On this day, 'The King' is cast in bronze, NSW extracts revenge in Origin, injury ends Ricky Stuart's glittering career and champion playmaker Cooper Cronk announces his retirement.

1992

A statue of Wally Lewis is unveiled at Lang Park before the second State of Origin match. A field goal to Lewis' old mate Allan Langer, 66 seconds from full-time, gives the Maroons a 5-4 victory. Bob Lindner is named man of the match.

1996

NSW dominate Queensland in the first match of the 1996 Origin series to win 14-6 at Suncorp Stadium. This was after the Maroons had secured a clean sweep in the 1995 series. The Blues returned the favour to go on and win the 1996 series 3-0.

2000

A torn cruciate ligament ends the career of Bulldogs halfback Ricky Stuart. In a stellar career that began at Canberra in 1988, Stuart played 243 games and won three premierships with the Raiders.

2012

Rookie South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds kicks the Rabbitohs to a 19-18 golden point victory over St George Illawarra at WIN Jubilee Oval in round 11. He actually scored 11 of his side's 19 points with his maiden NRL try, three goals and the field goal. Reynolds went on to win the Dally M Rookie of the Year award that September. 

Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds ©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

2016

Cowboys superstar Johnathan Thurston repeats his 2015 grand final heroics by nailing a match-winning field goal to sink rivals Brisbane 19-18 in another epic derby clash. A crowd of 25,163 attends the match at 1300Smiles Stadium.

2017

St George Illawarra fullback Josh Dugan signs a four-year, $3 million deal with Cronulla.

Looking back at the best of Cooper Cronk

2019

Sydney Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk announces plans to retire at the end of the season. The champion playmaker bows out with a premiership as the Roosters make it back-to-back titles by beating Canberra in the decider.

 

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