October 24: Lockyer breaks two records in two years
On this day in rugby league history, Darren Lockyer sets two new Australian Test records, the first British Super League grand final is decided, and the birth of one of the NRL's most respected sharpshooters.
1983
Goal-kicking fullback/winger Michael Gordon was born. A one-time NSW State of Origin player and three-time Country representative, Gordon debuted for Penrith in 2006 and spent seven seasons at the club, before stints at Cronulla, Parramatta, the Roosters and the Gold Coast Titans. One of the game's best sharpshooters and a superb support player, Gordon scored 92 tries and kicked 681 goals in a 14-year career before hanging up his boots at the end of 2019.
1992
Australia won the World Cup final 10-6 against Great Britain before a world-record 73,631 crowd at London’s Wembley Stadium. Hooker Steve Walters was awarded man of the match honours.
The Pearl scores during his Test debut
1998
Wigan defeated Leeds 10-4 to take out the inaugural British Super League grand final.
2009
Australia escaped with a 20-all draw with New Zealand following a brutal Four Nations clash at London’s Twickenham Stoop. A try to hooker Cameron Smith two minutes from full-time ensured a lucky escape for the Kangaroos. Captain Darren Lockyer became Australia’s most capped player, surpassing the 46-game record of former centre Mal Meninga. Lockyer would go on to represent his country 59 times.
2010
Australian five-eighth Darren Lockyer broke Ken Irvine’s long-standing Test try-scoring record as Australia record a 42-0 shut-out of Papua New Guinea at Parramatta Stadium. Lockyer would finish with 35 Test tries, two more than Irvine's 33.
2012
Former Test five-eighth Trent Barrett is appointed assistant coach to Penrith’s Ivan Cleary on a two-year deal.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
