April 18: Ricky's rap for Freddy; Four teams enter big league
On this day, the NRL approves the entry of four new teams, Ricky Stuart rates Brad Fittler as the greatest captain he's seen, and Matt Cooper grabs four tries in the Dragons' rout of Penrith.
1994
The Western Reds, Auckland Warriors, South Queensland Crushers and North Queensland Cowboys are formally accepted into the 1995 competition. The Reds and Crushers don't last long but the Cowboys and Warriors are still going strong.
2003
Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart rates Brad Fittler the best captain he has been involved with after the 31-year-old inspires a 27-20 win over Brisbane in his 100th win as the club's skipper. "When the game’s there to be won he leads by example," Stuart says. "At training he’s like another coach."
2004
St George Illawarra centre Matt Cooper scores a club record four tries in his team’s 44-18 defeat of Penrith at WIN Stadium.
2014
Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans is ruled out of the Sea Eagles’ Round 7 clash with North Queensland with a medial ligament strain. It is the first match he has missed through injury since his debut in 2011.
2015
The Sydney Roosters slump to a third consecutive defeat when they fall 17-16 to Melbourne in a high-quality clash at AAMI Park.
2020
The New Zealand Government grants an exemption to the Warriors, allowing them to travel to Australia to prepare for the resumption of the NRL season.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
