February 11: Reds make winning start; Knights nab Sevens title
On this day in rugby league history, pre-season tournaments are run and won, Stephen Kearney takes charge in New Zealand and Tommy Raudonikis decides to keep it simple.
1913
England’s Northern Union (the forerunner of the English Rugby League), ban the importation of players from Australia and New Zealand. It is effectively, the game’s first international transfer ban, and lasts 10 years.
1990
The $700,000 Channel 10 Challenge competition kicks off in Toowoomba with a win to the Gold Coast Seagulls over Easts. Knockout Cup title-holders Brisbane dip out in a first round loss to Penrith.
1991
Newcastle win the fourth annual Nissan Sevens tournament with a heart-stopping win over St George in the final at Parramatta Stadium. A record crowd watches the event.
1995
The Western Reds defeat Souths 19-14 in their first major match.
1998
Western Suburbs coach Tommy Raudonikis tells the Sydney Morning Herald: “We’re not going to have a game plan this year”.
2008
Long-serving New Zealand forward Stephen Kearney is appointed national coach while Brisbane’s Wayne Bennett signs on in an advisory role.
2013
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy ends speculation about his future by agreeing to stay with the Storm for another four seasons.
2016
Newcastle second-rower Joseph Tapine signs a four-year deal with Canberra from 2017 worth around $1.7 million.
2018
The Canterbury Football Club board chaired by Ray Dib is dramatically swept from power by a reform ticket headed by Lynne Anderson, daughter of club patriarch, Peter Moore. New directors include former players Paul Dunn, Steve Price, Chris Anderson and John Ballesty.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
