1986 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea

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The 1986 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. Test matches were played in New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea. The tour began on 6 July in Auckland and finished on 17 August in Port Moresby, consisted of five test matches, with two of them counting towards the 1985-88 World Cup.

Contents

After having lost 18–0 to the Kiwis at Carlaw Park in the 3rd test of the 1985 series, Australia won the 1986 series 3–0. New Zealand then continued their tour to Papua New Guinea. In Papua New Guinea they won the first test against Papua New Guinea 36–26. They then lost the second test match 22–24, a match which counted towards the 1988 World Cup.

Squads

Australia

Australia was coached for the first time by 1956–57 Kangaroo Tourist Don Furner. Wally Lewis was the captain of the team with Wayne Pearce the team vice captain.

The players used by Australia in the series was: Wally Lewis (Wynnum Manly) (c), Wayne Pearce (Balmain) (vc), Noel Cleal (Manly Warringah), Steve Folkes (Canterbury-Bankstown), Garry Jack (Balmain), Brett Kenny (Parramatta), Les Kiss (North Sydney), Terry Lamb (Canterbury-Bankstown), Gene Miles (Wynnum Manly), Bryan Niebling (Redcliffe), Michael O'Connor (St George), Steve Roach (Balmain), Dale Shearer (Manly-Warringah), Royce Simmons (Penrith), Peter Sterling (Pattamatta), Peter Tunks (Canterbury-Bankstown).

Of the players used by Australia, only Wayne Pearce (injury) and Peter Tunks (personal reasons) did not go on the end of season 1986 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France.

New Zealand

The New Zealand test team was coached by Graham Lowe and captained by Mark Graham.

The Kiwis squad was: Mark Graham (North Sydney) (c), Dean Bell (Eastern Suburbs), Shane Cooper (Mt Albert), Mark Elia (Te Atatu), Olsen Filipaina (North Sydney), Gary Freeman (Northcote), Barry Harvey (Western Suburbs (Taranaki)), Gary Kemble (Hull), A'au Leulaui (Hull), Hugh McGahan (Eastern Suburbs), Dane O'Hara (Hull), Ron O'Regan (Mt Albert), Gary Prohm (Hull Kingston Rovers), Joe Ropati (Warrington), Kurt Sorensen (Widnes), Brent Todd (Linwood), Wayne Wallace (Hornby), Darrell Williams (Mt Albert), Owen Wright (Manukau).

Peter Brown, Tea Ropati, Marty Crequer, Dean Lonergan, Adrian Shelford, Sam Stewart, James Goulding, Glenn Donaldson and Gary Mercer also played for the Kiwis against Papua New Guinea.

New Zealand leg

The tour began with Australia coming to Auckland to play the first of three test matches between the trans-Tasman rivals.

This would be the 18th and final test played between New Zealand and Australia at the Carlaw Park ground in Auckland. Due to sponsorship, the test series was known as the "Winfield Test Series".

With the selection of goal kicking St George and NSW outside back Michael O'Connor, the former Wallaby became Australia's 39th dual-code rugby international. Dale Shearer, Steve Folkes and utility reserve Terry Lamb also played in their debut tests for Australia.

First test

6 July 1986
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg8 – 22Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
Dean Bell


Goals:
Olsen Filipaina (2/2)
[1]
Tries:
Brett Kenny (2)
Steve Folkes
Dale Shearer
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (3/5)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 14,566
Referee: Robin Whitfield Flag of England.svg
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New Zealand
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Australia
FB1 Parramatta colours.svg Darrell Williams
LW2 Wolvescolours.svg Joe Ropati
RC3 Wigancolours.svg Dean Bell
LC4 Hullcolours.svg James Leuluai
RW5 Hullcolours.svg Dane O'Hara
FE6 North Sydney colours.svg Olsen Filipaina
HB7 Parramatta colours.svg Shane Cooper
PR8 Canterbury colours.svg Owen Wright
HK9 Canterbury colours.svg Wayne Wallace
PR10 Widnes colours.svg Kurt Sorensen
SR11 North Sydney colours.svg Mark Graham (c)
SR12 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Hugh McGahan
LK13 HKRcolours.svg Gary Prohm
Substitutions:
IC14 Parramatta colours.svg Ron O'Regan
IC15 Widnes colours.svg Mark Elia
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Lowe
FB1 Balmain colours.svg Garry Jack
LW2 St. George colours.svg Michael O'Connor
RC3 Parramatta colours.svg Brett Kenny
LC4 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Gene Miles
RW5 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Dale Shearer
FE6 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wally Lewis (c)
HB7 Parramatta colours.svg Peter Sterling
PR8 Balmain colours.svg Steve Roach
HK9 Penrith colours.svg Royce Simmons
PR10 Canterbury colours.svg Peter Tunks
SR11 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Noel Cleal
SR12 Canterbury colours.svg Steve Folkes
LF13 Balmain colours.svg Wayne Pearce
Substitutions:
IC14 Canterbury colours.svg Terry Lamb
IC15 Redcliffe colours.svg Bryan Niebling
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Furner

Australian leg

In the tour games the Kiwis defeated Newcastle 22–17, Riverina 14–16, Wide Bay 32-7 and North Queensland 46–6.

Second test

After having been Sydney's main test match venue since 1914, this would be the 69th and final test played at the Sydney Cricket Ground until 2008. Gary Freeman, who would go on to play a total of 46 tests for New Zealand until 1995, made his test debut in this game while for Australia, North Sydney and Queensland winger Les Kiss made his test debut replacing an injured Dale Shearer.

19 July 1986
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg29 – 12Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Tries:
Garry Jack
Brett Kenny
Wally Lewis
Gene Miles
Wayne Pearce
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (4)
Field Goals:
Peter Sterling
[2]
Tries:
Olsen Filipaina
Dane O'Hara



Goals:
Olsen Filipaina (2)
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 34,302
Referee: Robin Whitfield Flag of England.svg
Player of the Match: Steve Roach Australian colours.svg
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Australia
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New Zealand
FB1 Balmain colours.svg Garry Jack
RW2 North Sydney colours.svg Les Kiss
RC3 Parramatta colours.svg Brett Kenny
LC4 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Gene Miles
LW5 St. George colours.svg Michael O'Connor
FE6 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wally Lewis (c)
HB7 Parramatta colours.svg Peter Sterling
PR8 Balmain colours.svg Steve Roach
HK9 Penrith colours.svg Royce Simmons
PR10 Canterbury colours.svg Peter Tunks
SR11 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Noel Cleal
SR12 Canterbury colours.svg Steve Folkes
LF13 Balmain colours.svg Wayne Pearce
Substitutions:
IC14 Redcliffe colours.svg Bryan Niebling
IC15 Canterbury colours.svg Terry Lamb
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Furner
FB1 Hullcolours.svg Gary Kemble
LW2 Wigancolours.svg Dean Bell
RC3 Wolvescolours.svg Joe Ropati
LC4 Widnes colours.svg Mark Elia
RW5 Hullcolours.svg Dane O'Hara
FE6 North Sydney colours.svg Olsen Filipaina
HB7 Castleford colours.svg Gary Freeman
PR8 Canterbury colours.svg Owen Wright
HK9 Sunshine Coast Colours.svg Barry Harvey
PR10 Widnes colours.svg Kurt Sorensen
SR11 North Sydney colours.svg Mark Graham (c)
SR12 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Hugh McGahan
LK13 HKRcolours.svg Gary Prohm
Substitutions:
IC14 Parramatta colours.svg Shane Cooper
IC15 Parramatta colours.svg Ron O'Regan
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Lowe

Third test

Australian vice-captain Wayne Pearce tore the Anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the first half. Despite surgery and an intense rehabilitation, he was eventually ruled out of the 1986 Kangaroo Tour after failing a team medical.

Australia continued its international dominance and scored a clean sweep against the Kiwis with a 32–12, 6 tries to 2 win in front of almost 23,000 at Lang Park. The match was broadcast into NSW and Qld by the Nine Network and via relay into New Zealand. This game also counted towards the 1985-1988 Rugby League World Cup. [3]

29 July 1986
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg32 – 12Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Tries:
Brett Kenny (2)
Peter Sterling
Wally Lewis
Gene Miles
Michael O'Connor
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (4/6)
[4]
Tries:
Darrell Williams (2)




Goals:
Olsen Filipaina (2/3)
Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 22,811
Referee: Robin Whitfield Flag of England.svg
Player of the Match: Wally Lewis Australian colours.svg
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Australia
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New Zealand
FB1 Balmain colours.svg Garry Jack
RW2 North Sydney colours.svg Les Kiss
RC3 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Gene Miles
LC4 Parramatta colours.svg Brett Kenny
LW5 St. George colours.svg Michael O'Connor
FE6 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wally Lewis (c)
HB7 Parramatta colours.svg Peter Sterling
PR8 Balmain colours.svg Steve Roach
HK9 Penrith colours.svg Royce Simmons
PR10 Canterbury colours.svg Peter Tunks
SR11 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Noel Cleal
SR12 Canterbury colours.svg Steve Folkes
LF13 Balmain colours.svg Wayne Pearce
Substitutions:
IC14 Redcliffe colours.svg Bryan Niebling
IC15 Canterbury colours.svg Terry Lamb
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Don Furner
FB1 Hullcolours.svg Gary Kemble
LW2 Parramatta colours.svg Darrell Williams
RC3 Wolvescolours.svg Joe Ropati
LC4 HKRcolours.svg Gary Prohm
RW5 Hullcolours.svg Dane O'Hara
FE6 North Sydney colours.svg Olsen Filipaina
HB7 Castleford colours.svg Gary Freeman
PR8 North Sydney colours.svg Brent Todd
HK9 Sunshine Coast Colours.svg Barry Harvey
PR10 Widnes colours.svg Kurt Sorensen
SR11 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Hugh McGahan
SR12 North Sydney colours.svg Mark Graham (c)
LK13 Parramatta colours.svg Ron O'Regan
Substitutions:
IC14 Parramatta colours.svg Shane Cooper
IC15 Canterbury colours.svg Owen Wright
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Lowe

Papua New Guinea leg

In Papua New Guinea they defeated Island Zone 26-6 and lost to Southern Zone 20-26 before the two test matches.

First test

10 August 1986
Papua New Guinea  Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg26 – 36Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Tries:
Lauta Atoi
Darius Haili
Joe Tep
Bernard Waketsi


Goals:
Kungas Kuveu (5)
[5]
Tries:
Peter Brown (2)
Mark Elia
Gary Freeman
Hugh McGahan
Dane O'Hara
Joe Ropati
Goals:
Joe Ropati (3)
Peter Brown (1)
Danny Leahy Oval, Goroka
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Kevin Roberts Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Player of the Match: Adrian Shelford New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg
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Papua New Guinea
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New Zealand
FB1 Kungas Kuveu
RW2 Joe Katsir
RC3 Lauta Atoi (c)
LC4 Bal Numapo
LW5 Arnold Tivelit
FE6 Darius Haili
HB7 Gessau Gebob
PR8 Joe Tep
HK9 Roy Heni
PR10 Bobby Ako
SR11 Roy Loitive
SR12 Bernard Waketsi
LF13 Arebo Taumaku
Substitutions:
IC14 Dairi Kovae
IC15 Peter Peng
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Barry Wilson
FB1 Hullcolours.svg Gary Kemble
LW2 Wolvescolours.svg Joe Ropati
RC3 Parramatta colours.svg Darrell Williams
LC4 Widnes colours.svg Mark Elia
RW5 Hullcolours.svg Dane O'Hara
FE6 Hullcolours.svg James Leuluai
HB7 Castleford colours.svg Gary Freeman
PR8 Balmain colours.svg Adrian Shelford
HK9 Canterbury colours.svg Wayne Wallace
PR10 Hunsletcolours.svg Peter Brown
SR11 Canterbury colours.svg Owen Wright
SR12 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Hugh McGahan (c)
LK13 Parramatta colours.svg Ron O'Regan
Substitutions:
IC14 Castleford colours.svg Marty Crequer
IC15 Rhinoscolours.svg Sam Stewart
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Lowe

Second test

This match counted towards the 1988 Rugby League World Cup.

17 August 1986
Papua New Guinea  Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg24 – 22Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Tries:
Darius Haili (2)
Bobby Ako
Lauta Atoi

Goals:
Dairi Kovae (4)
[6]
Tries:
Peter Brown
Hugh McGahan
Joe Ropati
Wayne Wallace
Goals:
Peter Brown (3)
Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Kevin Roberts Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Player of the Match: Arebo Taumaku Papua New Guinea colours.svg
Kit left arm redborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body Vwidered.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm redborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks hoops red.png
Kit socks long.svg
Papua New Guinea
Kit left arm whiteshoulders.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body NZKiwis.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm whiteshoulders.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks 2whitestripes.png
Kit socks long.svg
New Zealand
FB1 Kungas Kuveu
RW2 Joe Katsir
RC3 Lauta Atoi (c)
LC4 Bal Numapo
LW5 Arnold Tivelit
FE6 Darius Haili
HB7 Gessau Gebob
PR8 Joe Tep
HK9 Roy Heni
PR10 Bobby Ako
SR11 Roy Loitive
SR12 Bernard Waketsi
LF13 Arebo Taumaku
Substitutions:
IC14 Dairi Kovae
IC15 Peter Peng
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Barry Wilson
FB1 Hullcolours.svg Gary Kemble
LW2 Wolvescolours.svg Joe Ropati
RC3 Parramatta colours.svg Darrell Williams
LC4 Widnes colours.svg Mark Elia
RW5 Hullcolours.svg Dane O'Hara
FE6 Hullcolours.svg James Leuluai
HB7 Castleford colours.svg Gary Freeman
PR8 Balmain colours.svg Adrian Shelford
HK9 Canterbury colours.svg Wayne Wallace
PR10 Hunsletcolours.svg Peter Brown
SR11 Canterbury colours.svg Owen Wright
SR12 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Hugh McGahan (c)
LK13 Parramatta colours.svg Ron O'Regan
Substitutions:
IC14 Castleford colours.svg Marty Crequer
IC15 Rhinoscolours.svg Sam Stewart
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Lowe

Papua New Guinea scored their first ever test match victory against New Zealand and their first test win since defeating France 37–6 in 1977. The Kumuls would not win another test until 1990. [7]

Aftermath

Following the loss to Papua New Guinea, Graham Lowe resigned in August to take up the position of head coach with English club side Wigan. Tony Gordon was appointed as his replacement in September.

Dun Furner and Wally Lewis would lead the Australian team on the undefeated 1986 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France at the end of the NSWRL and BRL seasons.

See also

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References

  1. 1st Test - New Zealand vs Australia
  2. 2nd Test - Australia vs New Zealand
  3. 1986 3rd Test Australia v New Zealand. 19 December 2013 via YouTube.
  4. 3rd test - Australia vs New Zealand
  5. 1st Test Papua New Guinea vs New Zealand
  6. 2nd Test Papua New Guinea vs New Zealand
  7. Papua New Guinea Kumuls results at Rugby League Project