On this day in 1959, second rower Bernie Purcell kicks nine goals in a 27-15 win against Newtown at Redfern Oval, becoming the first forward from any club to score 1,000 Premiership points.
Purcell played 178 games with Souths between 1949 and 1960 and a total of 185 NRL games after starting his career with Western Suburbs. He scored 36 tries and kicked 509 goals for the Rabbitohs equalling 1,126 points. His total career points added up to 1,152.
However this wasn't Purcell's only record. He also become the first Australian forward to kick over 500 career goals.
After finishing up his career at the end of the 1960 season, Purcell came back to the Rabbitohs to take up the Head Coach position between 1964 and 1966.
