September 15: Reynolds boots Bunnies home; Sea Eagles win bloodbath

On this day, the Sea Eagles win a grand final bloodbath, 'Bullfrog' steps down, Adam Reynolds boots Souths to a famous victory and the Broncos claim an unwanted record.

1973  

Manly and Cronulla battle out one of the most savage grand finals of all. Hardened British internationals Tommy Bishop and Cliff Watson had moulded the young Cronulla side into a tough and unyielding outfit.

The confrontation with an equally tough Manly unit results in mayhem at the SCG and referee Keith Page is unable to cope with the thuggery, on and off the ball.

The genius of Manly centre Bob Fulton decided the issue with his two tries giving the Sea Eagles a 10-7 victory.

1979

1991  

Canberra qualify for their fourth grand final after ending Norths’ brave challenge with a 30-14 win in the preliminary final. Prime Minister Bob Hawke is involved in a heated argument with commentator Rex Mossop on radio.

1992  

Andrew Ettingshausen re-signs with Cronulla after months of speculation over his future. His “unique” contract entitles him to a percentage of sponsorship money he attracts to the club.

1998

Kyle Flanagan celebrates his 24th birthday today. The son of former Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan, Kyle made his NRL debut for the Sharks in round 24 of the 2018 season and made eight NRL appearances in the 2019 regular season. He joined Sydney Roosters on a two-year deal starting in 2020 and played 20 games but was cut by the club and moved to the Bulldogs where he has played 33 games across the past two seasons.

1995  

Long-serving Sydney Bulldogs official Peter Moore drops a bombshell by announcing his retirement as chief executive after 25 years at the club and on the day before his team is due to meet Canberra in a preliminary final. Moore says he will take up a recruiting position with Super League. Former international Bob Hagan is named as his successor as Bulldogs chief executive.

1998  

Players chosen to represent the St George Illawarra joint venture are brought together for the first time at a meeting at the Camden Valley Golf Club, south-west of Sydney.

2004  

Sydney Roosters halfback Brett Finch is cleared to play out the season after his grade two dangerous throw charge is downgraded by the NRL judiciary. The victim of Finch’s tackle, Canberra fullback Clinton Schifcofske offers testimony on Finch’s behalf.

2006  

Former Kangaroos coach Chris Anderson is officially appointed Sydney Roosters coach for the next two seasons. Brad Fittler is named as his full-time assistant.

2010  

Parramatta ace Jarryd Hayne finishes third behind Wallaby Lachlan Turner and Eastwood rugby winger John Grant in a $20,000 winner-take-all sprint to determine the fastest footballer in the country over 100m. The race loses some appeal when two AFL players are ruled out because of a sponsorship conflict.

2012  

South Sydney break through for their first victory in a finals match in 25 years when they smash Canberra 38-16 at ANZ Stadium. The win sets up a preliminary final showdown with co-ANZ tenants Canterbury. Halfback Adam Reynolds becomes only the second South Sydney player in history to pass the mark of 200 points in a season. Thieves target the Sydney home of Rabbitohs’ captain Michael Crocker while he is playing in the semi-final.

2018  

South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds becomes the first player in 21 years to kick three field goals in a game when he boots the Rabbitohs to a nail-biting 13-12 victory over St George Illawarra in a semi-final at ANZ Stadium. Reynolds scores all his team’s points (try, three goals and three field goals).

2019

Brisbane are humiliated 58-0 by Parramatta at Bankwest Stadium in the second elimination final. It is the biggest winning margin in the history of finals and the heaviest defeat suffered by the Broncos in their 32 seasons of existence.

 

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