May 18: Manly create history; Origin and horses don't mix

On this day, an Immortal did something super-human, the NSW Origin team gets run over by horses, and Manly creates some more history.

1935

The legendary Dave Brown scores a premiership record 45 points in one match for Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Sports Ground. Brown’s effort in crossing for five tries and kicking 15 goals has never been bettered. The victims were the hapless newcomers into the competition, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. In 2018, Brown was inducted into rugby league's Immortals on the same night Dally Messenger, Frank Burge, Norm Provan and Mal Meninga also joined the game's most exclusive club.

1981

Former Queensland State of Origin work horse Ashley Harrison turns 39 today. He played 15 games for the Maroons (2005-2013) but never cracked it into the Australian side, although he did play for the Prime Minister's XIII and NRL All Stars. Harrison played 276 games with four NRL club: the Broncos, Rabbitohs, Roosters and Titans, including the 2000 premiership with the Broncos.

1999

The NSW Origin team preparations are thrown into turmoil when forwards Robbie Kearns and Bradley Clyde are thrown from their horses during a “bonding camp” in the Blue Mountains. Kearns is immediately ruled out of the opening match of the series with a broken collarbone and Clyde misses the game as well. Kearns returned to the field in round 21 but cruelly a corked thigh when then deny him a premiership as the Storm grabbed the title in just their second season.

2003

Manly create history at Brookvale Oval by becoming the first team to win a premiership match via golden point. Five-eighth Ben Walker lands a penalty goal in the 88th minute of the match against Parramatta to break a 34-all deadlock. The NRL introduced the extra time rule at the start of that year but it took until round 10 before anyone realised the benefits.

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