June 24: Maroons gamble on Alfie; Ponga arrives in Origin
On this day in rugby league history, a Maroons hard head is born, Alfie Langer returns and an Origin series slips through the Blues' fingers.
1983
Test prop David Shillington was born. Shillington represented the Roosters, Raiders and Titans across a 215-game career, making eight Origin appearances for the Maroons and playing 14 Tests for Australia.
1985
Queensland enforcer Nate Myles was born. An Origin veteran during the Maroons' years of domination over the Blues, Myles formed an infamous rivalry with NSW skipper (and one-time TV commercial co-star) Paul Gallen. He played 233 NRL matches between 2005 and 2017 with stints at the Bulldogs, Roosters, Titans, Manly and Melbourne, peaking in 2012 when he took out the Dally M Representative Player of the Year, Second-Rower of the year and Wally Lewis Medal.
2001
Queensland selectors pull off the most stunning selection gamble in State of Origin history by recalling 34-year-old Allan Langer from England to play in the series decider at ANZ Stadium.
Langer immortalised in bronze with statue at Suncorp
2009
A diabolical succession of errors by New South Wales handed Queensland an historic fourth consecutive State of Origin series win. The Blues committed 17 errors including three which led to Queensland tries and an 18-0 lead. NSW completed just 63% of their sets with the Maroons prevailing 24-14 in Sydney.
2012
Canterbury fullback Ben Barba returns to his home town of Mackay and creates the try of the season for centre Josh Morris as the Bulldogs topple competition leaders Melbourne 20-4. A crowd of 11,876 fills Mackay's Virgin Australia Stadium to near capacity in the first NRL game played in the central Queensland venue.
2018
New South Wales overcome the late sin-binning of centre James Roberts to hold off Queensland and claim the State of Origin series after an 18-14 victory at ANZ Stadium. Maroons rookie Kalyn Ponga makes a stunning Origin debut, playing 52 minutes in the unfamiliar role of lock forward, chalking up 29 tackles and almost winning the game for Queensland with a late break.
2021
The Queensland Government bans fans from Greater Sydney from travelling to Brisbane as the COVID-19 cluster continues to grow in the NSW capital.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
