October 23: Beaver makes it sweet 16
On this day, the Warriors take a punt on a rookie coach, Steven Menzies signs for his sweet 16th season as an Eagle and James Packer buys into the Bunnies.
1997
Jaydn Su'A was born in Auckland. After making his Telstra Premiership debut with Brisbane in 2016, the imposing second-rower made a mid-season switch to Souths three years later, following former Broncos coach Wayne Bennett to Redfern. Part of the Rabbitohs' grand final side in 2021.
2000
Former Parramatta assistant coach Daniel Anderson is appointed first-grade coach of the New Zealand Warriors. Mick Watson is appointed chief executive. Anderson two years later becomes the first coach to guide the Warriors to the grand final.
2004
Australia pay a high price for their 32-12 win over New Zealand at London’s Loftus Road Stadium with captain Darren Lockyer and second-rower Craig Fitzgibbon both suffering injuries. Lockyer picks up a recurrence of a rib injury while Fitzgibbon damaged a shoulder. Lockyer was named man of the match before succumbing to the injury.
2007
Steve Menzies signs with Manly for his 16th season with the club.
Steve Menzies inducted into the Hall of Fame
2009
Australian coach Tim Sheens creates a stir on the eve of the Four Nations series by claiming that a faction at his Wests Tigers club wanted Benji Marshall sacked because he was a waste of money. Marshall, who was preparing to captain the Kiwis against Australia, later claims he would have walked out on the club if he had known he was not wanted.
2009
France produce a scare for England in the opening match of the Four Nations series in Doncaster when they lead 12-4 at half-time. The Lions stage a second-half recovery to storm home 34-12.
2010
New Zealand open their Four Nations campaign with a 24-10 defeat of England in Wellington. Both nations suffer major injury setbacks, with Kiwi winger Manu Vatuvei ruled out of the tournament with a broken arm while England lose impressive centre Michael Shenton with ankle ligament damage.
2014
Cronulla captain Paul Gallen lands in hot water for posting offensive remarks aimed at NRL management on social media while on holiday in Hawaii.
2014
Billionaire James Packer formally takes over a 37.5 per cent share of the South Sydney Rabbitohs after completing a deal with Peter Holmes a Court for an “undisclosed sum”.
2017
The Newcastle Knights re-sign twin front-rowers Jacob and Daniel Saifiti until the end of the 2020 season.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
