January 30: ET announces retirement plans; Time-wasting crackdown
On this day, Andrew Ettingshausen details his retirement plans and the NRL bids to cut down on time-wasting during matches.
1993
Parramatta great Brett Kenny's career is threatened when he suffers a serious shoulder injury in a trial match at Nelson Bay. Kenny would play 14 matches that year before retiring at season's end.
1997
Channel Nine switches its Monday Night Football timeslot from 8.30pm to 9.30pm because of the success of TV drama Water Rats.
1998
Australian Rugby Union general manager John O'Neill says league players Ricky Stuart, Ben Kennedy and Steve Menzies would make ideal recruits for the Wallabies as they look to strengthen their side for the 1999 World Cup.
2000
Sharks captain Andrew Ettingshausen says the 2000 season will be his last as a player. He would retire after 327 matches for Cronulla, 27 State of Origin appearances and 25 Tests.
2004
The NRL introduces a time-wasting rule to prevent goalkickers from soaking up match-time. Clubs are liable to a $2000 fine if players take longer than 90 seconds to shoot for goal.
2006
The annual conference of NRL coaches demands that the game's officials place an immediate ban on the controversial grapple tackle.
2009
Melba Photographic Studios, which housed precious historic images of rugby league dating back to 1917, is gutted by fire.
2011
Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall is labelled the "face of the game" after being invited to launch the 2011 season for the NRL.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
