March 11: Welcome Crushers and Cowboys; Captain Cam commits

On this day, two new Queensland clubs take the field for the first time, Des Hasler channels Harry Potter and Captain Cam commits long-term to the Storm.

1995

New clubs the North Queensland Cowboys and South Queensland Crushers both made their debuts in the opening round of the ARL season, with home games at Stockland Stadium and Suncorp Stadium respectively. The Cowboys were beaten 32-16 by eventual premiers Canterbury while the Crushers lost 24-6 to reigning NSWRL champions Canberra. 

2002

The coach who started St George's remarkable dynasty in the 1950s and '60s, Norm Tipping, passed away in Cronulla at the age of 89. Tipping coached the Dragons to the 1953 grand final then led them to the 1956 premiership – the first of an amazing 11-year premiership-winning stretch for the club.

As a player Tipping had switched from rugby union to league and played three seasons for the Dragons in the early 1930s, before suffering a spinal injury. After seven years out of the game he returned as a player in 1943 and retired a year later.

2011

Brisbane and North Queensland kicked off the season at Suncorp Stadium with the Cowboys beating their Queensland rivals for the first time since 2007, 16-14. On the same evening the Roosters withstood a comeback from South Sydney to win 40-29 at the Sydney Football Stadium.

2014

The Melbourne Storm re-signed captain Cameron Smith for four more years, ending speculation he could move to the Broncos. The Storm would go on to finish sixth that season then finish inside the top four in the next four years, including three grand final appearances and a premiership in 2017.

2015

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler referred to NRL referees as "Voldermorts", a Harry Potter reference to the villain dubbed "He who must not be named". Hasler had been hit with a $10,000 suspended fine after criticising the referees following his team's round one loss to Penrith.

2020

Salary cap issues force Cronulla to release centre Josh Morris from the final year of his contract, allowing him to link with twin brother Brett at the Sydney Roosters. As part of the deal between the clubs, the Roosters agree to pay a transfer fee to the Sharks.

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