August 27: Jets take final flight; Joey's first Dally M
On this day, Newtown said farewell to the big league, Kevin Walters signed off with one last premiership, Andrew Johns claimed his first Dally M Medal and Val Holmes broke David Peachey's record.
1968
Matthew Ridge was born in Rotorua. The goal-kicking fullback joined Manly in 1990 and immediately made his mark as a sharpshooter with the boot and accomplished custodian. He scored 1331 points in 159 matches in a fine 10-year career, the last three seasons with the Warriors. Ridge also played 25 Tests for the Kiwis.
1983
Two years after they narrowly lost to Parramatta in the grand final, Newtown play their last match of premiership football, beating Canberra 9-6 at Orana Park, Campbelltown.
The Jets, originally known as the Bluebags, were one of the foundation clubs from 1908 and won three first-grade premierships (1910, '33 & '43).
1998
Newcastle halfback Andrew Johns was named Dally M Player of the Year. Johns also claimed the Provan-Summons Medal as the players’ player.
2000
Brisbane captain Kevin Walters experiences a fairytale finish to his career when he leads the Broncos to a 14-6 victory over the Sydney Roosters in the grand final.
2005
Stacey Jones scores the match-winning try for the Warriors in a 22-20 win over Manly in his final game for the club.
2011
Canterbury fullback Ben Barba scores one of the most remarkable individual tries of the season when he dives full length to drag in a ball just inside the dead-ball line as the Bulldogs down Newcastle 32-22 at ANZ Stadium.
2018
Cronulla fullback Valentine Holmes breaks the club’s season tryscoring record when he crosses for his 20th try in the Sharks’ 38-12 mauling of Newcastle at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
2019
Coach Nathan Brown walks away from the Knights amid reports the team was divided in its support for him. Assistant coach Kristian Woolf is handed the reins for the final two games of the season.
2020
The Rabbitohs’ ecstasy at a 38-0 triumph over Parramatta is tempered by the agony of a season-ending hamstring injury to fullback Latrell Mitchell.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
