March 20: GI's field goal howler; El Masri voted greatest kicker
On this day in history, Arko takes a stand, Hopoate's infamous shot on Galloway, while Tahu joins the rah-rah crowd.
1995
League chairman Ken Arthurson warns clubs they face expulsion from the competition if found guilty of secretly negotiating with News Limited over Super League.
1999
After two straight losses, joint venture pioneers St George Illawarra record their maiden victory with a sideline conversion by Wayne Bartrim securing a 16-14 win over Canberra. The Dragons lost their next game on a field goal to the Rabbitohs before turning the corner with wins in four of their next five matches.
2004
With second-rower Lance Thompson leading the way with an inspirational performance, a depleted St George Illawarra side upset the Warriors 16-10 at Ericsson Stadium. The Dragons go into the match missing five players from their originally selected line-up.
2005
Manly winger John Hopoate is sent off for a brutal high shot on Cronulla forward Keith Galloway. Referee Paul Simpkins stops play for 10 minutes while Galloway is placed on a stretcher with his neck in a brace.
2007
Parramatta winger Timana Tahu signs a four-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union worth a reported $2 million. Two weeks earlier Tahu had described the 15-a-side game as "boring". Tahu played Super Rugby with the NSW Waratahs and won four caps for the Wallabies in 2008 before returning to the NRL in 2010.
2016
Rabbitohs fullback Greg Inglis admits to a "brain explosion" when he shoots for a field goal on the final play of the game against the Dragons, despite his team trailing 8-6 at the time.
2020
Hazem El Masri is voted the greatest goal-kicker of all time. After more than 8000 votes, the Bulldogs legend was the runaway winner with 46% of fans in an NRL.com poll choosing him as the best of all time. Cowboys icon Johnathan Thurston was the runner-up (25%) ahead of former North Sydney and Canterbury sharpshooter Daryl Halligan (9%) and Souths skipper Adam Reynolds (7%).
2021
The first player to lead the Sea Eagles to a premiership, Fred Jones, dies in Sydney at the age of 79.
Fred Jones leads from the front
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton
