1969 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand

Last updated
1969 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand
ManagerEddie Burns
Jack Lynch
Coach(es) Harry Bath
Tour captain(s) John Sattler
Top point scorer(s) Les Johns 42
Top try scorer(s) Dennis Manteit 5
Top test point scorer(s) Les Johns 14
New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Don Ladner 22
Top test try scorer(s) Ron Coote 3
Summary
PWDL
Total
06040002
Test match
02010001
Opponent
PWDL
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2 1 0 1
Tour chronology
Previous tour 1965 by Australian colours.svg to New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg
1967 by New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg to Australian colours.svg
1967-68 to Flag of the United Kingdom.svgFlag of France.svg
1968 by Flag of France.svg to New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg
Next tour 1970 by Flag of the United Kingdom.svg to New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg
1971 by Australian colours.svg to New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg

The 1969 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played six matches on tour, including two tests against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 28 May and finished on 10 June. [1]

Contents

Leadership

Harry Bath coached the Kangaroos side throughout the tour. South Sydney's John Sattler captained the side. In the two matches in which Sattler did not play, the team was captained by Les Johns (against Wellington) and John McDonald against Auckland.
The touring team was co-managed by Eddie Burns (Canterbury, NSW) and Jack Lynch (Ipswich, Qld). [2]


Touring squad

The Rugby League News published details of the touring team including the players' ages and weights. [3] A team photo was published during the tour.
Match details - listing surnames of both teams and the point scorers - were included in E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook, as was a summary of the players' point-scoring. [4]
Denman, Fitzsimmons, Manteit, Robson and Weiss were selected from Queensland clubs. Cootes, Costello and Lye were selected from clubs in New South Wales Country areas. The balance of the squad were playing for Sydney based clubs during the 1969 season. [5]

PlayerPositionAgeWeight
st.lb (kg)
ClubTests
on
Tour
GamesTriesGoals FG Points
Michael Cleary Wing 2914.0 (89) South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 0240012
Ron Coote Lock 2414.3 (90) South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 2540012
John Cootes Wing 2713.10 (87) Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Newcastle Western Suburbs 2432013
Ron Costello Second-row 2614.1 (89) North Sydney colours.svg C.B.C. Wollongong 142006
Jeff Denman Wing 2612.0 (76) Balmain colours.svg Brisbane Eastern Suburbs 030000
Brian Fitzsimmons Hooker 2612.8 (80) Brothers Colours.svg Glastone Brothers030000
Bob Honan Wing 2512.7 (79) South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 261003
Les Johns Fullback 2712.0 (76) Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury 24019242
Graeme Langlands Centre 2713.0 (83) St. George colours.svg St George 250306
Graham Lye Five-eighth 2111.12 (75) Newcastle colours.svg Illawarra Western Suburbs 030000
Dennis Manteit Prop 2615.4 (97) Brothers Colours.svg Brisbane Brothers 0350015
Bob McCarthy Second-row 2415.3 (97) South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 241003
John McDonald Centre 2413.0 (83) Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 252006
Denis Pittard Five-eighth 2211.6 (73) South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 241003
Ian Robson Second-row 2115.0 (95) Wests Panthers Colours.svg Brisbane Western Suburbs 020000
John Sattler (c) Prop 2614.8 (93) South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 241003
Elwyn Walters Hooker 2413.11 (88) South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 240000
Dennis Ward Halfback 2410.10 (68) Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 251027
Col Weiss Second-row 2512.7 (79) Queensland colours.svg Bundaberg151003
John Wittenberg Prop 3015.3 (97) St. George colours.svg St George 251003

Tour

The Australians played six matches on the tour, winning the first four before losing the final two. [6]


Wednesday 28 May
North Island Colts 13 – 17 Australian colours.svg Australia
Report [7]
Database [8]

First test

Sunday 1 June
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg10 – 20Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:

Goals:
Don Ladner (5/5)
Team [7]
Report [9]
Database [10]
Tries:
Ron Coote (2)
John Cootes
Denis Pittard
Goals:
Les Johns (4/4)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 13,459
Referee: John Percival Flag of New Zealand.svg
Kit left arm whiteborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body kiwis1950.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm whiteborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks white hoops.png
Kit socks long.svg
New Zealand
Kit left arm kangaroos.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body kangaroos54.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm kangaroos.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks hoops gold.png
Kit socks long.svg
Australia
FB1 Saintscolours.svg Don Ladner
RW2 Canterbury colours.svg Dennis Key
RC3 Canterbury colours.svg John Wilson
LC4 Wellington colours.svg Sam Rolleston
LW5 Saintscolours.svg Mocky Brereton
FE6 Parramatta colours.svg Trevor Patrick
HB7 North Sydney colours.svg Graeme Cooksley
PR8 Canterbury colours.svg Oscar Danielson
HK9 Wellington colours.svg Colin O'Neil (c)
PR10 North Sydney colours.svg Bill Noonan
SR11 Saintscolours.svg John Hibbs
SR12 Canterbury colours.svg Tony Kriletich
LF13 North Sydney colours.svg Rodney Walker
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Lory Blanchard
FB1 Canterbury colours.svg Les Johns
RW2 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg John Cootes
RC3 St. George colours.svg Graeme Langlands
LC4 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg John McDonald
LW5 South Sydney colours.svg Bob Honan
FE6 South Sydney colours.svg Denis Pittard
HB7 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Dennis Ward
PR8 St. George colours.svg John Wittenberg
HK9 South Sydney colours.svg Elwyn Walters
PR10 South Sydney colours.svg John Sattler (c)
SR11 North Sydney colours.svg Ron Costello
SR12 South Sydney colours.svg Bob McCarthy
LF13 South Sydney colours.svg Ron Coote
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harry Bath

Monday 2 June
South Island 15 – 24 Australian colours.svg Australia
Report [11]
Database [12]
Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Attendance: 3,376

Wednesday 4 June
Wellington Wellington colours.svg 7 – 48 Australian colours.svg Australia
Team [13]
Report [14]
Database [15]
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Attendance: 1,415

Second test

Saturday 7 June
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg18 – 14Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
Bill Noonan
Phil Orchard
Goals:
Don Ladner (5/5)
Field goals:
Don Ladner
Team [16]
Report [17]
Database [18]
Tries:
Ron Coote
Robert McCarthy
Goals:
Les Johns (4/4)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 9,848
Referee: John Percival Flag of New Zealand.svg
Kit left arm whiteborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body kiwis1950.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm whiteborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks white hoops.png
Kit socks long.svg
New Zealand
Kit left arm kangaroos.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body kangaroos54.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm kangaroos.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks hoops gold.png
Kit socks long.svg
Australia
FB1 Saintscolours.svg Don Ladner
RW2 Canterbury colours.svg Phillip Orchard
RC3 Saintscolours.svg Mocky Brereton
LC4 Canterbury colours.svg Brian Clark
LW5 Canterbury colours.svg Roy Christian
FE6 Wellington colours.svg Gary Woollard
HB7 North Sydney colours.svg Graeme Cooksley
PR8 Canterbury colours.svg Oscar Danielson
HK9 Wellington colours.svg Colin O'Neil (c)
PR10 Canterbury colours.svg Doug Gailey
SR11 Waikatoleague.png Bill Deacon
SR12 North Sydney colours.svg Bill Noonan
LF13 Canterbury colours.svg Tony Kriletich
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Lory Blanchard
FB1 Canterbury colours.svg Les Johns
RW2 South Sydney colours.svg Bob Honan
RC3 St. George colours.svg Graeme Langlands
LC4 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg John McDonald
LW5 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg John Cootes
FE6 South Sydney colours.svg Denis Pittard
HB7 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Dennis Ward
PR8 South Sydney colours.svg John Sattler (c)
HK9 South Sydney colours.svg Elwyn Walters
PR10 St. George colours.svg John Wittenberg
SR11 South Sydney colours.svg Bob McCarthy
SR12 Queensland colours.svg Col Weiss
LF13 South Sydney colours.svg Ron Coote
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harry Bath

Tuesday 10 June
Auckland Canterbury colours.svg 15 – 14 Australian colours.svg Australia
Teams [19]
Report [20]
Database [21]
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 6,520

Related Research Articles

The 1989 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played six matches on tour, including a three test series against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 4 July and finished on 23 July.

The 1973 Kangaroo Tour was the thirteenth Kangaroo Tour, and saw the Australian national rugby league team travel to Europe and play nineteen matches against British and French club and representative rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches against Great Britain and two Tests against the French. It followed the tour of 1967-68 and the next was staged in 1978.

The 1954 Rugby League World Cup featured the national teams of four nations.

The 1963-64 Kangaroo tour was the eleventh Kangaroo tour, during which the Australian national rugby league team traveled to Europe and played thirty-six matches against British and French club and representative teams. It included three Test matches against Great Britain for The Ashes, and three Tests against the French. The tour followed the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France and was followed by the 1967-68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

The 1993 Trans-Tasman Test series was an international rugby league test series played in Australia between Australia and New Zealand. The series, which started on 20 June in Auckland and finished on 30 June in Brisbane, consisted of three test matches. The three Tests attracted a total of 74,494 fans.

The 1985 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played six matches on tour, including the final two games of a three-game test series against the New Zealand with the first test taking place in Brisbane on 18 June. The NZ tour began on 19 June and finished on 10 July.

The 1959–60 Kangaroo tour was the tenth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team traveled to Europe and played thirty-seven matches against British, French and Italian teams, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain, two Test matches against the French and an additional two non-Test matches against an Italian representative team. It followed the tour of 1956-57 and the next was staged in 1963-64.

The 1980 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played seven matches on tour, including a two test series against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 1 June and finished on 17 June.

This page list all the four squads which took part to the 1957 Rugby League World Cup.

The 1971 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played three matches on tour, including a test against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 22 June and finished on 29 June.

The 1965 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played eight matches on tour, including two tests against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 9 June and finished on 28 June.

The 1961 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played nine matches on tour, including two tests against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 17 June and finished on 10 July.

The 1953 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played nine matches on tour, including three tests against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 24 June and finished on 18 July.

The 1954 Great Britain Lions tour was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team of Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and August 1954. Captained by Dickie Williams, the tour involved a schedule of 32 games: 22 in Australia and 10 in New Zealand, with two three-match Test Series against both nations.
The tour began inauspiciously, with Great Britain losing four of their first seven matches, including the First Test against Australia in Sydney. Moving into the Queensland leg, the Lions' results improved, and they won all nine of their matches in the state. This included victory in the Second Test in Brisbane.
A common feature of many of the tour matches was rough play, punches being throw in and out of tackles. The July 10 match against New South Wales was abandoned by the referee seventeen minutes into the second half due to persistent brawling by the players.
One week after the abandoned game, Australia won the Third Test to claim the Ashes by a 2-1 margin.
Moving to New Zealand, Great Britain lost the Second Test, but recovered to win the Third Test and the series, by a 2-1 margin.
The tour concluded with three matches in five days back in Australia at Sydney, Canberra and Maitland.
Despite being a British team – five of the squad were Welsh, two from Scotland and hooker Tom McKinney from Northern Ireland – the team played, and were often referred to by both the press at home and away, as England.

The 1953 American All Stars rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand was a tour by a group of twenty men who had not previously played the sport of Rugby League. Most of the team were current or former College Gridiron footballers with Stanford University, the University of California, Los Angeles, or the University of Southern California. Some of the party had played rugby union at their colleges, during gridiron off-seasons.

The 1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the eighteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the thirteenth tour to visit Australia. The fifteen-match tour included three Test Matches.
The touring team began with a pair of wins but then lost the next two, against Newcastle and the First Test in Sydney. Five strong performances in Queensland followed, with wins by wide margins in high-scoring matches. In contrast, the Second Test was a low-scoring match, Australia winning 8 to 2 to secure their first Trans-Tasman series win since 1935. New Zealand lost the Third Test, and thus the series three-nil, and also the two tour matches that followed.

The 1956–57 Kangaroo tour was the ninth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Great Britain and France and played twenty-eight matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain and three Test matches against the French. It followed the tour of 1952-53 and the next was staged in 1959-60.

The 1952–53 Kangaroo tour was the eighth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Great Britain and France and played forty matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain and three Test matches against the French. It followed the tour of 1948-49 and the next was staged in 1956-57.

The 1948–49 Kangaroo tour was the seventh Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Great Britain and France and played thirty-seven matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain, an international match against Wales and two Test matches against the French. It followed the tour of 1937-38 and a cessation of overseas international tours due to World War II. The next was staged in 1952-53.

The 1937–38 Kangaroo tour was the sixth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to New Zealand, Great Britain and France and played thirty-eight matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain, and two Test matches each against the Kiwis and French. It followed the tour of 1933-34. Following a cessation of overseas international tours due to World War II, the next tour was staged in 1948-49.

References

  1. "Kangaroos Tour 1969 - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  2. New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Team Manager for N.Z." The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 50 No. 14 (3 May 1969)). nla.obj-767453332. Retrieved 28 Jan 2021 via Trove.
  3. New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Players for N.Z. Tour". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 50 No. 18 (24 May 1969)). nla.obj-759105460. Retrieved 28 Jan 2021 via Trove.
  4. E.E.Christensen (1970). "Australian Tour of N.Z.". E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook. Sydney: E.E.Christensen (Vol. 24).
  5. "N.S.W. 12, Queensland 5, Country 3 No Surprises In Rl Tour Team". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 19 May 1969. p. 14. Retrieved 29 Jan 2021.
  6. SteveRicketts (2019-06-19). "FLASHBACK: June 1969". Steve Ricketts. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  7. 1 2 "Weiss may play". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 29 May 1969. p. 30. Retrieved 29 Jan 2021.
  8. 1969 North Island Colts vs Australia – Rugby League Project
  9. "One-Sided R.L. Test New Zealand No Match For Australia". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 2 Jun 1969. p. 12. Retrieved 29 Jan 2021.
  10. 1969 New Zealand vs Australia – Rugby League Project
  11. "Kangaroos strike referee trouble again". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 3 Jun 1969. p. 20. Retrieved 29 Jan 2021.
  12. 1969 South Island vs Australia – Rugby League Project
  13. "Injuries plague league tourists". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 4 Jun 1969. p. 32. Retrieved 29 Jan 2021.
  14. "League tourists win at a canter". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 5 Jun 1969. p. 40. Retrieved 29 Jan 2021.
  15. 1969 Wellington vs Australia – Rugby League Project
  16. "Curfew set by coach". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 7 Jun 1969. p. 30. Retrieved 29 Jan 2021.
  17. "N.Z. On Top In Test". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 9 Jun 1969. p. 12. Retrieved 29 Jan 2021.
  18. 1969 New Zealand vs Australia – Rugby League Project
  19. "Battered league tourists face hard game". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 10 Jun 1969. p. 22. Retrieved 29 Jan 2021.
  20. "Sensational End To Tough League Tour - Referee knocked out; Wittenberg in hospital". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 11 Jun 1969. p. 32. Retrieved 29 Jan 2021.
  21. 1969 Auckland vs Australia – Rugby League Project