June 6: Gorman a Queensland pioneer; Freddy's new-look Blues deliver
On this day, future Hall of Famer Tom Gorman was born, more than 70,000 fans fill the SCG for a Test and Brad Fittler's new-look Blues storm to victory in Melbourne.
1901
Tom Gorman was born in Charters Towers. In 1929–30, he became the first Queenslander to captain a Kangaroos team, taking his men to within an inch of the Ashes and winning enormous respect for his leadership.
For 12 years, he was an automatic selection in the Queensland team.
1932
A rugby league world record crowd of 70,204 turns out for the first Test between Australia and Jim Sullivan’s English tourists at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
1961
Gary Wurth was born. Mainly a fullback, he played 119 matches at three clubs (five with Canberra in 1983 before 75 at the Roosters from 1984-88 and 39 in three seasons at Newcastle) before retiring in 1991.
1970
The first Test between Australian and Great Britain at Brisbane’s Lang Park turns into a bloody war, and although the Australians cop a belting, they take first honours in the Ashes series with a 37-15 win.
Jim Morgan (smashed nose), Ron Lynch (broken jaw), John Wittenberg (knee), Billy Smith (gashed ear) and Arthur Beetson and Graeme Langlands (broken noses) all end up the worse for wear.
1996
Jamayne Isaako was born in Christchurch. The Broncos winger was named Dally M rookie of the year in 2018 and made his Test debut for New Zealand in the same year.
1999
Western Suburbs record their last victory as a stand-alone premiership entity when they beat Balmain 18-12 at Campbelltown Stadium.
2004
Brad Fittler agrees to a request from coach Phil Gould to make himself available for selection for NSW in the second State of Origin match. Fittler had retired from representative football at the end of 2001.
2006
Queensland selectors produce a shock when they name Canberra centre Adam Mogg as the replacement for injured Melbourne star Greg Inglis for Origin II.
2008
Wendell Sailor’s much-hyped comeback lasts only 40 minutes at WIN Stadium when the former Test winger fractures a cheekbone against Brisbane. The Dragons overcome his loss to defeat a depleted Broncos side 28-10.
2011
Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah snaps a field goal in the seventh minute of extra-time to secure a 17-16 win over Newcastle at Leichhardt Oval. Winger Lote Tuqiri injures an ankle six minutes into his comeback from a broken arm.
2018
Featuring 11 players on debut, NSW draw first blood in the 2018 State of Origin series with a stirring 22-12 win over Queensland at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The game draws the fourth highest attendance in Origin history: 87,122.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
