January 7: Barrett's bonanza; Rogers remembered

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Fri 7 Jan 2022, 12:01 AM

On this day, Ricky Stuart was born, Steve Rogers was remembered by adoring fans and Trent Barrett signed a lucrative new deal with the Dragons.

1967

NRL Hall of Fame member Ricky Stuart was born. In a stellar playing career, Stuart won three premierships for the Raiders, played in nine Test matches for Australia and 14 State of Origin matches for NSW. After his retirement as a player, the former Wallabies tourist has enjoyed a successful NRL coaching career, winning a premiership with the Roosters in 2002 and taking Canberra to a decider in 2019.

1994

South Queensland Crushers were concerned Fijian rugby union signing Waisele Serevi had defected back to the rival code after he competed in a Rugby Sevens tournament in Uruguay. Serevi never played for the Crushers.

2000

Melbourne's 1999 grand final hero Craig Smith announces his retirement after failing to land a contract for the coming season.

Smith awarded penalty try

2004

St George Illawarra captain Trent Barrett re-signs with the club until the end of the 2008 season in a deal reportedly worth $1.6 million.

2006

More than 1500 people, including eight former Test captains, farewell NRL Hall of Fame member Steve Rogers at a moving funeral service at Sutherland.

Steve Rogers crosses to score for Australia in the Second Test of the 1979 Ashes series.

2007

Andrew Johns plays for NSW in a T20 cricket match against South Australia in Newcastle. Johns plays a minor role in a losing Blues side. Three days later he produces a more impressive effort against Tasmania, scoring nine runs.

2014

Former international Jamal Idris is granted a release from the Titans on compassionate grounds. "For personal reasons, I have decided it would be best to be closer to my family as my mum has been ill for the past year and it's been difficult living interstate," Idris says. Idris signs a three-year contract with Penrith in a swap deal for centre Brad Tighe.