2015 New Zealand rugby league tour of England

Last updated
2015 Kiwi tour
Sam's Shots 1 - 25089653614.jpg
New Zealand vs Leeds Rhinos in Game 1 of the tour
Date23 October 2015 – 14 November 2015
Summary
PWDL
Total
4202
Test match
3102
Opponent
PWDL
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos
1 1 0 0
Flag of England.svg  England
3 1 0 2
Tour chronology
Previous tour 2007
Next tour 2018

The 2015 New Zealand rugby league tour of England was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The New Zealand national rugby league team played a match against the Leeds Rhinos and competed in a three match test series against England for the Baskerville Shield, losing 2-1.

Contents

Background

Official Rankings as of May 2015 [1]
RankChangeTeamPoints
1Increase2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 949.00
3Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 485.00

New Zealand had originally intended to host a tour against France, while Australia was speculated to host a Great Britain Lions tour. However the Australian Rugby League Commission declined to host a tour and as an alternative the Rugby Football League invited the New Zealand Rugby League to tour Great Britain for a three match series. [2]

On 25 February 2015, the three test match venues were confirmed with Hull's KC Stadium hosting game one on 1 November, the London Olympic Stadium hosting the second test on 7 November and the final test match being held at Wigan's DW Stadium on 14 November. [3]

The match against Leeds was the first time a Super League side had played a touring side since 2002, when the Kiwis played matches against Hull F.C. and St. Helens. It was the first time that Leeds played New Zealand since 1992. The match celebrated the 125th anniversary of Headingley. Leeds has defeated New Zealand once in eleven matches between the two teams. [4] [5]

Squad

Training squad

An initial training squad was named on 8 September 2015 and added to as teams were eliminated from the NRL finals. Kieran Foran was among those initially named but he later withdrew due to injury, joining Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai, Manu Vatuvei, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Jared Warea-Hargreaves as being unavailable for the tour. [6] Skipper Simon Mannering was also later made unavailable for the test series due to injury. [7]

Club TeamPlayers
Squad named on 8 September [8]
Manly Sea Eagles Kieran Foran, Peta Hiku
New Zealand Warriors Solomone Kata, Tui Lolohea, Simon Mannering (c), Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson
Parramatta Eels Manu Mau
Penrith Panthers Lewis Brown, Sam McKendry, Elijah Taylor, Dean Whare
Wests Tigers Manaia Cherrington, Tim Simona, Martin Taupau
Added on 18 September [9]
South Sydney Rabbitohs Bryson Goodwin, Issac Luke
St George Illawarra Dragons Jason Nightingale
Added on 24 September [10]
Canterbury Bulldogs Curtis Rona, Greg Eastwood
Cronulla Sharks Gerard Beale, Sosaia Feki
Wests Tigers Te Maire Martin
Added on 1 October [11]
Melbourne Storm Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor
Sydney Roosters Matt McIlwrick, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Isaac Liu, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Moa

Final squad

The final touring squad of 23 players was named on 8 October. [12]

On 10 October, Jason Taumalolo withdrew from the touring 23-man squad due to a knee injury. He was replaced by Manaia Cherrington. [13] Curtis Rona left the tour after the second test match, returning to Australia to be present for the birth of his daughter. [14]

NameClubPosition(s)GamesTriesGoalsFGsPoints
Gerard Beale Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Centre 00000
Adam Blair (c) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Prop , Second-row 40000
Jesse Bromwich Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Prop 41004
Lewis Brown Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Second-row 30000
Manaia Cherrington Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Hooker 00000
Alex Glenn Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Second-row 30000
Tohu Harris Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Second-row 41004
Peta Hiku Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Sea Eagles Fullback 40000
Jordan Kahu Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Fullback , Wing , Centre 421111
Shaun Kenny-Dowall Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Wing , Centre 41004
Isaac Liu Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Lock 00000
Tuimoala Lolohea Auckland colours.svg New Zealand Warriors Fullback , Wing , Five-eighth 20204
Issac Luke (c) South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Hooker 40408
Ben Matulino Auckland colours.svg New Zealand Warriors Prop 40000
Sam Moa Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Prop 41004
Jason Nightingale St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons Wing 42008
Kodi Nikorima Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Fullback , Halfback , Hooker 41004
Kevin Proctor Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Second-row 40000
Curtis Rona Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bulldogs Wing 00000
Sio Siua Taukeiaho Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Second-row 20000
Martin Taupau Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Lock 40000
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Fullback 430012
Dean Whare Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Centre 41004

Tour summary

New Zealand played four matches on tour, including three test matches against England. [15]

DateOpponentVenueResultScoreAttendanceReport
23 October Leeds Rhinos Headingley, Leeds Won34–1620,158 [16]
1 November England KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull Lost12–2623,526 [17]
7 November England Olympic Stadium, London Won9–244,393 [18]
14 November England DW Stadium, Wigan Lost14–2024,741 [19]

Kiwis vs Rhinos: Headingley 125th anniversary match

Gerard Beale was originally named to play but was replaced by Lewis Brown.

The match was shown on Premier Sports [20] and Sky Sport 2 [21]

23 October 2015
Leeds Rhinos Rhinoscolours.svg 16–34Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Tries: Moon (2) 28' c, 55' c
Briscoe 73'
Goal: Lilley (2/3) 29', 56'
[16]
Tries: Nightingale 37' c
Kahu 40'
Bromwich 63' c
Whare 66'
Tuivasa-Sheck (2) 69', 80'
Nikorima 78' c
Goal: Luke (1/2) 38'
Lolohea (2/5) 63', 78'
Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds
Attendance: 20,158
Referee: Flag of England.svg Richard Silverwood
FB1 Ashton Golding
RW2 Tom Briscoe
RC3 Jimmy Keinhorst
LC4 Joel Moon
LW5 Ash Handley
SO6 Danny McGuire
SH7 Jordan Lilley
PR8 Kylie Leuluai
HK9 Robbie Ward
PR10 Mitch Garbutt
SR11 Adrian Morley
SR12 Josh Walters
LF13 Adam Cuthbertson
Substitutions:
BE14 Ali Lauitiiti
BE15 Anthony Mullally
BE16 Mitch Achurch
BE17 Jordan Baldwinson
BE18 Rob Mulhern
BE19 Brad Singleton
Coach:
Brian McDermott
FB1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW2 Jason Nightingale
RC3 Jordan Kahu
LC4 Dean Whare
LW5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE6 Peta Hiku
HB7 Tuimoala Lolohea
PR8 Jesse Bromwich
HK9 Issac Luke (Captain)
PR10 Ben Matulino
SR11 Kevin Proctor
SR12 Tohu Harris
LK13 Martin Taupau
Substitutions:
BE14 Kodi Nikorima
BE15 Adam Blair (Captain)
BE16 Sam Moa
BE17 Sio Siua Taukeiaho
BE18 Alex Glenn
BE20 Lewis Brown
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

Baskerville Shield

Ahead of New Zealand's Baskerville Shield series against England, their opponents had played a warm-up test match against France on 24 October. [22] [23]

All futures were shown on BBC Sport in the UK, [24] and Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand. [21]

Venues

Hull London Wigan
KC Stadium Olympic Stadium DW Stadium
Capacity: 25,400Capacity: 66,000Capacity: 25,138
KC Stadium before Hull v Burnley.jpg 2015 Rugby World Cup, France vs. Romania (21048401024).jpg England v France 2013 RLWC (1).jpg

Test 1

1 November 2015
England  Flag of England.svg26–12Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Try: Hodgson 21' c
Ferres (2) 36' c, 59' c
O'Loughlin 77' c
Goal: Widdop (5/5) 21', 36', 46', 59', 77'
[17]
Try: Harris 7'
Moa 17' c
Goal: Luke (2/3) 17', 27'
KC Stadium, Kingston-upon-Hull
Attendance: 23,526
Referee: Flag of England.svg Ben Thaler [25]
FB1 Zak Hardaker
RW2 Joe Burgess
RC3 Kallum Watkins
LC4 John Bateman
LW5 Ryan Hall
SO6 Gareth Widdop
SH7 George Williams
PR8 James Graham
HK9 Josh Hodgson
PR10 Chris Hill
SR11 Elliott Whitehead
SR12 Liam Farrell
LF13 Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14 James Roby
BE15 Tom Burgess
BE16 Michael Cooper
BE17 Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
FB1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW2 Jason Nightingale
RC3 Jordan Kahu
LC4 Dean Whare
LW5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE6 Peta Hiku
HB7 Tuimoala Lolohea
PR8 Jesse Bromwich
HK9 Issac Luke (Captain)
PR10 Sam Moa
SR11 Kevin Proctor
SR12 Tohu Harris
LK13 Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14 Kodi Nikorima
BE15 Martin Taupau
BE16 Ben Matulino
BE17 Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

Alex Glenn and Lewis Brown were named as 18th and 19th man respectively for the Kiwis. [26]

Test 2

7 November 2015
England  Flag of England.svg2–9Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Goal: Widdop (1/1) 8' [18]
Try: Kenny-Dowall 43' c
Goal: Luke (1/2) 14'
Kahu (1/1) 43'
Drop Goal: Kahu (1/1) 77'
Olympic Park, London
Attendance: 44,393
Referee: Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gerard Sutton [25]
FB1 Zak Hardaker
RW2 Joe Burgess
RC3 Kallum Watkins
LC4 John Bateman
LW5 Ryan Hall
SO6 Gareth Widdop
SH7 George Williams
PR8 James Graham
HK9 Josh Hodgson
PR10 Chris Hill
SR11 Elliott Whitehead
SR12 Liam Farrell
LF13 Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14 James Roby
BE15 Tom Burgess
BE16 Michael Cooper
BE17 Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
FB1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW2 Jason Nightingale
RC3 Jordan Kahu
LC4 Dean Whare
LW5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE6 Peta Hiku
HB19 Kodi Nikorima
PR8 Jesse Bromwich
HK9 Issac Luke (Captain)
PR10 Sam Moa
SR11 Kevin Proctor
SR12 Tohu Harris
LK13 Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14 Lewis Brown
BE15 Martin Taupau
BE16 Ben Matulino
BE17 Alex Glenn
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

Stephen Kearney originally named Tuimoala Lolohea at halfback before selecting Kodi Nikorima to start the match. [27]

Test 3

14 November 2015
England  Flag of England.svg20–14Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Try: Whitehead (2) 27' c, 63' c
O'Loughlin 72' c
Goal: Widdop (4/4) 5', 27', 63', 72'
[19]
Try: Nightingale 36' c
Tuivasa-Sheck 75'
Kahu 79'
Goal: Luke (1/3) 36'
DW Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 24,741
Referee: Flag of England.svg Ben Thaler [28]
FB1 Zak Hardaker
RW2 Jermaine McGillvary
RC3 Kallum Watkins
LC4 John Bateman
LW5 Ryan Hall
SO6 Gareth Widdop
SH7 Matty Smith
PR8 James Graham
HK9 Josh Hodgson
PR10 Chris Hill
SR11 Elliott Whitehead
SR12 Liam Farrell
LF13 Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14 James Roby
BE15 Tom Burgess
BE16 Michael Cooper
BE17 Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
FB1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW2 Jason Nightingale
RC3 Jordan Kahu
LC4 Dean Whare
LW5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE6 Peta Hiku
HB7 Kodi Nikorima
PR8 Jesse Bromwich
HK9 Issac Luke (Captain)
PR10 Sam Moa
SR11 Kevin Proctor
SR12 Tohu Harris
LK13 Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14 Lewis Brown
BE15 Martin Taupau
BE16 Ben Matulino
BE17 Alex Glenn
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

With the win, England retained the Baskerville Shield. Isaac Liu and Gerard Beale were 18th and 19th man respectively for New Zealand. [29]

Aftermath

England's captain, Sean O'Loughlin was awarded the George Smith Medal as player of the series.

England's retained the Baskerville Shield, 8 years after it was last contested during the 2007 All Golds Tour. [30]

References

  1. RLIF Rankings.
  2. Kiwis to tour England in 2015 nzherald.co.nz, 4 September 2014
  3. "Olympic Stadium to host England-New Zealand rugby league Test". BBC Sport. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  4. "Kiwis to take on Leeds in historic clash". New Zealand Herald. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  5. "Kiwis take on Rhinos in historic clash". nzrl.co.nz. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  6. "Kiwis five-eighth Kieran Foran out of tour to England with elbow injury". stuff.co.nz. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  7. "Kiwis skipper Simon Mannering ruled out of tour to England due to "gastric issues"". stuff.co.nz. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  8. "Warriors rookies named in Kiwis train-on squad". New Zealand Herald. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  9. "Trio added to wider Kiwis tour squad". New Zealand Rugby League. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  10. "Five more added to Kiwis training squad". sports.yahoo.com. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  11. "Roosters rookies make Kiwis squad". nrl.com. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  12. "Kiwis name squad for England tour". NRL.com. 8 October 2015.
  13. "Star Kiwis forward Jason Taumalolo ruled out of England tour as Manaia Cherrington gets the call-up". stuff.co.nz. 10 October 2015.
  14. "Top three winners and losers from Kiwis tour of England". stuff.co.nz. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  15. England and New Zealand to make history at London's Olympic Stadium aprlc.com, 26 February 2015
  16. 1 2 "BBC Sport - New Zealand beat Leeds Rhinos in warm-up before England series". BBC Sport.
  17. 1 2 "England claim comeback win over New Zealand in first Test". Sky Sports.
  18. 1 2 "New Zealand beat England 9-2 to level Test series". Sky Sports.
  19. 1 2 "International Series 2015: England 20-14 New Zealand - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 14 November 2015.
  20. "Leeds v NZ live on Premier Sports". 21 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  21. 1 2 KIWIS Tour of Great Britain - LIVE SKY SPORT 2 skysport.co.nz, 22 October 2015
  22. "England to face France before New Zealand series". 27 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  23. "Rugby League Super 8s - News & Live Scores - Betting Tips - Sporting Life". sportinglife.com. Archived from the original on 2015-10-26. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
  24. "England series with New Zealand to be shown live on BBC". 26 June 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  25. 1 2 "Referees appointed for New Zealand v England Test Series". 21 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  26. "Kiwis name four debutants for first test". New Zealand Herald. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  27. "Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney admits to taking huge gamble on Kodi Nikorima". stuff.co.nz. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  28. "Ben Thaler gets nod to referee England-New Zealand decider". 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  29. "New Zealand unchanged for third Test against England". Sky Sports. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  30. "England claim series victory". sportinglife.aol.co.uk. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.