June 2: Timmo gets nod for Origin; Tricky binned twice
On this day, Shaun Timmins was chosen for the Blues ahead of Braith Anasta, a former Knights cheergirl was suddenly known around the world, while Darrell Trindall had a fiery first meeting with his former team.
1962
Referee Cliff Brown sends off six players in a sensational NSW v Great Britain match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Three players from each side, including all four wingers, are dismissed.
1990
Former All Black Matthew Ridge begins his league career with six goals from seven attempts in Manly’s 24-8 win over Cronulla.
1997
Crowd violence rears its ugly head at a rugby league match when an estimated 2000 people became involved in a riot at Belmore Sports Ground after a Super League match between Canterbury and Penrith. Two men were arrested, a policeman was injured and a touch judge was threatened by a man who ran onto the field.
1998
Parramatta and Queensland lock Jason Smith is suspended for three matches on two high tackle charges and is forced to miss the second State of Origin match at Suncorp Stadium.
1999
Stephen Clark is appointed referee for the second State of Origin match, replacing Bill Harrigan. St George Illawarra captain Mark Coyne calls for drug offenders to be suspended from representative football for life following Adam MacDougall’s selection in the NSW side.
2002
Bulldog halfback Darrell Trindall is sin-binned twice by referee Paul Simpkins in his first match against former club South Sydney.
2003
Eleven Broncos are named in the two Origin teams, while the Roosters earn a club record representation of seven players. St George Illawarra utility Shaun Timmins is named ahead of Bulldog Braith Anasta at five-eighth. NSW chairman of selectors Bob McCarthy defends the decision not to name one Bulldogs player in the Blues squad of 17 by telling reporters "they score tries from kicks and intercepts".
2004
Former Newcastle Knights cheerleader Jennifer Hawkins is crowned Miss Universe 2004.
2006
St George Illawarra defeat Parramatta 8-1 at Oki Jubilee Stadium in one of the most bizarre matches of the season. The scores are locked nil-all until the 70th minute when Eels five-eighth John Morris opens the scoring with a field goal.
The Dragons, though, take a 2-1 lead through two Ben Hornby field goals before centre Matt Cooper grabs a try in controversial circumstances on full-time. Parramatta halfback Jeremy Smith pushes referee Sean Hampstead in frustration and is later charged with grade-five contrary conduct.
2010
The NRL makes an immediate change to the rules, deciding that players can come into contact with corner posts without being deemed to be in touch.
2015
NRL head of football Todd Greenberg unveils plans for a high-tech video referee bunker which promises to deliver faster and more accurate decisions and also proposes the introduction of a captain’s challenge or coach’s call. The changes are expected to be introduced in 2016.
2016
The opening State of Origin match attracts record television ratings. The game peaked just below 4.5 million viewers nationally.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
