December 4: Bears launch Central Coast bid; Kangaroos run riot
On this day in rugby league history, the Bears hatch a plan to get back into the premiership via the Central Coast, the Kangaroos run riot and the Queensland Premier confirms Big Artie will be immortalised in bronze at Suncorp Stadium.
1946
The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club is formed at a meeting at Parramatta Town Hall. Parramatta and Manly teams are admitted to the premiership a month earlier.
1994
Despite being offered $2500 per man to beat Australia, the French team go down by the world record score of 74-0 in a one-off Test in Bezier. Rod Wishart lands a Test record-equalling 11 goals. Mal Meninga celebrates his final appearance in the green and gold by scoring Australia’s final try.
2001
South Sydney supporters threaten to tear up their memberships if the club signs footballer-turned-boxer Anthony Mundine.
2003
Former Canterbury halfback Craig Polla-Mounter unveils plans for a comeback for Nambour in the Sunshine Coast competition in 2004.
2005
Leading coaches Ricky Stuart, Steve Folkes and Tim Sheens question the logic of annual Tri-Nations tournament, claiming that player burnout is inevitable. “We’re seeing the situation where, after a long season, players can’t go on tour because their bodies can’t take it,” said Sheens.
2008
North Sydney launch a bid for inclusion in the NRL in 2011 as a Central Coast team.
2009
Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy is reappointed coach of the NSW State of Origin side.
2011
Halfback of the century Andrew Johns agrees to a coaching role with Canterbury halves Trent Hodkinson and Kris Keating.
2011
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh confirms plans for a statue of Arthur Beetson to be erected in the northern plaza of Suncorp Stadium, alongside fellow Immortal Wally Lewis.
2013
Cronulla officials claim the season’s schedule will cost the club $200,000 because of a lack of free-to-air coverage. The Sharks are drawn to play only two Friday night games and one Sunday afternoon game on Channel Nine.
2015
South Sydney prop Tom Burgess completes a trial run with NFL club the New York Giants. Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire says Burgess travelled to the US with the club’s blessing and insists that the Englishman will honour his contract with Souths until the end of 2018.
2017
Penrith announce the signing of NSW and Kangaroos five-eighth James Maloney until at least the end of the 2020 season. Maloney goes on to play 44 games for the Panthers in 2018-19 but did not see out the third year of his deal, leaving at the end of 2019 with the club's blessing to join Catalans Dragons.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
