April 29: Woods' Test hopes dashed; Taylor's perfect day
On this day, Paul "Mary" McGregor returned to the NSW team, Aaron Woods suffered an untimely injury and Eels sharpshooter Jason Taylor simply couldn't miss.
1989
Former Newtown first-grader Paul Hayward arrives back in Australia after spending more than 10 years in Bangkok’s notorious Bang Kwang jail for drug trafficking.
Paul Vautin and Michael O’Connor turn out for St Helens in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley. They are unable to stop a 27-0 whitewash by Wigan.
1993
Chris Johns is ruled out of the NSW side with a hamstring injury. Illawarra’s Paul McGregor replaces him in the starting line-up with Canberra’s Brett Mullins called in on the reserves bench.
1996
ARL general manager John Quayle drops plans to cite St George forward David Barnhill after Canberra lodged their complaint 19 minutes after the citing deadline. The Raiders respond by threatening legal action.
2000
Jenny Robinson becomes the first woman to referee a NSWRL grand final when she controls the SG Ball decider between Penrith and Illawarra. Meanwhile Australian coach Matt Elliott masterminds Bradford’s 24-18 victory over Leeds in the British Challenge Cup Final at Murrayfield, Edinburgh.
2001
Jason Taylor experiences the finest goalkicking day of his career – landing 11 goals from 11 attempts in Parramatta’s 66-12 romp against the Wests Tigers. Taylor breaks Mick Cronin’s premiership record of 865 career goals.
2005
Manly’s time at the top of the NRL ladder is short lived after they are crushed 38-12 by Brisbane in a rare Friday night appearance. The result delivers Brisbane’s Wayne Bennett his 300th win as coach. Meantime, St George Illawarra directors abandon plans to re-sign Anthony Mundine because of fears it will destabilise the club.
2007
More than half of Parramatta’s squad are struck down by a virus as the team falls 38-12 to the Gold Coast Titans at Carrara. Parramatta doctor Michael Johnson says eight players were so sick they should not have played.
2010
Former Test centre Tony Currie calls for Brisbane star Israel Folau to be banned for life from the NRL if he defects to rugby union with the Melbourne Rebels.
2011
Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens knocks back a $2.5 million offer from Penrith to remain at Wests Tigers until the end of 2014.
2012
Parramatta fall short of an incredible upset win over Wests Tigers when they conjure 30 points in the final 13 minutes of a round eight match at Parramatta Stadium before going down 31-30.
2017
Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods injures a hamstring as the Tigers go down 22-16 to Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval. The injury forces him out of Australia’s Test team to play New Zealand.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
