Junior Kangaroos

Last updated
Junior Kangaroos
Team information
NicknameKangaroos
Governing body ARLC
Region Asia-Pacific
Head coach Neil Henry
Captain David Fifita
Top try-scorer Dane Gagai (4)
Top point-scorer Dane Gagai (16)

The Junior Kangaroos side represents Australia in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kangaroos, after the native marsupial of that name.

Contents

Since 2019, they are an under-23 side, with players selected from the NRL. They are administered by the Australian Rugby League Commission.

History

Prior to 2010, the Junior Kangaroos was selected on an under-19 age basis. The best Australian players 19 years of age or younger, would represent the country against the likes of the Junior Kiwis, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, sometimes as curtain raisers to the senior Kangaroos games. Players such as Greg Bird, Matt Bowen, Justin Hodges, Luke Lewis, Jamie Lyon, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston represented the Junior Kangaroos early in their careers and went on to play at the senior level for Australia. The last Junior Kangaroos side selected under the under 19 rules was in 2007. This would be the last Junior Kangaroos team until 2010.

In 2010, with the advent of the National Youth Competition, the Junior Kangaroos was switched to an under-20 team and played in a two Test series against the Junior Kiwis. [1] [2] [3] [4] From 2011 to 2018, the Junior Kangaroos have faced the Junior Kiwis at the end of each season in a one-off Test match, usually as a curtain raiser to a senior level Australia-New Zealand Test match.

In 2019, the ARL announced that Junior Kangaroos would be moving to an under-23 format and would play France at WIN Stadium. [5]

2010 series

1st Test

Played as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand-England Four Nations match.

23 October 2010
Junior Kiwis New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 16 – 24 Australian colours.svg Junior Kangaroos
Tries
Siuatonga Likiliki 1
Drury Low 1
Shaun Johnson 1
Goals
Shaun Johnson 2
Report
Tries
Dane Gagai 2
Michael Oldfield 1
Justin O'Neill 1
Cameron King 1
Goals
Cameron King 2
Junior Kangaroos
2010 teamCoaching staff

Head coach

  • David Hamilton



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 2 October 2018
Source(s): NYCDB

2nd Test

Played as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand-Papua New Guinea Four Nations match.

30 October 2010
Junior Kiwis New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 36 – 20 Australian colours.svg Junior Kangaroos
Tries
Lama Tasi 1
Drury Low 1
Nafe Seluini 1
Martin Taupau 1
Siuatonga Likiliki 1
Carlos Tuimavave 1
Goals
Shaun Johnson 6
Report
Tries
Michael Oldfield 1
Josh Jackson 1
Dane Gagai 1
Justin O'Neill 1
Goals
Cameron King 2
Junior Kangaroos
2010 teamCoaching staff

Head coach

  • David Hamilton



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 2 October 2018
Source(s): NYCDB

2011 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand pre-Four Nations tournament match. Both coaches agreed to allow an 18th man be used during the match.

16 October 2011
Junior Kangaroos Australian colours.svg 16 – 28 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Junior Kiwis
Tries
Dane Gagai 2
Stewart Mills 1
Kane Evans 1
Goals
Chad Townsend 2
Report
Tries
Sebastine Ikahihifo 2
John Palavi 1
Michael Parker-Walshe 1
Wayne Ulugia 1
Goals
Siliva Havili 3
Sio Siua Taukeiaho 1
Junior Kangaroos
2011 teamCoaching staff

Head coach

  • Andrew Patmore



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)


2012 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand end of year Test match.

13 October 2012
Junior Kangaroos Australian colours.svg 48 – 16 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Junior Kiwis
Tries
Edrick Lee 2
Jack Wighton 2
Cheyse Blair 1
Tautau Moga 1
David Klemmer 1
Mahe Fonua 1
Jack Stockwell 1
Goals
Jacob Miller 6
Report
Tries
Ngataua Hukatai 2
David Fusitua 1
Carlos Tuimavave 1
Junior Kangaroos
2012 teamCoaching staff

Head coach

  • Kelly Egan



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)


2013 match

13 October 2012
Junior Kangaroos Australian colours.svg 38 – 26 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Junior Kiwis
Tries
Patrick Mago 2
Vai Toutai 1
Junior Paulo 1
David Nofoaluma 1
Charly Runciman 1
Mitchell Cornish 1
Goals
Bryce Cartwright 5
Report
Tries
Kurtis Rowe 2
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2
Raymond Faitala-Mariner 1
Goals
Mason Lino 3
Junior Kangaroos
2013 teamCoaching staff

Head coach

  • Kelly Egan



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)


2014 match

18 October 2014
Junior Kiwis New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 15 – 14 Australian colours.svg Junior Kangaroos
Tries
Sam Manuleleua 1
Kodi Nikorima 1
Chance Peni 1
Goals
Zach Dockar-Clay 1
Field Goals
Te Maire Martin 1
Report
Tries
Valentine Holmes 2
Jake Mamo 1
Goals
Clinton Gutherson 1
Junior Kangaroos
2014 teamCoaching staff

Head coach

  • Kelly Egan



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)


2015 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Papua New Guinea-Fiji Melanesian Cup match and the Samoa-Tonga Polynesian Cup match.

2 May 2015
Junior Kangaroos Australian colours.svg 22 – 20 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Junior Kiwis
Tries
Valentine Holmes 1
Robert Jennings 1
Brenko Lee 1
Tepai Moeroa 1
Goals
Jackson Hastings 2
Valentine Holmes 1
Report
Tries
Watson Heleta 1
Joseph Manu 1
Te Maire Martin 1
Tony Tumusa 1
Goals
Zach Dockar-Clay 2
Junior Kangaroos
2015 teamCoaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)


2016 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Papua New Guinea-Fiji Melanesian Cup match and the Samoa-Tonga Polynesian Cup match.

7 May 2016
Junior Kangaroos Australian colours.svg 34 – 20 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Junior Kiwis
Tries
Nathan Cleary 1
JJ Felise 1
Robert Jennings 1
Brian Kelly 1
Curtis Scott 1
Connor Watson 1
Goals
Nathan Cleary 5
Report
Tries
Mafoa'aeata Hingano 2
Siosifa Talakai 1
Ken Tofilau 1
Goals
Jamayne Isaako 2
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta, Australia
Referee: David Munro
Junior Kangaroos
2016 teamCoaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 1 May 2016
Source(s): NRL

2017 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the 2017 Anzac Test.

6 May 2017
Junior Kangaroos Australian colours.svg 46 – 22 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Junior Kiwis
Tries
Tyronne Roberts-Davis 2
Reece Robson 2
Corey Allan 1
Jai Field 1
Victor Radley 1
Jaydn Su'A 1
Goals
Jai Field 5

Tries
1 Dane Aukafolau
1 Jarome Luai
1 Steven Marsters
1 Briton Nikora
Goals
3 Patrick Herbert
GIO Stadium, Canberra, Australia
Referee: Phil Henderson
Junior Kangaroos
2017 teamCoaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 4 May 2017
Source(s): NRL

2018 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand end of year Test match.

13 October 2018
Junior Kiwis New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 24 – 40 Australian colours.svg Junior Kangaroos
Tries
Jackson Ferris 1
Steven Marsters 1
Sean Mullany 1
Isaiah Papali'i 1
Joseph Vuna 1
Goals
Chanel Harris-Tavita 2/5
Report
Tries
2 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
2 Enari Tuala
1 Corey Allan
1 Thomas Flegler
1 Louis Geraghty
Goals
6/7 Zac Lomax
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
Referee: Chris McMillan
Junior Kangaroos
2018 teamCoaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 2 October 2018
Source(s): NRL

2019 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand Oceania Cup match.

25 October 2019
Junior Kangaroos Australian colours.svg 62 – 4 France colours.svg France
Tries
Goals
Report
Tries
Goals
WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Australia
Referee: Grant Atkins
Junior Kangaroos
2019 teamCoaching staff

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 7 October 2019
Source(s): NRL

Players

Captains

Coaches

See also

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References

  1. "Junior Kangaroos Squad Named - NRL". 22 September 2010.
  2. "Junior Kangaroos team named - NRL". 4 October 2010.
  3. "Reference at www.dailytelegraph.com.au".
  4. "Reference at www.dailytelegraph.com.au".
  5. "Junior Kangaroos squad announced - Storm". 7 October 2019.