February 27: Game mourns Steve Folkes; Wayne takes Maroon reins
On this day, Canterbury champion Steve Folkes passes away, Wayne takes the Origin reins, Brett Morris saves the day for the Dragons and a couple of premiership heroes are born.
1982
Wests Tigers 2005 premiership star Pat Richards was born. Richards wrote his name into grand final folklore when he latched onto a magical Benji Marshall flick pass and raced away to score the Tigers' opening try in the '05 decider.
After stints at Parramatta at Wests Tigers, the winger with the booming boot headed to Super League where he enjoyed a magnificent career with Wigan.
He returned to the Tigers for two seasons in 2014-15 before finishing his 364-game career at Catalans.
A look back at the 2005 Grand Final
1985
Former Sea Eagles premiership player Brett Stewart was born on this day. The brilliant fullback debuted in 2003 and played 233 games for Manly over a glittering 14-year career.
He scored a try in the 2011 grand final win over the Warriors and was also part of the record-breaking 40-0 demolition of the Storm in the 2008 decider.
1996
The failure of rebel clubs to attend an ARL meeting virtually kills off hopes of a start to the ARL’s 20-team competition on March 1.
ARL chief executive John Quayle offers to quit if it will help bring about peace in the game.
1998
Brisbane’s Wayne Bennett is appointed coach of the Queensland State of Origin side ahead of Paul Vautin.
2004
Businessman John Singleton presents the case to NRL management for a Central Coast team to be admitted to the competition.
2006
The Warriors are stripped of four competition points and fined $430,000 for breaching the salary cap by almost $1 million. They will become the first team to start the competition on less than zero points.
2010
A last-minute try to St George Illawarra winger Brett Morris secures a 26-all draw with South Sydney in the annual Charity Shield clash. A crowd of 27,221 watches the match at ANZ Stadium.
2011
St George Illawarra win the World Club Challenge at their first attempt when they down Wigan 21-15 at DW Stadium. Winger Brett Morris scores two tries and is named man of the match.
2015
Boom North Queensland forward Jason Taumalolo rejects a $2 million deal to join the Warriors by agreeing to a new three-year contract with the Cowboys.
2018
Tributes flow for premiership-winning Canterbury player and coach Steve Folkes, who died of a heart attack at his Sydney home at the age of 59.
2020
The Raiders prepare to be without second-rower John Bateman for the opening eight weeks of the season after the Englishman undergoes shoulder surgery.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
