Australia
Richardson Park, Darwin Attendance: 7,286 Referee: D. Corey |
Northern Territory: Brian Doyle, Trevor Given, Scott Masterson, Brian Smith, Roy Albion, Steve Larder, Robert Harrison (c), Wayne Brown, Ray Lumby, Mick Jaeger, Noel Simmonds, Bruce McGuire, Kim Blackburn. Reserves – Dave Ryan, Phil Brown, John Adler. Coach – Ernie Wanka.
Great Britain: Keith Mumby, Des Drummond, Ronnie Duane, Ellery Hanley, Des Foy, Steve Donlan, Ray Ashton, Keith Rayne, Brian Noble (c), Andy Goodway, Mick Worrall, David Hobbs, Harry Pinner. Reserves – John Joyner, Neil Holding, Lee Crooks
Riverina: John Maguire, Brian Dennis, Michael Rawiri, John Sellar (c), Brian Costello, Tony Trudgett, Duncan Ward, Noel Hogan, Tony Morgan, Mick Lewis, Michael Scarfone, Graham Stockton, Ron Pilon. Reserves – Cliff Lyons, Trevor Pryce. Coach – Geoff Foster
Great Britain: Mick Burke, Garry Clark, Joe Lydon, Ellery Hanley, Garry Schofield, Mike Smith, Andy Gregory, Brian Case, Kevin Beardmore, Lee Crooks, Terry Flanagan, Andy Goodway, Mick Adams (c). Reserves – Neil Holding, Chris Burton
Lank Bain, Wauchope
Attendance: 4,200
Referee: Bill Sullivan |
North Coast: Andy Mulvany, Wayne Buckley, Chris Cordner, Gary Night, Greg Davis, Rocky Laurie (c), Tony Hinton, Matt Welsh, Andrew Key, Daryl Warwick, Terry Corfe, Mark Hurrell, Glen Anderson. Reserves – Steve Foley, Jim Coombes, Richard Laurie, Maurie Kelly. Coach – Kevin Hardy
Great Britain: Keith Mumby, Des Drummond, Joe Lydon, John Joyner, Garry Clark, Steve Donlan, Neil Holding, Keith Rayne, Brian Noble (c), Mike O'Neill, Wayne Proctor, Mick Worrall, Mick Adams. Reserves – Ray Ashton, David Hobbs, Chris Burton
Victoria Park, Dubbo Attendance: 4,528 Referee: Lance Harrigan |
Western Division: Marty Gordon, Les Haynes, Mark Smith, Ray Spurr, Wilfred Williams, Steve McWhirter (c), Lee Douglas, Colin Wright, Ian Jackson, Alan McPhail, Brad Jayett, Steve Miller, Mark Horton. Reserves – Neil Moy, Ken Fisher. Coach – Ted Goodwin
Great Britain: Mick Burke, Des Drummond, Joe Lydon, Keith Mumby, Des Foy, Tony Myler, Ray Ashton, Keith Rayne, Brian Noble (c), Lee Crooks, Chris Burton, Andy Goodway, Harry Pinner. Reserves – Garry Schofield, David Hobbs
North Sydney: Wayne Portlock, Alan Sheppard, Neigel Tait, Simon Brockwell, Andrew Simons, Wayne Lonergan, Laurie Spina, Lindsay Johnson, Phil Ritchie, Don McKinnon, Bob Cooper, Peter Cross, Graeme Jennings (c). Reserves – Stephen Casey, Chris Luckman, Errol Hillier. Coach – John Hayes
Great Britain: Mick Burke, Garry Clark, Garry Schofield, Keith Mumby, Des Foy, Steve Donlan, Andy Gregory, Keith Rayne, Kevin Beardmore, Lee Crooks, David Hobbs, Andy Goodway, Mick Adams (c). Reserves – Mick Worrall, Brian Case
Newcastle Firsts: Neville Elwin, Mark Bates, Kyle Connor, Craig Dedman, Glenn Murray, Greg Eager, Craig Higgins, Milton Burrows, Rex Wright, John Farrar, Mal Graham, Michael Pitman, Gary Martine (c). Reserves – Robert Taylor, Peter Garbutt. Coach – Terry Pannowitz
Great Britain: Mick Burke, Garry Clark, Ellery Hanley, Mike Smith, John Basnett, Garry Schofield, Neil Holding, Mike O'Neill, Brian Noble (c), Lee Crooks, David Hobbs, Mick Worrall, Terry Flanagan. Reserves – Joe Lydon, Harry Pinner
First Test
Wally Lewis won a well publicised power struggle between the NSW Rugby League and their Queensland Rugby League counterparts for the vacated Australian captaincy. NSW, plus the numerous rugby league press writers in Sydney, wanted Blues captain Ray Price to have the Australian captaincy as he was retiring from representative football at the end of the series and it would be a great way to end his representative career. Queensland naturally went for their State of Origin captain Lewis. With the 1986 Kangaroo Tour only just over 2 years away, the Australian Rugby League settled the issue by naming Lewis as the 12th Queenslander to captain Australia.
In scene's of poor sportsmanship, some elements of the 30,190 SCG crowd actually booed Wally Lewis when he was announced as he ran onto the field. With Queensland having dominated state football during the early 1980s, their captain and Kingpin Lewis was seen as the enemy to the Sydney crowds, even when wearing the Australian team colours.
With less than 5 seconds remaining in the test, reserve Lions forward David Hobbs was sent off by Kiwi referee Ray Shrimpton for a sickening hit on Australian hooker Greg Conescu. Television replays showed Conescu running from dummy half before Hobbs hit him with a raised elbow, hitting him in the mouth and resulting in the loss of some of his top teeth. Conescu was stretchered from the field and was still in the hands of the Australian team Dr. Bill Monoghan when local TV broadcaster Channel 9's Darrell Eastlake did his post match interview inside the SCG change rooms with the player of the match, new Australian captain Wally Lewis.
Hobbs had only been on the field for 8 minutes before his send-off. [12]
Wide Bay: Gary Birmingham, Les Kiss, Paul Gorman, Mike Curran, Neville King, Jim Browning, Ray Ovens, Mike McDougall, David Gerrard, Steve Molineux, Ray Harch, Ray Berkery, Ron Slater (c). Reserves – Noel Glazier, Bill Dansey. Coach – John Reddy
Great Britain: Joe Lydon, Garry Clark, Mike Smith, Ellery Hanley, John Basnett, John Joyner (c), Andy Gregory, Mike O'Neill, Kevin Beardmore, Brian Case, Wayne Proctor, Terry Flanagan, Harry Pinner. Reserves – Tony Myler, Mick Worrall
Central Queensland: Shane Tupaea, Warren McLaughlin, Andrew McDonald, Russell Miller, Mike Curran, Jamie Jansen, Geoff Hunt, David Day, Craig Taylor, Peter Blackadder, Steve George, Michael Anderson, Ian Brazier. Reserves – Peter Golder, Tony Hansan. Coach – Bill Nosworthhy
Great Britain: Mick Burke, Des Drummond, Garry Schofield, Keith Mumby, Ellery Hanley, Tony Myler, Andy Gregory, Keith Rayne, Brian Noble (c), Andy Goodway, Wayne Proctor, Chris Burton, Mick Worrall. Reserves – Ray Ashton, Mick Adams
North Queensland: Rod Brunker, Larry Foran, Harry Deemal, Glen Pengelly, Dale Shearer, Darryl Duncan, Robbie Price, Marshall Colwell (c), Frank Baker, Mike Smith, Paul Bleakney, Les Morrissey, Kevin Bocos. Reserves – Bob Keogh, Bruce Barclay. Coach – Will Cordwell
Great Britain: Joe Lydon, Des Drummond, Ellery Hanley, Mike Smith, John Basnett, John Joyner (c), Ray Ashton, Lee Crooks, Kevin Beardmore, Brian Case, Wayne Proctor, Mike O'Neill, Harry Pinner. Reserves – Des Foy, Mick Adams
Future twice (1986 and 1990) Kangaroo Tourist Dale Shearer, an 18 year old product of the Sarina Crocodiles who had been playing for the North Queensland Marlins in the Winfield State League in 1984, made his first of 6 appearances against a Great Britain side in the match, and the only one not in a Test match.
Toowoomba: Peter Gill, Steve Gibson, Greg Milne, Jeff Coutts, Bryan Tynan, Robbie Tew, Wayne Smith, Peter McKinnon, Paul Fitzgerald, Neil McCullagh, Mark Hohn, Robbert Hanna, Dan Stains. Reserves – Wayne Reis, Graham Smith. Coach – Don Oxenham
Great Britain: Steve Donlan, Garry Clark, Mike Smith, Des Foy, John Basnett, John Joyner (c), Andy Gregory, Mike O'Neill, Kevin Beardmore, Brian Case, Wayne Proctor, David Hobbs, Harry Pinner. Reserves – Ray Ashton, Mick Adams
Second Test
Mal Meninga's selection ahead of Brett Kenny and goal kicking Ross Conlon for the test at Lang Park drew criticism from south of the border in Sydney. The future Australian team captain and Rugby League Immortal wasn't in great playing or goal kicking form either for Souths Magpies in the Brisbane premiership or Queensland earlier in the season and it was generally believed that his selection was only to have another Queenslander in the Australian team in Brisbane to draw a bigger crowd.
Meninga would go on to have a strong game in the Green and Gold, scoring a second half try (for which he copped late knees in the back from Chris Burton after he scored), although his goal kicking was slightly off only kicking 3/7. This saw him retained for the third Test in Sydney.
Recalled Queensland and Manly-Warringah second rower Paul Vautin copped an accidental elbow to the cheek in the 76th minute of the game from Lions replacement Mick Adams causing a fractured cheek bone. TV replays showed it to be accidental. Vautin was one of 3 tackling Adams and in bracing himself with his ball carrying right arm, Fatty coming in from the right side copped the elbow. It would see him miss 3 weeks of the Winfield Cup.
Wally Lewis was felled 3 times during the game after late tackles. In a case of mistaken identity, British front rower Keith Rayne was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes during the first half for an offence (late high elbow on Lewis) actually committed by Mick Adams. Rayne was also sent to the bin for 5 minutes in the 73rd minute when he caught Lewis with a late swinging arm that sparked a short-lived all-in mele. In the Australian set after that all-in, another mele was almost sparked when Lions captain Brian Noble went in for another late swinging arm on Lewis, only for his opposing captain to raise his own right elbow which caught Noble high and by surprise. Kiwi referee Ray Shrimpton was able to calm things before it got out of hand again.
Great Britain scored arguably their best try on tour in the second half. In a move started on their own 22 by Tony Myler running from dummy-half and passing the ball to Neil Holding who moved the ball on to a running Garry Schofield who got the ball outside to speedster Des Drummond. Drummond stepped inside of a tiring Vautin and then back outside to evade Lewis before passing back to a still alive Schofield. The Hull teenager then sped diagonally across the field into Australia's half evading a diving Mark Murray in the process before linking with Drummond back on the inside as fullback Garry Jack loomed. Shadowed by Kerry Boustead, Drummond then got the ball back to Andy Goodway in support who managed to get the ball to a flying Schofield as Jack took him down by the legs. Holding off a Boustead's last-ditch effort over the last 3 metres, Scofield scored his second try of the series in the corner. [14]
Northern Rivers: Peter O'Neill, Dale Miles, Alan Howie, Mick Ryan, Gerry O'Neill, Troy Hughes, Tony Kennedy, Ron Ferris, Jay Clarke (c), Kel Judd, Scott Dorrough, Mark Brokenshire, Shane Miles. Reserves – David Hall. Coach – Stan Damro
Great Britain: Joe Lydon, Des Drummond, Garry Schofield, Mike Smith (c), Garry Clark, Steve Donlan, Andy Gregory, Mike O'Neill, Kevin Beardmore, Brian Case, Wayne Proctor, David Hobbs, Harry Pinner. Reserves – Des Foy, Mick Worrall
Northern Division: Greg Donnelly, Miles Archdale, Mick McCann, John Lennan (c), Robert Brady, Kevin Hill, Robbie McCormack, Merv Haywood, Brad Frazer, Ross Whitaker, Jack Thompson, Geoff Carr, Greg McCormack. Reserves – Joe Craigie, Arthur Earl. Coach – Jim Cox
Great Britain: Joe Lydon, Des Drummond, Ellery Hanley, Mike Smith, Garry Clark, Tony Myler, Ray Ashton, Keith Rayne, Kevin Beardmore, Brian Case, David Hobbs, Mike O'Neill, Mick Adams (c). Reserves – Neil Holding, Wayne Proctor
Australia 
New Zealand 
Papua New Guinea 
