August 29: Bert, Wally bow out as winners; Pamela drops by

On this day, Hall of Famer Tedda Courtney was born, Newcastle's amateurs upset Sydney's city slickers and Wally Lewis and Brett Kenny hang up their boots.

1884

Hall of Famer Edward "Tedda" Courtney was born in Townsville. His first-class rugby league career extended from 1908 to 1924, culminating in him playing alongside his son at Western Suburbs in his final season.

Already having made two Kangaroo tours to Great Britain, had the World War I not intervened there is no doubt his representative career would have extended towards a decade.

A hard and resolute front-rower with Newtown, Norths and Wests, Courtney had a propensity to tackle opponents by launching his body in ferocious dives at their legs.

Perhaps the greatest indication of his rightful standing in the annals of the game comes from Dally Messenger, who in 1940 nominated Courtney alongside Frank Burge as two of the forwards he would most want to play alongside. He died in 1957.

1964

Newcastle score one of the city's most famous victories when they defeat Parramatta 14-7 in the final of the State Cup. Earlier in the month they accounted for St George 5-3 in a semi-final at the Newcastle Sports Ground.  

1989

Cronulla produce a monumental second-half display to send Wally Lewis and the Broncos crashing from the semi-finals in a play-off for fifth spot at Parramatta Stadium, winning 38-14 to advance to a clash with Canberra.  

1992

Wally Lewis plays his last premiership game. His Gold Coast Seagulls send him out a winner when they beat Penrith 12-8.

1993

Parramatta champion Brett Kenny bows out a winner after the Eels' 22-16 defeat of Balmain at Parramatta Stadium.

1994

2008

Hollywood celebrity Pamela Anderson is an interested onlooker at Sydney Football Stadium as a South Sydney comeback bid falls agonisingly short against the Sydney Roosters. The Roosters win 22-20 after nearly blowing a 20-0 lead.

2011

Manly and Melbourne clubs are slapped with $50,000 fines by the NRL for the Brookvale Oval brawl. "Today is about sending a message that this kind of ugly brawling is simply not on," said NRL boss David Gallop.

2013

Broadcasters Channel Nine and Fox Sports introduce live audio of video referees explaining contentious decisions as the NRL attempt to achieve "a greater level of transparency for the fans in relation to decisions made by the video referee," according to NRL head of football Todd Greenberg.

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