October 13: Mal joins Maroons; Kiwis end drought
On this day, the Dragons join the competition, Mal Meninga is appointed Queensland coach, and the Kiwis end a 15-year drought.
1920
The NSWRL votes to eliminate Annandale from the competition and admit a team from St George, to begin playing in 1921. In their last three seasons, Annandale won only one of 41 matches played to signal their demise.
1989
The Penrith Panthers announce Phil Gould as coach for 1990, replacing Ron Willey. The Panthers would go on to win the competition the following year.
2003
Brett Kimmorley is named halfback in Australia's Test side to play New Zealand, ahead of grand final-winning No.7 Craig Gower. Three players to make their Kangaroos debuts: Michael De Vere, Richard Villasanti and Phil Bailey.
2005
Maroons legend Mal Meninga is appointed Queensland State of Origin coach to start from 2006. NSW had won the previous three series. The Maroons would win the next eight.
2012
Cameron Smith leads Australia to an 18-10 defeat of New Zealand in Townsville, and becomes only the third player - after fellow Queenslanders Allan Langer and Darren Lockyer - to lead club, state and country to victory in the same season.
2018
New Zealand stuns Australia 26-24 in a highly entertaining Test match at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium. It is the Kiwis' first win in Auckland since 2003 and ends a run of 13 consecutive victories by Australia under coach Mal Meninga.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
