January 5: MG returns; Reilly expresses concern
On this day, Mark Geyer returns to the Panthers and Malcolm Reilly expresses concerns for the game in Great Britain.
1980
Australia, NSW, St George Illawarra and Gold Coast player Luke Bailey is born. Originally a Shellharbour junior, Bailey played four Test matches and 15 State of Origin games for NSW. He also played 269 NRL matches (150 for the Titans).
1994
Great Britain coach Malcolm Reilly calls for an immediate halt to the drain of players to the Southern Hemisphere following Andy Platt's decision to join the Warriors and news of John Devereux's links with the Western Reds.
1998
Former Test forward Mark Geyer agrees to return to Penrith. During his time away from the club, Geyer spent one season with Balmain and three with the Western Reds.
1999
A day after Australia name their squad, the South African Rugby League scrap plans for the World Nines tournament because they claim Sky TV are unable to televise the $500,000 event.
2006
South Sydney's nine-man board vote unanimously to endorse the $3 million ownership offer from Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court, subject to legal advice. Chairman Nick Pappas says the decision means the club would "take the offer to the next level".
2016
The Gold Coast Titans suffer a setback in their first training session of the new year when halfback Kane Elgey ruptures the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, ruling him out of the 2016 season.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
