November 1: Mat's big day out; Croker's courage revealed
On this day, Paul Sironen sent off but Kangaroos win, Mat Rogers goes on a points spree and Leon Pryce claims Blackpool's better than Bondi Beach.
1994
Australia overcome a spirited St Helens side to win 32-14 at Knowsley Road. Paul Sironen is sent off for striking St Helens forward Sonny Nickle, but escapes with a caution.
1995
Mario Fenech is released from his contract with the South Queensland Crushers after a long-standing disagreement with coach Bob Lindner.
1997
The Australian Super League side down Great Britain 38-14 in the first Test at Wembley.
1998
St George five-eighth Anthony Mundine says he may quit football and take up boxing following the NRL’s decision to reduce Barry Ward’s fine for racial vilification.
2000
Former Test centre Paul McGregor plans a comeback with St George Illawarra after signing a one-year contract with the club.
2000
Winger Mat Rogers scores 34 points as Australia runs up a 66-8 victory over Fiji in their World Cup pool match at Gateshead.
2005
Clive Churchill Medal winner Scott Prince is selected to make his debut for Australia in the Tri-Nations Test against Great Britain.
2006
Great Britain winger Leon Pryce earns scathing headlines when he says he would “rather be on Blackpool Beach than Bondi Beach”. Writing in his online tour diary, Pryce says: '“All the Aussies come over and say how good it is, but I’d much rather be back in Bradford.”
2008
Fiji spring one of the upsets of the World Cup when they sink France 42-8 in Wollongong. Newcastle Knights winger Akuila Uate flashes across for three tries.
2014
A try to centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall allows New Zealand to escape with a 14-12 victory over Samoa in a gripping Four Nations contest at Whangerei.
2020
The Sunday Telegraph reveals Canberra captain Jarrod Croker played through the finals series with a shoulder injury that will rule him out for up to five months. “It was unbelievably courageous that he could play on with it,” said Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. “Incredible really.”
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
