List of Australia national rugby league team records

Last updated

The Australia national rugby league team lining up before a match Australia national rugby league team (26 October 2008).jpg
The Australia national rugby league team lining up before a match

Australia have competed in international rugby league matches since 1908. They have appeared at every Rugby League World Cup, winning the tournament eleven times. The records listed below only include performances in test matches and internationals. The top five are listed in each category (except when there is a tie for the last place among the five, when all the tied record holders are noted). [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Team records

Biggest wins

Margin (score)Opposing teamVenueTournament
106 (110–4)Flag of Russia.svg  Russia The Boulevard, Hull 2000 Rugby League World Cup
84 (84–0)Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Coventry Arena, Coventry 2021 Rugby League World Cup
82 (82–0)Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Willows Sports Complex, Townsville 2000 – Test match
80 (86–6)Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead 1995 Rugby League World Cup
74 (74–0)Flag of France.svg  France Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers 1994 France vs Australia – Test match
70 (84–14)Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle 1996 – International

Biggest losses

Margin (score)Opposing teamVenueTournament
24 (25–49)Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand The Gabba, Brisbane 1952 Trans-Tasman series – 2nd Test
24 (0–24)Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Elland Road, Leeds 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations Final
23 (17–40)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1958 Ashes series – 3rd Test
23 (10–33)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Princes Park, Melbourne 1992 Ashes series – 2nd Test
21 (14–35)Flag of France.svg  France Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1951 Australia vs France – 3rd Test
21 (3–24)Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Carlaw Park, Auckland 1971 Trans-Tasman Test

Highest aggregate scores

Aggregate (score)Opposing teamVenueTournament
114 (110–4)Flag of Russia.svg  Russia The Boulevard, Hull 2000 Rugby League World Cup
98 (84–14)Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle 1996 – International
92 (86–6)Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead 1995 Rugby League World Cup
84 (84–0)Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Coventry Arena, Coventry 2021 Rugby League World Cup
82 (82–0)Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Willows Sports Complex, Townsville 2000 – Test match
74 (74–0)Flag of France.svg  France Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers 1994 France vs Australia – Test match
74 (64–10)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 2002 – Test match
74 (62–12)Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup

Lowest aggregate scores

Aggregate (score)Opposing teamVenueTournament
0 (0–0)Flag of England.svg  England Station Road, Swinton 1929–30 Ashes series – 3rd Test
3 (0–3)Flag of England.svg  England Athletic Grounds, Rochdale 1929–30 Ashes series – 4th Test
4 (0–4)Flag of England.svg  England Belle Vue, Manchester 1933 Ashes series – 1st Test
5 (0–5)Flag of France.svg  France Stade Municipal, Bordeaux 1952–53 France vs Australia series – 2nd Test
6 (0–6)Flag of England.svg  England The Willows, Salford 1921–22 Ashes series – 3rd Test
6 (6–0)Flag of England.svg  England Lang Park, Brisbane 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final

Individual records

Most appearances

CapsNameCareer
59 Darren Lockyer 1998–2011
56 Cameron Smith 2006–2017
46 Mal Meninga 1982–1994
45 Graeme Langlands 1963–1975
45 Petero Civoniceva 2001–2011

Most appearances as captain

CapsNameCareer
38 Darren Lockyer 1998–2025
33 Cameron Smith 2006–2017
27 Clive Churchill 1948–1956
25 Brad Fittler 1991–1995, 1998–2001
24 Wally Lewis 1981–1989, 1991

Most points

TriesGoalsField goalsPointsNameCareer
131650382 Johnathan Thurston 2006–2017
101390308 Mick Cronin 1973–1982
21990278 Mal Meninga 1982–1994
12890226 Andrew Johns 1995–2006
20730206 Graeme Langlands 1963–1975

Most tries

TriesNameCareer
35 Darren Lockyer 1998–2011
33 Ken Irvine 1959–1967
31 Greg Inglis 2006–2016
28 Reg Gasnier 1959–1967
27 Billy Slater 2008–2014, 2017

Most goals

PointsNameCareer
165 Johnathan Thurston 2006–2017
139 Mick Cronin 1973–1982
99 Mal Meninga 1982–1994
89 Andrew Johns 1995–2006
73 Graeme Langlands 1963–1975

Most points in a game

TriesGoalsField goalsPointsNameOpposing teamVenueTournament
317046 Ryan Girdler Flag of Russia.svg  Russia The Boulevard, Hull 2000 Rugby League World Cup
49034 Mat Rogers Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead 2000 Rugby League World Cup
212032 Andrew Johns Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle 1996 – International
47030 Michael O'Connor Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Eric Weissel Oval, Wagga Wagga 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup
211030 Andrew Johns Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead 1995 Rugby League World Cup

Most tries in a game

GoalsNameOpposing teamVenueTournament
6 Valentine Holmes Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Lang Park, Brisbane 2017 Rugby League World Cup
5 Valentine Holmes Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Marrara Oval, Darwin 2017 Rugby League World Cup
5 Josh Addo-Carr Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Coventry Arena, Coventry 2021 Rugby League World Cup
4 John Ribot Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby 1982 – International
4 Dale Shearer Flag of France.svg  France Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup
4 Michael O'Connor Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Eric Weissel Oval, Wagga Wagga 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup
4 Brett Dallas Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle 1996 – International
4 Gorden Tallis Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Willows Sports Complex, Townsville 2000 – Test match
4 Mat Rogers Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead 2000 Rugby League World Cup
4 Wendell Sailor Flag of Russia.svg  Russia The Boulevard, Hull 2000 Rugby League World Cup
4 Brett Morris Flag of the United States.svg  United States Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 2013 Rugby League World Cup
4 Jarryd Hayne Flag of the United States.svg  United States Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 2013 Rugby League World Cup
4 Wade Graham Flag of France.svg  France Canberra Stadium 2017 Rugby League World Cup

Most goals in a game

GoalsNameOpposing teamVenueTournament
17 Ryan Girdler Flag of Russia.svg  Russia The Boulevard, Hull 2000 Rugby League World Cup
13 Mat Rogers Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Willows Sports Complex, Townsville 2000 – Test match
12 Andrew Johns Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle 1996 – International
12 Nathan Cleary Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Coventry Arena, Coventry 2021 Rugby League World Cup
11 Rod Wishart Flag of France.svg  France Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers 1994 France vs Australia – Test match
11 Andrew Johns Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead 1995 Rugby League World Cup

Oldest players

AgeNameOpposing teamVenueTournament
38 years, 158 days Sandy Pearce Flag of England.svg  England The Boulevard, Hull 1921–22 Ashes series – 2nd Test
36 years, 23 days Billy Wilson Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Lang Park, Brisbane 1963 Trans-Tasman series – 2nd Test
35 years, 57 days Steve Price Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Lang Park, Brisbane 2009 Anzac Test
35 years, 15 days Petero Civoniceva Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle 2011 Anzac Test
34 years, 349 days Darren Smith Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Kirklees Stadium, Huddersfield 2003 Ashes series – 3rd Test

Youngest players

AgeNameOpposing teamVenueTournament
18 years, 129 days Sione Mata'utia Flag of England.svg  England Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne 2014 Rugby League Four Nations
18 years, 194 days Israel Folau Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Lang Park, Brisbane 2007 Anzac Test
18 years, 301 days Charles Fraser Flag of England.svg  England St James' Park, Newcastle 1911–12 Ashes series – 1st Test
18 years, 316 days Kerry Boustead Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1978 Trans-Tasman series – 1st Test
19 years, 5 days Dugald McGregor Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane 1909 Trans-Tasman series – 2nd Test
19 years, 240 days Jeremiah Nanai Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Headingley, Leeds 2021 Rugby League World Cup

Attendance records

Highest attendances in Australia

AttendanceOpposing teamVenueTournament
70,204 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg England* Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1932 Ashes series – 1st Test
70,174Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1962 Ashes series – 1st Test
68,777Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1958 Ashes series – 1st Test
68,720Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1958 Ashes series – 3rd Test
67,748Flag of France.svg  France Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1955 Australia vs France – 1st Test

* Great Britain played as England in the 1932 Ashes.

Highest attendances per opponent in Australia

AttendanceOpposing teamVenueTournament
70,204 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg England* Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1932 Ashes series – 1st Test
67,748Flag of France.svg  France Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1955 Australia vs France – 1st Test
56,326Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1952 Trans-Tasman series - 1st Test
40,033Flag of England.svg  England Lang Park, Brisbane 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final
33,196Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga Lang Park, Brisbane 2024 Pacific Championships
25,386Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1975 Rugby League World Cup
22,073Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Lang Park, Brisbane 2017 Rugby League World Cup
21,127Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 2017 Rugby League World Cup
21,000Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Willows Sports Complex, Townsville 2000 – Test match
18,456Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Wollongong Showground, Wollongong 2014 Rugby League Four Nations
16,995Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1963 South African tour – 2nd Test

* Great Britain played as England in the 1932 Ashes.

Highest attendances outside of Australia

AttendanceOpposing teamVenueTournament
74,468Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Old Trafford, Manchester 2013 Rugby League World Cup Final
73,631Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Wembley Stadium, London 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup Final
67,545Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Wembley Stadium, London 2013 Rugby League World Cup Semi-Final*
67,502Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Old Trafford, Manchester 2021 Rugby League World Cup Final
66,540Flag of England.svg  England Wembley Stadium, London 1995 Rugby League World Cup Final

* played as a World Cup Semi-finals double header also featuring England vs New Zealand.

Highest attendances per opponent

AttendanceOpposing teamVenueTournament
74,468Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Old Trafford, Manchester 2013 Rugby League World Cup Final
73,631Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Wembley Stadium, London 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup Final
67,748Flag of France.svg  France Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1955 Australia vs France – 1st Test
67,545Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Wembley Stadium, London 2013 Rugby League World Cup Semi-Final
67,502Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Old Trafford, Manchester 2021 Rugby League World Cup Final
66,540Flag of England.svg  England Wembley Stadium, London 1995 Rugby League World Cup Final
33,196Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga Lang Park, Brisbane 2024 Pacific Championships
25,386Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1975 Rugby League World Cup
21,127Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 2017 Rugby League World Cup
21,000Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Willows Sports Complex, Townsville 2000 – Test match
16,995Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 1963 South African tour – 2nd Test
10,276Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Coventry Arena, Coventry 2021 Rugby League World Cup
5,586Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Langtree Park, St Helens 2021 Rugby League World Cup
5,762Flag of the United States.svg  United States Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 2013 Rugby League World Cup Quarter-final
5,021Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland Thomond Park, Limerick 2013 Rugby League World Cup
3,044Flag of Russia.svg  Russia The Boulevard, Hull 2000 Rugby League World Cup

See also

References

  1. Middleton, David (2019). 2019 Rugby League Annual. pp. 238–239.
  2. "Australia - Results - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
  3. "Australia - Head To Head - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 2020-03-27.