On this day, Garry Jack suffered a knee injury, Ben Barba was stood down and Adam Reynolds was handed the Rabbitohs' captaincy.
1985
Benji Marshall was born in Whakatane, New Zealand. A schoolboy prodigy, he made his NRL debut as a teenager for the Wests Tigers in 2003 and was instrumental in their fairytale run to the premiership two years later, producing his famous flick pass to set up a try for Pat Richards in the 30-16 triumph.
He became a star for club and country but left the Wests Tigers in 2013 to try his hand at rugby with the Auckland Blues but returned to the NRL midway through the next season with St George Illawarra. He had a one-year stint with Brisbane in 2017 before returning to the Tigers and re-establishing himself as one of the best five-eighths in the NRL in the latter stages of his career, bringing up his 300th first-grade appearance late in the 2019 season.
In 2021 he signed off with a fine season under Wayne Bennett at the Rabbitohs, helping Souths to the decider where they lost to Penrith in a thriller.
1988
Aidan Guerra was born in Cairns. A hard-working back-rower, he made his NRL debut with the Roosters in 2010 and made 154 appearances for the club over eight seasons, including the 2013 grand final win. He represented Queensland in 10 Origins, played a Test for Australia and three for Italy.
1989
St George forward Wally Fullerton Smith is sent off on a head-butting charge in a spiteful Charity Shield game at Redfern Oval. He is subsequently acquitted, but Souths forward Darren Maroon is cited on gouging charge and receives 16-week suspension. Souths win the match 20-10.
1990
Garry Jack tears knee ligaments as Balmain go down 26-8 to Canberra in a pre-season tournament quarter-final in Goulburn.
1998
NRL clubs vote 18-2 to adopt the controversial Super League judiciary system.
2001
Injured St George Illawarra centre Shaun Timmins fears he may never play again because of a rare condition in his left knee.
2004
Wests Tigers cover for the long-term injury to winger Pat Richards by enticing former Newcastle and Parramatta winger Jason Moodie out of retirement to sign a one-year deal with the club.
2013
Canterbury drop a major bombshell by announcing that Dally M winner Ben Barba has been suspended indefinitely while he comes to grips with serious personal issues. Club chief executive Todd Greenberg says it could be “six weeks or six months” until Barba is ready to resume playing. NRL officials hastily appoint Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston to officially open the season two nights later after Barba had been originally singled out for the honour.
2020
South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds is honoured with the club’s captaincy for the 2020 season.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.