November 27: SBW named world's best; Knights snare Ponga
On this day, the Kangaroos and Kiwis face off in America, SBW crowned world's best and a huge coup for the Knights.
1879
Hall of Famer Chris McKivat is born in Burrawang. A halfback with a shrewd and calculating mind, he holds the unique distinction of captaining Australia in both rugby codes.
His signing with rugby league during the great Wallaby raid of 1909 was a turning point for the 13-a-side game and undoubtedly convinced many of his rugby teammates to make the jump. McKivat was a dominant figure in Tests between Australia and England from 1910 to 1912.
After his retirement, McKivat coached at Glebe, Norths and Wests, and was in charge of Norths when they landed their only competition titles in 1921 and 1922.
1954
Australia and New Zealand play in the first rugby league match on US soil. On their way home from the World Cup, Australia beat the Kiwis 30-13 before a crowd of 1000 at Long Beach Memorial Stadium, California.
1990
Australia cruise to a 46-18 romp over a French President’s XIII in Paris. Greg Alexander and Brad Fittler each score two tries.
2003
St George Illawarra prop Jason Ryles is told he requires further surgery to repair nerve damage to his shoulder, despite undergoing a reconstruction in July.
2004
Australian captain Darren Lockyer produces one of Test football’s great individual performances to lead the green and golds to a 44-4 victory over Great Britain in the final of the Tri-Nations series. It is Britain’s heaviest defeat on home soil.
2006
The Gold Coast grant a release to former Penrith forward Frank Puletua on compassionate grounds but deny there is hypocrisy in their refusal to offer a similar release to Melbourne recruit Steve Turner.
2006
Prime Minister John Howard unveils a new logo that will be used to celebrate the centenary of the game in Australia.
2012
St George Illawarra utility back Kyle Stanley is expected to miss the entire 2013 season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament following a mishap on a wet surface. He undergoes his fourth knee reconstruction.
A look back at the 2013 grand final
2013
New Zealand second-rower Sonny Bill Williams is named International Player of the Year at the RLIF awards night in Manchester. Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson is voted coach of the year and South Sydney and England prop George Burgess the rookie of the year. In a major surprise, Scotland and Huddersfield’s Danny Brough ousts Australia five-eighth Johnathan Thurston as international five-eighth of the year.
2015
North Queensland re-sign grand final-winning hooker Jake Granville until the end of the 2018 season.
2016
The Newcastle Knights confirm the signing of North Queensland prodigy Kalyn Ponga on a three-year deal to start in 2018.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
