1980 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand

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. ^[1]

The Test matches against the Kiwis were broadcast back to New South Wales and Queensland by 0–Ten with Ray Warren in commentary. Warren was joined in the first Test call by St George centre Graham Quinn while he was joined by Kerry Boustead for the second Test. Boustead missed the second Test due to a shoulder injury picked up in the first Test and was ironically replaced on the wing by Quinn.

Leadership

As he had been since 1978, Frank Stanton, in 1980 coaching at Redcliffe in the Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) competition, was the coach of the Australian team while Greek born Canterbury-Bankstwon hooker George Peponis was in his second year as Australian captain. Unfortunately due to persistent neck injuries, the second Test against New Zealand would not only be his last test as Australian captain but his last game of representative football. Peponis, a fully qualified Physician, ended his tenure as Australian Test captain with a 5–0 win–loss record.

Touring squad

The 18 man squad was made up mostly of those playing in the Sydney Premiership. Although not the only Queenslander in the squad (there was also Kerry Boustead, Rod Morris and Rod Reddy), Chris Close was the sole player selected from Queensland, prior to his Man of the Match performance in the experimental 1980 State of Origin game. In his first game against the NZ Māori, Close was sent-off.

* Tests and (as sub) not included in Games total.

Player	Club	Position(s)	Games (as sub)	Tests (as sub)	Tries	Goals	F/Goals	Points
Chris Anderson	Canterbury-Bankstown	Wing	4	2	2	0	0	6
Kerry Boustead	Eastern Suburbs	Wing	(1)	1	1	0	0	3
Les Boyd	Manly-Warringah	Second-row , Wing	3 (1)	2	2	0	0	6
Greg Brentnall	Canterbury-Bankstown	Centre , Wing , Fullback	5	2	3	0	0	9
Chris Close	Redcliffe	Centre	3 (1)	–	3	0	0	9
Michael Cronin	Parramatta	Centre	3	2	2	22	0	50
Garry Dowling	Parramatta	Fullback	3	2	2	0	0	6
Jim Leis	Western Suburbs	Lock , Centre	2	–	0	0	0	0
Steve Martin	Manly-Warringah	Five-eighth , Halfback	3 (1)	–	1	0	0	3
Rod Morris	Balmain	Prop	3	2	0	0	0	0
George Peponis (c)	Canterbury-Bankstown	Hooker	1	2	1	0	0	3
Ray Price	Parramatta	Lock	4	2	0	0	0	0
Graham Quinn	St George	Centre , Wing	5	1	4	6	0	24
Tommy Raudonikis	Newtown	Halfback	4	2	1	0	0	3
Rod Reddy	St George	Second-row	4	2	4	0	0	12
Alan Thompson	Manly-Warringah	Five-eighth	2 (1)	2	0	0	0	0
Graeme Wynn	St George	Second-row	3 (1)	–	1	3	0	9
Craig Young	St George	Prop	3 (1)	2	1	0	0	3

Tour

The Australian's played seven games on the tour, winning five, losing one with one drawn game.

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1st Test

Sunday 1 June

New Zealand	6 – 27	Australia
Tries: Goals: Michael O'Donnell (3/4)	[2] [3]	Tries: Alan Thompson (2) Craig Young Kerry Boustead Rod Reddy Goals: Michael Cronin (6/8)

Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 12,321 Referee: Kevin Steele Player of the Match: Tommy Raudonikis

New Zealand

Australia

FB 1 Michael O'Donnell RW 2 Kevin Fisher CE 3 Olsen Filipaina CE 4 James Leuluai LW 5 Dane O'Hara FE 6 Gordon Smith HB 7 Shane Varley PR 8 Mark Broadhurst HK 9 Howie Tamati PR 10 Paul Te Ariki SR 11 Kevin Tamati SR 12 Barry Edkins LK 13 Mark Graham (c) Substitutions: IC 14 Lewis Hudson IC 15 Graeme West Coach: Ces Mountford

FB 1 Garry Dowling LW 2 Kerry Boustead CE 3 Michael Cronin CE 4 Greg Brentnall RW 5 Chris Anderson FE 6 Alan Thompson HB 7 Tommy Raudonikis PR 8 Craig Young HK 9 George Peponis (c) PR 12 Rod Morris SR 11 Rod Reddy SR 12 Les Boyd LK 13 Ray Price Substitutions: IC 14 IC 15 Coach: Frank Stanton

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Wednesday 4 June

Māori	10 – 10	Australia
Tries: James Leuluai, Kevin Tamati Goals: Dennis Williams (2)	[4] [5] [6]	Tries: Graham Quinn, Chris Close Goals: Graeme Wynn (2)

Tomoana Showgrounds, Hastings Attendance: 5,000 Referee: John Percival

Māori: James Leuluai, Lou Kapa, John Smith, Dennis Williams (c), Ron Siulepa, Ray Harris, Dennis Key, Rick Muru, Howie Tamati, Warren Rangi, Pat Poasa, Kevin Tamati, Ian Bell. Reserves – Bart Herangi. Coach – Tom Newton

Australia: Garry Dowling, Chris Anderson, Graham Quinn, Chris Close, Greg Brentnall, Steve Martin, Tommy Raudonikis (c), Rohan Hancock, John Lang, Rod Morris, Rod Reddy, Graeme Wynn, Jim Leis. Reserves – Kerry Boustead, Craig Young

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Friday 6 June

Central Districts	0 – 23	Australia
Tries: Goals:	[7] [8]	Tries: Graham Quinn (2), Rohan Hancock, Greg Brentnall, Graeme Wynn Goals: Michael Cronin (4)

Basin Reserve, Wellington Attendance: 4,000

Central Districts: Paul Christensen, Lou Kapa, John Whittaker (c), Gary Butler, Nolan Tupaea, Lance Pupuke, Monty Henry, Paul Te Ariki, Howie Tamati, Whetu Henry, Eddie Allbright, Bruce Gall, Victor Bracken. Reserves – John Knuckey, Mike Butler. Coach –

Australia: Garry Dowling, Chris Anderson, Greg Brentnall, Michael Cronin, Graham Quinn, Alan Thompson (c), Steve Martin, Rohan Hancock, John Lang, Craig Young, Les Boyd, Rod Reddy, Ray Price. Reserves – Chris Close, Graeme Wynn

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Sunday 8 June

New Zealand XIII	7 – 51	Australia
Tries: Ron O'Regan Goals: Gary Kemble (2)	[9]	Tries: Greg Brentnall (2), Chris Close (2), Rod Reddy (2), Chris Anderson, Les Boyd, George Peponis, Graham Quinn, Tommy Raudonikis Goals: Michael Cronin (9)

Addington Showgound, Christchurch Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Don Wilson

New Zealand XIII: Gary Kemble, Dick Uluave, Lewis Hudson, Ron O'Regan, Mark Petersen, Chris Menzies, Daryl Morrison, Danny Campbell, Paul Ravlich, Alan Rushton, Tony Coll (c), Graeme West, Gary Prohm. Reserves – Billy Kells, Owen Wright. Coach – Neville Denton

Australia: Greg Brentnall, Chris Anderson, Chris Close, Michael Cronin, Graham Quinn, Alan Thompson, Tommy Raudonikis, Rod Morris, George Peponis (c), Craig Young, Les Boyd, Rod Reddy, Ray Price. Reserves – Steve Martin, Graeme Wynn

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Wednesday 11 June

South Island	12 – 11	Australia
Tries: Kevin Franklin, Paul McCone Goals: Barry Edkins (2) Michael O'Donnell (1)	[10] [11] [12]	Tries: Garry Dowling (2), Chris Anderson Goals: Graeme Wynn (1)

Addington Showgound, Christchurch Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Earle Pilcher

South Island: Michael O'Donnell, Michael Williams, Bruce Dickinson, Bernard Green, Paul McCone, Chris Menzies, Gordon Smith, Mark Broadhurst, Paul Truscott, Alan Rushton, Kevin Franklin, Tony Coll (c), Barry Edkins. Reserves – David Field, Wayne Dwyer. Coach – Cecil Clark

Australia: Garry Dowling, Graham Quinn, Chris Close, Greg Brentnall, Chris Anderson, Steve Martin, Tommy Raudonikis (c), Rod Morris, John Lang, Rohan Hancock, Jim Leis, Graeme Wynn, Ray Price. Reserves – Alan Thompson, Les Boyd

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2nd Test

Sunday 15 June

New Zealand	6 – 15	Australia
Tries: Goals: Michael O'Donnell (3/5)	[13] [14] [15]	Tries: Les Boyd Michael Cronin Rod Reddy Goals: Michael Cronin (3/4)

Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 9,706 Referee: John Percival

New Zealand

Australia

FB 1 Michael O'Donnell RW 2 Kevin Fisher CE 3 Olsen Filipaina CE 4 James Leuluai LW 5 Dane O'Hara FE 6 Dennis Williams HB 7 Gordon Smith PR 8 Mark Broadhurst HK 9 Howie Tamati PR 10 Kevin Tamati SR 11 Tony Coll SR 12 Barry Edkins LK 13 Mark Graham (c) Substitutions: IC 14 IC 15 Graeme West Coach: Ces Mountford

FB 1 Garry Dowling LW 2 Graham Quinn CE 3 Michael Cronin CE 4 Greg Brentnall RW 5 Chris Anderson FE 6 Alan Thompson HB 7 Tommy Raudonikis PR 8 Craig Young HK 9 George Peponis (c) PR 10 Rod Morris SR 11 Rod Reddy SR 12 Les Boyd LK 13 Ray Price Substitutions: IC 14 IC 15 Coach: Frank Stanton

Australian winger Kerry Boustead suffered a shoulder injury in the first test that kept him out of the second test. St George centre Graham Quinn came in onto the wing for his only Test match. Boustead spent the game in the 0–Ten commentary booth calling the game for Australian television next to chief commentator Ray Warren.

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Tuesday 17 July

Auckland	7 – 21	Australia
Tries: Dave Lepper Goals: Chris Jordan (2)	[16] [17]	Tries: Michael Cronin, Steve Martin, Goals: Graham Quinn (6)

Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 14,000 Referee: Bob Cooper Player of the Match: Ray Price

Auckland: Gary Kemble, Chris Jordan, James Leuluai, Dennis Williams (c), Dane O'Hara, Ron O'Regan, John Smith, Doug Gailey, John Gordon, Pat Poasa, Tom Conroy, Alan McCarthy, Gary Prohm. Reserves – Ian Bell, Dave Lepper. Coach – Don Hammond

Australia: Greg Brentnall, Graham Quinn, Michael Cronin, Jim Leis, Les Boyd, Steve Martin, Tommy Raudonikis, John Lang, Craig Young, Rod Reddy, Graeme Wynn, Ray Price (c). Reserves –

Statistics

Leading Try Scorer

• 4 by Rod Reddy and Graham Quinn

Leading Point Scorer

• 50 by Michael Cronin (2 tries, 22 goals)

Largest Test Attendance

• 12,321 – First test vs New Zealand at Carlaw Park

Largest non-test Attendance

• 14,000 – Australia vs Auckland at Carlaw Park

References

1. 1980 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand @ Rugby League Project
2. 1st Test - New Zealand vs Australia
3. "Rugby league Kangaroos take Kiwi Test in first half". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 2 Jun 1980. p. 14. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
4. New Zealand Māori vs Australia
5. "Kangaroo changes against the Maoris". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 3 Jun 1980. p. 18. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
6. "Rugby League Maoris get that old feeling — force draw". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 5 Jun 1980. p. 24. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
7. Central Districts vs Australia
8. "Tourists savage district side". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 7 Jun 1980. p. 38. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
9. New Zealand XIII vs Australia
10. South Island vs Australia
11. "Rugby league: Stanton sees wounded". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 11 Jun 1980. p. 38. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
12. "Late News Kangaroos down 12-11". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 12 Jun 1980. p. 1. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
13. 2nd Test - New Zealand vs Australia
14. "Kangaroos, Kiwis to Change Test Tactics". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 15 Jun 1980. p. 22. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
15. "Rugby League: Kangaroos scrape in". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 16 Jun 1980. p. 10. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
16. Auckland vs Australia
17. "Down to last fit man, but Kangaroos win". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 18 Jun 1980. p. 34. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.