Waldron finally accepts full responsibility for paying players beyond the cap and apologises for the hurt caused.
2016
An NRL Tribunal suspends former Sydney Roosters prop Martin Kennedy for two years and nine months after finding him guilty of a series of breaches of the game’s anti-doping policy. The nine months was added to Kennedy’s sentence for "deliberately obstructing an ASADA investigation".
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
