On this day in rugby league history, Manly play in their first grand final, the Dragons merger is announced and the Raiders make it back-to-back premierships.
1940
Dick Thornett was born. A gifted sportsman, Thornett represented Australia in water polo at the 1960 Rome Olympics before embarking on a 10-year rugby league career. During that time he played 14 Tests and three World Cup matches for Australia. Prior to playing rugby league, Thornett represented the Wallabies 11 times.
1951
Manly-Warringah play in the club's first grand final but are thrashed 42-14 by South Sydney. Johnny Graves scores four tries and Bernie Purcell kicks seven goals for a Rabbitohs team that had Clive Churchill in the No.1 jersey.
1990
Canberra make it back-to-back premiership titles with an 18-14 win over Penrith in the grand final. Laurie Daley, John Ferguson and Matthew Wood score the tries for Canberra.
Match Highlights: Panthers v Raiders
1998
St George and the Illawarra Steelers announce the decision to form the game's first joint venture. The new side will be called the St George Illawarra Dragons. The NRL confirm an $11 million funding package and a seven-year licence. They would lose the grand final the following year.
2004
Melbourne fullback Billy Slater rules himself out of contention for the Tri-Nations series by reluctantly opting to have surgery on a chronic groin injury.
2007
The biggest crowd to attend a premiership clash in Melbourne – 33,427 – watch the Storm dispose of Parramatta 26-10 to qualify for their second successive grand final
2017
North Queensland extend their fairytale run all the way to the grand final after knocking out the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium. The lead changed four times in the second half before the Cowboys closed out a 29-16 win to advance to their second grand final in three seasons.
FW3: Roosters v Cowboys (Hls)
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.