Sunday, March 28th, 1982. I remember it well.

Parramatta were the newly minted premiers, and were coming up against my Manly Sea Eagles at Belmore Sports Ground. The Eels were still settling into their new home after their rabid fans burned down Cumberland Oval during the 1981 Grand Final celebrations.

I vividly remember sitting at the family dining room table while my Mum (a Parramatta diehard) turned on 2UE so we could listen to Frank Hyde call the game. It was a particularly awful autumn day in Sydney, with squalling winds and heavy rain punishing the city.

Manly’s team that day featured ten past or future internationals: Graham Eadie, John Ribot, Chris Close, Alan Thompson, Bruce Walker, Paul Vautin, Paul McCabe, Mark Broadhurst, Max Krilich and Ian Thomson.

Parramatta had to settle for just eight past or future international players: Eric Grothe, Mick Cronin, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Ray Price, John Muggleton, Bob O’Reilly and Ron Hilditch.

It was a star studded affair, but the dreadful weather prevented any attacking spark that these teams would become known for during the 1982 season all the way up until the Grand Final.

This day, Mick Cronin kicked a couple of penalty goals and Parramatta won 4-0.

As Frank Hyde went around the grounds as the other games came to their conclusion, it became clear that history was being made at Henson Park in Marrickville, Newtown and Canterbury played out the first and to date only 0-0 draw in the history of the competition. Newtown, the 1981 runners-up featured Australian reps Phil Sigsworth and Allan McMahon, as well as future test winger John Ferguson. The Bulldogs team that day included former Australian captain George Peponis, as well as Steve Mortimer, Steve Folkes, and Greg Brentnall. They were no duds - but back then they played in all conditions.

Across Sydney that day, Wests managed a couple of tries in a 10-8 win over Cronulla at Endeavour Field, and Steve Morris grabbed a double for St George in a dour win over Canberra.

But the day will forever be remembered for the first ever 0-0 draw.