February 26: Joey the comeback king; Whereat the whippet

On this day, tries go from three to four points, Shane Whereat crowned fastest player and Andrew Johns makes successful comeback.

1973

Craig Smith was born. The goal-kicking Storm winger wrote his name into rugby league folklore in the 1999 grand final when he collected a Brett Kimmorley bomb in the dying seconds and was set to score until he was knocked out by a high tackle from Dragon Jamie Ainscough. A penalty try was awarded but Smith, a specialist goalkicker, was unable to take the match-winning conversion, so Matt Geyer stepped up and knocked it over to seal the famous 20-18 triumph.

Smith was not signed the following year and never played at NRL level again.

1983

Value of try increased to four points for the start of the 1983 premiership.

1995

ARL boss Ken Arthurson sparks an uproar over the Test captaincy when he says Ricky Stuart has taken over from Laurie Daley as a front-line contender to replace Mal Meninga as Australian skipper. Daley says he is prepared to quit the Raiders to captain another club. 

1995

Sydney City Roosters winger Shane Whereat regains his title as the fastest man in the game with victory in the annual Rugby League sprint race.

1997

The ARL refuses an offer from John Cross and Jack Elsegood to repay the $150,000 they each received for signing loyalty payments.  

2001

Sharks front-rower Chris Beattie is charged with contrary conduct over an alleged biting incident involving Parramatta five-eighth Daniel Wagon. 

2005

Newcastle captain Andrew Johns makes a successful comeback from knee reconstruction surgery in the Knights’ trial match against Cronulla in Gosford. 

2006

Sydney Roosters winger Joel Monaghan is ruled out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a 16-12 trial victory over St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium.   

2015

Returning Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett appoints long-serving centre Justin Hodges as captain for 2015.

2020

The Sydney Morning Herald reports Newcastle have offered star fullback Kalyn Ponga a four-year deal worth $4.5 million that includes an option for him to fulfil his dream of representing the All Blacks at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

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