The 1984 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 17th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1984. A total of 24 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and New Zealand respectively, and one Test match against Papua New Guinea.
It was the first tour since 1950 in which Great Britain lost both series against Australia and New Zealand, and the first tour ever where they failed to win a Test against either team.
In preparation for the tour, Great Britain coach Frank Myler and tour manager Dick Gemmell invited a squad of 44 players to attend a series of training camps during the summer of 1983. [1] In February 1984, a squad of 41 players was named, which would participate in weekly training sessions at Fartown, Huddersfield. [1] Some clubs were unhappy with being asked to release players during the middle of the season, most notably Widnes, who had 10 players selected for the training squad. Prior to the second Test match against France on 17 February 1984, Widnes refused to make their players available for the training sessions – John Basnett was the only Widnes player who attended. Myler responded by excluding the absent players from Test selection, with Basnett being the only Widnes player named thus far. [2]
Prior to the final squad for the tour being named, a number of players became unavailable for selection for various reasons. Steve Evans was unavailable due to his wedding plans in the summer, [1] while John Woods withdrew due to "family and business commitments". [3] Peter Smith announced he would not be available due to a shoulder injury. [4] David Watkinson was also ruled out due to injury, suffering a broken leg in the first Test match against France. [5] David Hall had recently taken over a public house and asked not to be considered, while John Wood withdrew for family reasons. [1]
A 30-man squad for the tour was selected in April 1984. [6] The squad included 18-year-old Garry Schofield, who became Great Britain's youngest ever tourist. After the squad was named, Len Casey was dropped after receiving a six-month suspension, [7] while Great Britain captain Trevor Skerrett was ruled out due to injury. Wayne Proctor and Chris Arkwright were called up as replacements, and Brian Noble was named as team captain in place of the injured Skerrett. [8] Shortly before the tour departed, Arkwright was withdrawn from the squad on medical advice because of a damaged knee, and was replaced by Terry Flanagan. [9]
| Name | Position | Club | Apps | Tests | Tries | Goals | Drop goals | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mick Adams | Forward | Widnes | 16 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Ray Ashton | Half-back | Oldham | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| John Basnett | Threequarter | Widnes | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | [lower-alpha 1] |
| Kevin Beardmore | Forward | Castleford | 11 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 | |
| Mick Burke | Fullback | Widnes | 15 | 7 | 2 | 36 | 0 | 80 | |
| Chris Burton | Forward | Hull Kingston Rovers | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Brian Case | Forward | Wigan | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Garry Clark | Threequarter | Hull Kingston Rovers | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 | |
| Lee Crooks | Forward | Hull | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10 | |
| Steve Donlan | Threequarter | Leigh | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| Des Drummond | Threequarter | Leigh | 17 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44 | |
| Ronnie Duane | Threequarter | Warrington | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | [lower-alpha 1] |
| Terry Flanagan | Forward | Oldham | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| Des Foy | Threequarter | Oldham | 8 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
| Andy Goodway | Forward | Oldham | 13 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
| Andy Gregory | Half-back | Widnes | 14 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | |
| Ellery Hanley | Half-back | Bradford Northern | 17 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 54 | |
| David Hobbs | Forward | Featherstone Rovers | 16 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 38 | |
| Neil Holding | Half-back | St Helens | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | |
| John Joyner | Threequarter | Castleford | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Joe Lydon | Threequarter | Widnes | 14 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 0 | 68 | |
| Keith Mumby | Fullback | Bradford Northern | 16 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |
| Tony Myler | Half-back | Widnes | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Brian Noble (c) | Forward | Bradford Northern | 14 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | |
| Mike O'Neill | Forward | Widnes | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Harry Pinner | Forward | St Helens | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wayne Proctor | Forward | Hull | 11 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | |
| Keith Rayne | Forward | Leeds | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Garry Schofield | Threequarter | Hull | 11 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 40 | |
| Mike Smith | Threequarter | Hull Kingston Rovers | 11 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | |
| Mick Worrall | Forward | Oldham | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
25 May 1984 |
| North Coast | 6 – 56 | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
Wauchope |
9 June 1984 |
| Australia | 25 – 8 | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Boustead, Lewis, Murray, Price Goals: Conlon (4) Drop goals: Lewis | [11] | Tries: Schofield Goals: Burke (2) |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 30,190 Referee: Ray Shrimpton Player of the Match: Wally Lewis |
7 July 1984 |
| Australia | 20 – 7 | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Conescu, Grothe, Jack Goals: Meninga (4) | [12] | Tries: Hanley Goals: Burke Drop goals: Holding |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 18,756 Referee: Tony Drake Player of the Match: Wayne Pearce |
22 July 1984 |
| New Zealand | 28 – 12 | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: O'Hara (2), Ah Kuoi, Bell, Leuluai Goals: Filipaina (4) | [13] | Tries: Hanley, Myler Goals: Burke (2) |
Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch Attendance: 9,824 Referee: Barry Barnes Player of the Match: Dane Sorensen |
28 July 1984 |
| New Zealand | 32 – 16 | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Friend (2), Leuluai (2), O'Hara Goals: Filipaina (6) | [14] | Tries: Hanley, Mumby Goals: Burke (4) |
5 August 1984 |
| Papua New Guinea | 20 – 38 | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Jakis, Noifa, Taumaku, Tolik Goals: Numapo (2) | [15] | Tries: Drummond (2), Burke, Hanley, Hobbs, Mumby, Rayne Goals: Burke (5) |
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