Here's a glance at how this week in history looked for the Sydney Roosters over the last three decades.
March 21
2003: The Sydney Roosters continue their winning momentum with a 14-10 defeat of Newcastle after a match of breathtaking intensity.
2010: Writing in his Sunday Telegraph column, Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart suggests 20-year-old Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce should be named NSW State of Origin captain.
March 22
2007: Mitchell Pearce, the 17-year-old son of former Kangaroo star Wayne Pearce is chosen to make his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters.
2016: Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson names 28-year-old Leichhardt Council employee Eloni Vunakece to make his NRL debut in his team’s Round 4 clash with Manly.
March 23
2013: The Roosters claim their first shutout of the season in a 8-0 win over the Brisbane Broncos at Allianz Stadium.
Highlights | Roosters v Broncos 2013
2017: Roosters win four straight to start season with a big win over their arch-rivals, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Daniel Tupou played in his 100th NRL match for the Club.
2019: Luke Keary stars with four try assists and Lachlan Lam makes his NRL debut as the Roosters defeat the fast finishing Sea Eagles at Lottoland.
Highlights | Sea Eagles v Roosters
March 25
1990: Easts’ 29-year-old prop Danny Shepherd is rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital’s intensive care unit after collapsing during the Roosters’ match with the Gold Coast at the Sydney Football Stadium. He remains in a coma for 10 days before regaining consciousness in one of the saddest/happiest stories of the year. He is later diagnosed as suffering heat exhaustion but makes a complete recovery.
2018: The Sydney Roosters claim a dominant 38-8 victory over Newcastle as Cooper Cronk scores a decisive points victory over former Rooster Mitchell Pearce in a much-anticipated showdown at Allianz Stadium.
Anniversary Replay | Roosters v Knights: March 25, 2018
2019: The Sydney Roosters sign a 25-year agreement with the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust to play home games at the new Sydney Football Stadium until 2046. The redevelopment of the Moore Park venue receives the green light following the return of the NSW Liberal Government at the State Election (March 23).
March 26
2004: The Roosters produce one of their finest efforts of the season to crush the Bulldogs 35-0 at Aussie Stadium.
2006: The Sydney Roosters crush the Canberra Raiders by 56-20, scoring an incredible 46 points in the final 29 minutes of the match.
2009: The Daily Telegraph reports that Todd Carney has agreed to join the Sydney Roosters in a four-year deal beginning in 2010.
2016: Shaun Kenny-Dowall plays in his 200th NRL match for the Sydney Roosters, while Eloni Vunakece makes his NRL debut at the age of 28 when he plays for the club against Manly at Allianz Stadium.
SKD MOMENTS
March 27
2005: The Sydney Roosters reveal that salary cap pressures may force Kiwi prop Jason Cayless to leave the club at season’s end.
2018: The NRL announce plans for a four-team women’s competition to be staged in September 2018. The teams granted licences are Sydney Roosters, St George Illawarra, New Zealand and Brisbane. The decision causes dismay for proposed teams from South Sydney and Cronulla.
March 28
1991: Terry Hill threatens to sit out the season after being drafted by Eastern Suburbs against his wishes. His legal representatives mount a challenge through the NSW Industrial Commission.
March 29
2005: Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart relegates prime off-season recruit Brett Firman to Premier League following his team’s 18-point loss to Brisbane in round three.
2015: New recruit Blake Ferguson plays a leading hand in the Sydney Roosters’ 34-6 defeat of Canberra at Allianz Stadium.
This article contains information from the official records of NRL historian David Middleton.
