August 16: Taniela Tuiaki's blitz; Paul Sironen breaks record
On this day, the "Little Master", Clive Churchill, makes his Rabbitohs debut AND plays his final match for Souths while Taniela Tuiaki breaks a Tigers tryscoring record and the Dragons break their Canberra hoodoo.
1947
Clive Churchill makes his debut for South Sydney. Signed by the Rabbitohs after playing for Country Seconds against Sydney, Churchill plays his first match in the Red and Green in Souths’ 25-20 loss to Newtown at Erskineville Oval.
1958
Clive Churchill plays his final match for South Sydney. A dispute over money forces his departure from the club after 12 seasons and 157 games.
1990
Former Storm winger Matt Duffie is born. The Christchurch-born back was Melbourne's Rookie of the Year after scoring twice on debut in 2010. All up he scored 37 tries in 62 appearances for the Storm and played one Test for New Zealand.
1998
Balmain captain Paul Sironen breaks Garry Jack’s record for most first-grade appearances for the Tigers when he plays his 245th game. Fittingly the game is at the Tigers' spiritual home Leichhardt Oval but the Newcastle Knights spoil the party with a 30-16 win.
2004
Former Test centre Jamie Lyon signs a two-year deal with St Helens.
2009
Tigers winger Taniela Tuiaki breaks the club’s season tryscoring record when a hat-trick propels him to 21 tries from 21 appearances.
2014
St George Illawarra win in Canberra for the first time since 2000 when they down the Raiders 34-16 at GIO Stadium.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
