February 4: Super League is launched; Rhinos put bite on Bulldogs; GI injury blow

On this day, the birth of a proud foundation club, the launch of Super League, and Rhinos put the bite on Bulldogs in World Club Challenge.

1908   

The Western Suburbs club is formed at a meeting at the Ashfield Town Hall.

1993 

Canberra Raiders star Jack Wighton was born on this day in 1993. Wighton made his NRL debut in 2012 and has played 199 games for the Green Machine. He enjoyed a stellar season in 2019, helping the Raiders to the grand final and making his Origin debut for NSW and Test debut for the Kangaroos. He backed that up in 2020 by taking out the game's highest individual honour the Dally M Medal. He was part of the Blues' Origin series wins in 2019 and 2021.

1996   

Andrew and Matthew Johns star for Newcastle in their club’s World Sevens victory at the Sydney Football Stadium. Ironically, embattled clubs Gold Coast and St George win minor divisions of the competition. Total crowds for the two-day event top 37,000.

1997   

Super League is officially launched in Australia by Canberra’s Laurie Daley.

2002   

David Gallop is officially appointed the new chief executive of the NRL.

2003   

Checks reveal that St George Illawarra captain Trent Barrett suffered a broken ankle at the same time that he ruptured a posterior cruciate ligament in his knee during the Sevens competition. He is expected to miss the first six weeks of the premiership.

2005   

Leeds extend the dominance of British clubs over their Australian counterparts in the World Club Challenge with a 39-32 defeat of the Bulldogs at Elland Road. The Bulldogs fight back from a 26-6 half-time deficit but cannot bridge the gap.

2007

Newcastle winger Trent Salkeld is ruled out of the entire 2007 season after being diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, the same kidney disease that ended the career of All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu.

2009   

The NRL’s One Community Carnival commences with 107 players visiting 50 communities from Darwin to the Mornington Peninsula.

2012   

An ankle injury to South Sydney superstar Greg Inglis overshadows the NRL All Stars’ 36-28 victory over the Indigenous All Stars at Skilled Park. Scans reveal a minor fracture that is expected to sideline Inglis for four to six weeks. The champion makes it back to the field a month later for the Bunnies' round one clash with the Roosters. 

2014   

South Sydney coach Michael Maguire commits himself to the club for four years after signing a new $3.2 million contract.

2020

Canterbury sign leading British prop Luke Thompson from St Helens to a three-year deal, starting in 2021. With Super League suspended due to COVID 19, Thompson came to Australia early and made his NRL debut in round nine of the 2020 season against Brisbane.

This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.