On this day: Thurston named MotM in Four Nations final
On this day, Hall of Famer Sandy Pearce died, the Kangaroos claimed the Four Nations and St George turn their back on Super League.
1930
Pioneer hooker Sandy Pearce died at the age of 47. An all-time great of the game who was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Pearce played 14 Tests for Australia, the last at the age of 41. He toured with the Kangaroos in 1908-09 and 1921-22. Australian teammate Frank Burge rated Pearce the ''greatest personality'' the game had ever had.
''Football has never had a gamer, rougher, tougher nor more loyal team player,'' wrote Burge. ''Old Sandy, hooker, was easily the best I have ever seen in the position.''
1994
A meeting between representatives of the 20 clubs and proposed Super League officials discuss News Limited’s plans for a 12-team elite competition as early as 1996. Arthurson concedes for the first time that Sydney clubs are well advanced in talks concerning amalgamation. The 20 Winfield Cup clubs are guaranteed a five-year commitment from the League.
1995
In a surprise decision, St George directors vote to turn their back on Super League and remain with the ARL.
1997
Laurie Daley tells the Sydney Morning Herald he regrets some of the things he said during the Super League split. “It was a bad thing, what happened, and I can only hope it never happens again,” he said.
1997
Nathan Cleary was born in Sydney. The son of former first-grader Ivan Cleary, he made his NRL debut as a teenager with Penrith in 2016 and the goal-kicking halfback graduated to the NSW State of Origin side three years later, playing a part in the Blues' back-to-back series wins under Brad Fittler. Led the Panthers to the 2020 grand final where they were beaten by the Storm and then went one better in 2021, winning the Clive Churchill Medal in Penrith's premiership triumph over Souths.
1998
New Zealand and Great Britain draw 23-23 in the third Test at Vicarage Road, Watford.
2005
Sydney City Council reject a proposal from South Sydney to redevelop Redfern Oval, which would have turned the ground into a boutique stadium with a capacity of 12,000.
2007
North Queensland captain Johnathan Thurston undergoes a full reconstruction on his left shoulder, placing him in doubt for the kick-off to the 2008 premiership.
2009
Australia cane England 46-16 in the final of the Four Nations at Elland Road, Leeds after the Lions manage to keep pace with the Kangaroos for 50 minutes. Billy Slater scores three of Australia’s eight tries but halfback Johnathan Thurston is named man of the match and centre Greg Inglis the player of the series. Inglis is later named winner of the Golden Boot award and the Harry Sunderland Medal as Australia’s player of the tournament.
2019
Ex-Newcastle Knights coach Nathan Brown joins Stephen Kearney’s coaching staff at the Warriors in a specialist pre-season role to assist in the development of the club’s young hookers.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
