October 8: The Man returns; a premiership ring goes overboard

Anthony Mundine left rugby league midway through the 2000 season to take up boxing where he became a four-time world champion. Fought in many of Australia’s biggest bouts and beat Danny Green at SFS in 2006. He is preparing to take on legendary Muay Thai fighter John Wayne Parr at Cbus Super Stadium on November 30.

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 8 Oct 2022, 02:01 AM

On this day, England upset the Kangaroos, The Man returns to the Dragons and a premiership ring goes overboard.

1987

Akuila Uate was born in Fiji. A flashy winger, he played 200 matches in the NRL from 2008-18, the first 163 with Newcastle before a switch to Manly in the last two years of his career. He scored 129 tries, represented the Kangaroos in five Tests and 15 times for Fiji.

1993

Channel Nine sign a $70 million contract to televise rugby league for the next seven years. The agreement is the richest in television sport in Australia and will run until 2000.

1995

St George legend Johnny Raper swears he will never watch St George again if they switch to Super League.

Raper, wearing headgear, dives over for a try against France.

1995

Australia suffer a setback in their bid to retain the World Cup when they are beaten 20-16 by England in the tournament opener at Wembley Stadium.

1997

St George sign Anthony Mundine to a three-year $2 million contract after the former Dragons star's unhappy one-year stint with Brisbane.

1997

Newcastle centre Adam MacDougall is suspended for three matches for stomping on Manly captain Geoff Toovey during the grand final. His suspension rules him out of two competition matches, any pre-season matches and the World Sevens.

1999

South Sydney president George Piggins declares that the club should quit rugby league for good and place their colours in a “glass cage” if they are eliminated from the NRL’s 14-team competition on October 15. The Rabbitohs announce a five-year $2.5 million sponsorship deal with property developer Lang Walker. The sponsorship will take effect if the Rabbitohs are included in the 2000 competition.

2002

Grand final television ratings reveal more than 4.5 million people watched the grand final nationally. Around 800,000 people watched the game in New Zealand. In Sydney, the game peaked at 1.1 million viewers.

2004

The game’s first collective bargaining agreement between the NRL and the Rugby League Professionals Association is lodged with the Industrial Relations Commission.

2011

Former Australian Test hooker Danny Buderus ends his stint with English club Leeds on a triumphant note when he shares in the club’s 32-16 Super League grand final win over St Helens at Old Trafford.

2014

Rabbitohs centre Dylan Walker loses his premiership ring in Sydney Harbour while celebrating with team-mates on a luxury vessel.

Dylan Walker enjoyed plenty of success during his time at Redfern.

2016

Manly’s Trbojevic brothers, Jake and Tom, place a vote of confidence in the Sea Eagles by committing to the club until the end of 2020.

2017

Inspirational former Newcastle forward Alex McKinnon, who suffered a career-ending spinal injury in 2014, marries fiancée Teigan Power in an emotional ceremony in the Hunter Valley.