August 25: Seeds sown for Maroons miracle; Dally plays again
On this day, Dally Messenger is coaxed from retirement, two referees are trialled, and the QRL opens discussions with Wayne Bennett to make a return as Origin coach.
1917
Dally Messenger emerges from retirement to play in a patriotic match, Kangaroos v The Rest of NSW, and plays on the wing. The Kangaroos lost 20-13 in the game played on the Royal Agricultural Society Showground.
2001
The NRL trials two referees, with whistle-blowers Tony Archer and Steve Richards officiating simultaneously in the Penrith-Wests Tigers clash at Penrith Football Stadium. Dual on-field referees was not brought in until the 2009 season.
2011
The NRL, in conjunction with the RLPA, unveils the game’s inaugural “Academic Team of the Year”. The team includes: Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers): Bachelor of Commerce; Preston Campbell (Gold Coast): Certificate III and IV in Youth Work; Matt Ballin (Manly): Bachelor of Education; Paul Gallen (Cronulla): Qualified plumber, Certificate IV in Financial Planning, Certificate of Registration in Real Estate, Diploma of Management; Corey Payne (Bulldogs), who was a recipient of the University of Sydney’s Young Alumni Achievement Award, is named the dux of the Class of 2011 for Masters of Commerce.
2012
Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett, with one round of the club competition to go, concedes he will not be involved in finals football for the first time in 21 years after the Knights are beaten 22-14 by North Queensland at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
2016
Cowboys superstar Johnathan Thurston torments his old club Canterbury with a 'man of the match' performance in his return to Belmore Oval after an absence of 12 years. The Cowboys leapfrog the Bulldogs and stake their claim for fourth place on the ladder with a 24-16 victory.
2017
After having backed Laurie Daley to retain his job as NSW Origin coach in 2018, Blues officials perform an about-face and sack Daley after an intensive review of the 2017 campaign. Brad Fittler is appointed three months later in November as the new coach.
2020
South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett holds talks with QRL officials about a possible comeback as Maroons State of Origin coach if Kevin Walters is appointed coach of the Broncos.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
