1982 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
The 1982 Kangaroo tour was the fifteenth Kangaroo tour where the Australian national rugby league team played a number of matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to the Test matches. The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 barring wartime, toured Great Britain every four years often capping the tour with matches and Tests in France. This regular touring side (and in recent years all Australian representative sides) are known as the Kangaroos.
The 1982 Kangaroos, coached by Frank Stanton dominated, winning both Test series against Great Britain (three Tests) and France (two Tests); winning every match of the tour and earning the nickname The Invincibles. This was the first Kangaroo undefeated touring side winning twenty-two matches played and scoring 1,005 points with 120 against at an average of 45.6 points per game while conceding only 5.4 points per game. The twenty-eight player squad was captained by Max Krilich, with Wally Lewis his deputy. The next Kangaroo Tour was staged in 1986.
Touring party
The team was coached by the tough and single-minded Balmain Tigers coach Frank Stanton who demanded great discipline and focus from his sides and who was making his third tour and his second consecutive as coach after also coaching the successful 1978 Kangaroo tour. Manly-Warringah's Max Krilich was making his second Kangaroo tour and was named captain and carried out his duties coolly and with great application.[1] Queensland captain Wally Lewis was named as tour vice-captain.
Interviewed by Whiticker in 2004 Krilich said about the talented squad; "The players in that squad were yet to reach their full potential. We were criticised as a weak side, but nobody knew how great a player Wayne Pearce was going to be on the tour. Wally Lewis was still in his early 20s and many of the Queenslanders were in the early stages of their careers". He also spoke of Stanton (who was his Manly-Warringah club coach when he had won the 1976 and 1978 NSWRFL premierships, the second of which Krilich was captain of the Sea Eagles): "Frank was a mentally tough coach who totally believed in what he told his players. Great credit must go to Stanton who played down the accomplishment and kept our heads straight." [2]
While the pair did not enjoy an easy relationship, mostly due to Stanton not being impressed with his attitude to training or habits on tour which actually caused him to put on weight, Wally Lewis also found respect for Stanton he had not previously experienced after making his test debut under him against France in 1981. After missing selection for the first Test in Hull in favour of Parramatta's 1982 premiership winning Five-eighth Brett Kenny, Stanton challenged Lewis to get back into shape and win his way back into the Test team, something he achieved with selection on the bench for the second Test in Wigan and the third Test in Leeds. Lewis later admitted that early on in the tour his poor attitude did not sit well with Stanton and that it had led to his missing first test selection.
Six players from the 1982 NSWRL premiership winning Parramatta Eels were selected in the squad, a new Kangaroo tour record for the club with all six players playing in at least one test each on the tour. Manly, the team they defeated in the inaugural Winfield Cup Grand Final, also had six players selected. One Manly player considered unlucky not to tour was their Queensland back rower Paul Vautin who had made his test debut earlier in the year against New Zealand and was one of Manly's best in their run to the Grand Final. His non-selection came as a shock to many and rumours started that he had missed out due to the NSW vs Qld selection room politics which prevailed at the time and that he had been a trade-off for a NSW player to be selected (ironically Vautin would be back into the test team for the first test against New Zealand in 1983). 1982 Brisbane premiers Wynnum-Manly had two players selected (Gene Miles and Rod Morris), while the team they defeated in the BRL Grand Final Souths Magpies were represented by Mal Meninga.
One notable absentee was Western Suburbs Five-eighth Terry Lamb who had represented NSW in the 1981 State of Origin game. Lamb was originally selected to tour but declined to do so due to his upcoming wedding to his fiance Kim.[3]
Tour managers were the Newtown administrator Frank Farrington and Queenslands, Tom Drysdale. Open Rugby magazine claimed the Australians had brought "a new dimension of excitement and adventure" to the game and former England great Alex Murphy, who called each test for the BBC alongside Ray French, called then "men from another planet."[1]
This was the first Kangaroo tour since the introduction of State of Origin and it allowed Queensland to counter New South Wales' long dominance in representative selection with a record-equalling eleven Queenslanders selected for the tour.[4] This was a considerable increase on the Queensland representation in the 1978 Kangaroos when only three players were selected. Interestingly, two of those players, Kerry Boustead and Rod Morris, were also members of the 1982 Kangaroos.
Despite there being a record number, the selection of only 11 Queenslander's in the 28 man touring squad was controversial. Queensland had won the 1982 State of Origin series despite being comparatively under prepared due to the NSWRFL clubs refusing to release their Queensland players for pre-series training. Among the Queensland Origin representatives to miss selection were Manly-Warringah's Paul Vautin and Chris Close (who had been the Man of the Match in both Origin games in 1980 and 1981), Wynnum-Manly fullback Colin Scott and South Sydney outside back Mitch Brennan.
Future Kangaroos captain Mal Meninga, making the first of his record four consecutive Kangaroo Tours, was the leading point scorer on tour with 166 from 10 tries and 68 goals, including 48 points in the three Tests against Great Britain (2 tries, 21 goals), and 17 points in the two Tests against France (1 try, 7 goals). John Ribot was the leading try scorer on tour with 25 from just 14 games, including a try in the 3rd test against Great Britain. Ribot added 20 goals to his points tally to join Meninga as the only players on tour to score over 100 points.
By club
The touring side was represented by 17 New South Welshmen (N) and 11 Queenslanders (Q).
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (6): Max Krilich (captain) (N), Kerry Boustead (Q), John Ribot (Q), Les Boyd (N), Paul McCabe (Q), Ray Brown (N)
- Parramatta Eels (6): Brett Kenny (N), Peter Sterling (N), Steve Ella (N), Eric Grothe (N), Ray Price (N), John Muggleton (N)
- Canterbury Bulldogs (3): Greg Brentnall (N), Chris Anderson (N), Steve Mortimer (N)
- St George Dragons (2): Rod Reddy (Q), Craig Young (N)
- Valleys Diehards (2): Wally Lewis (vice-captain) (Q), Mark Murray (Q)
- Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (2): Gene Miles (Q), Rod Morris (Q)
- Balmain Tigers (1): Wayne Pearce (N)
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (1): Steve Rogers (N)
- Eastern Suburbs Roosters (1): Ian Schubert (N)
- Norths Devils (1): Greg Conescu (Q)
- North Sydney Bears (1): Don McKinnon (N)
- Souths Magpies (1): Mal Meninga (Q)
- Warwick (1): Rohan Hancock (Q)
Papua New Guinea and Western Australia
Before flying to England, half the squad, led by Kangaroos vice-captain Wally Lewis, went to Perth to play Western Australia, while the other half, along with coach Stanton, travelled to Papua New Guinea for Australia's first ever Test match against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls, won 38–2 by the Kangaroos. Nine of the players who travelled to PNG with Stanton would go on to play in the first Test against Great Britain. Winger John Ribot crossed for four tries (though he would be overlooked for the first two Ashes Tests in favour of Eric Grothe), while fullback Greg Brentnall scored twice. Other try scorers for the Kangaroos were Kerry Boustead, Brett Kenny, Mal Meninga and Steve Rogers, while Meninga kicked 4 goals. Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny, Mark Murray and Ray Brown made their test debuts in the match.
Those missing from the 2nd test win over New Zealand earlier in the year at the Sydney Cricket Ground were Michael Cronin who did not tour, and Wally Lewis, Steve Mortimer, Les Boyd and Rod Morris who played in Perth on the same day.
2 October 1982 |
Papua New Guinea  |
2 – 38 |  Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Goals: Kungas Kuveu (1/2) |
Tries: John Ribot (4) Greg Brentnall (2) Kerry Boustead Brett Kenny Mal Meninga Steve Rogers Goals: Mal Meninga (4/10) |
| Papua New Guinea | Position | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Kungas Kuveu | FB | Greg Brentnall |
| Alan Rero | WG | John Ribot |
| Ifiso Segeyaro | CE | Mal Meninga |
| James Yip | CE | Steve Rogers |
| D. Timi | WG | Kerry Boustead |
| Jon Joseph (c) | SO | Brett Kenny |
| Alfred Kabavas | SH | Peter Sterling |
| Tara Gau | PR | Rohan Hancock |
| Otti Asotau | HK | Max Krilich (c) |
| Joe Tep | PR | Craig Young |
| Arebo Taumaku | SR | Rod Reddy |
| L. Tete | SR | John Muggleton |
| Roy Loitive | LF | Ray Price |
| Francis Matmillo | Int. | Mark Murray |
| Ekon Togili | Int. | Ray Brown |
| Skerry Palanga | Coach | Frank Stanton |
| Saturday, 2 October | Western Australia  |
5 – 57 |  Australia |
Kennington Raceway, Perth | |
| Tries: Mick Rasmussen Goals: P. Harrison (1) |
Tries: Eric Grothe (4), Ian Schubert (2), Chris Anderson, Greg Conescu, Steve Ella, Gene Miles, Rod Morris, Paul McCabe, Wayne Pearce Goals: Wally Lewis (4) Steve Ella (3) Les Boyd (2) |
Attendance: 3,000 |
Australia: Ian Schubert, Eric Grothe, Steve Ella, Gene Miles, Chris Anderson, Wally Lewis (c), Steve Mortimer, Rod Morris, Greg Conescu, Rohan Hancock, Les Boyd, Paul McCabe, Wayne Pearce. Res – Don McKinnon
In Perth, the Kangaroos crossed for 13 tries (with Eric Grothe bagging four) and predictably defeated WA 57–5.
Great Britain
Once on English soil controversy surfaced when the incumbent Australian Test halves from the mid-year tests against New Zealand, Steve Mortimer and Wally Lewis (both had played the game against WA in Perth), were incomprehensibly not chosen for the opening match. Instead, Stanton chose to go with the halves from the test against Papua New Guinea, Parramatta's Grand Final winning duo Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny. The Eels pair took the field against Hull Kingston Rovers and, playing alongside nine of the eventual first Test team, set about locking up their positions for the first Test on 30 October.
Leading up to the first Test at the Boothferry Park ground in Hull, the Kangaroos also played a tour international match against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff on 24 October. The match was played in heavy rain in front of 5,617 fans and Australia, captained by Wally Lewis, ran in nine tries to one in a 37-7 rout. The game marked the first time Lewis, who would take over the Test captaincy in 1984, captained Australia in an international match.
Fiery forward Les Boyd enhanced his reputation for the rough play when he was sent off twice on tour. He was sent off in the first game of the tour against Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven Park, and in the second Test against the Lions at Central Park in Wigan. He was also sin-binned in the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds.
| Sunday, 10 October | Hull KR  |
10 – 30 | Australia |
Craven Park, Hull | |
| Tries: Steve Hartley, Gary Prohm Goals: George Fairbairn (2) |
Tries: Peter Sterling (2), Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Steve Rogers, Craig Young Goals: Mal Meninga (6) |
Attendance: 10,742 Referee: Fred Lindop |
Hull Kingston Rovers: George Fairbairn, Steve Hubbard, Mike Smith, Ian Robinson, Garry Clark, Steve Hartley, James Walsh, Roy Holdstock, David Watkinson, Steve Crooks, Andy Kelly, Chris Burton, Gary Prohm. Res – Phil Lowe. Coach – Roger Millward
Australia: Greg Brentnall, Eric Grothe, Mal Meninga, Steve Rogers, John Ribot, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Craig Young, Max Krilich (c), Rod Morris, Les Boyd, Rod Reddy, Ray Price. Res – Wally Lewis, John Muggleton
Hull KR led the Kangaroos 8–5 at half time. It would not be until Leeds led Australia 10–6 at Headingley during the 1990 Kangaroo tour that an English club side would lead the Kangaroos at half time of a tour march.
| Wednesday, 13 October | Wigan  |
9 – 13 | Australia |
Central Park, Wigan | |
| Tries: Henderson Gill Goals: Colin Whitfield (3) |
Tries: Kerry Boustead, John Muggleton, Paul McCabe Goals: Steve Ella (2) |
Attendance: 12,158 Referee: Gerry Kershaw |
Wigan: Barry Williams, Dennis Ramsdale, David Stephenson, Colin Whitfield, Henderson Gill, Martin Foy, Gary Stephens, Lee Bamber, Nicky Kiss, Glyn Shaw, Brian Juliff, Mick Scott, John Pendlebury. Res – Jimmy Fairhurst, Danny Campbell. Coach – Alex Murphy
Australia: Ian Schubert, Chris Anderson, Steve Ella, Gene Miles, Kerry Boustead, Wally Lewis (c), Steve Mortimer, Don McKinnon, Ray Brown, Rohan Hancock, Paul McCabe, John Muggleton, Wayne Pearce. Res – Steve Rogers, Ray Price
| Friday, 15 October | Barrow  |
2 – 29 | Australia |
Craven Park, Barrow-in-Furness | |
| Tries: Goals: Steve Tickle (1) |
Tries: Ian Schubert (2), Greg Conescu, Steve Ella, Mark Murray, Wayne Pearce, Steve Rogers Goals: Wally Lewis (3) Steve Rogers (1) |
Attendance: 6,282 Referee: Derek Fox |
Barrow: Steve Tickle, Keith Bentley, Ron O'Regan, Ralph McConnell, Michael James, Mel Mason, David Cairns, Malcolm Flynn, Les Wall, Peter Gee, Eddie Szymala, Mark Gillespie, Derek Hadley. Res – Steve Herbert. Coach – Frank Foster
Australia: Ian Schubert, Chris Anderson, Steve Ella, Gene Miles, John Ribot, Wally Lewis (c), Mark Murray, Rohan Hancock, Greg Conescu, Rod Morris, Les Boyd, Rod Reddy, Wayne Pearce. Res – Ray Brown, Steve Rogers
| Sunday, 17 October | St Helens  |
0 – 32 | Australia |
Knowsley Road, St Helens | |
| Tries: Goals: |
Tries: Kerry Boustead (2), Les Boyd (2), Eric Grothe (2), Steve Rogers, Peter Sterling Goals: Mal Meninga (4/8) |
Attendance: 8,190 Referee: Robin Whitfield Man of the Match: Les Boyd |
St Helens: Clive Griffiths, Barry Ledger, Chris Arkwright, David Fairclough, Denis Litherland, Stephen Peters, Neil Holding, Mel James, Michael Glover, Brian Gelling, Roy Mathias, Paul Forber, Andy Platt. Res – John Smith, Paul Brownbill. Coach – Billy Benyon
Australia: Greg Brentnall, Kerry Boustead, Mal Meninga, Steve Rogers, Eric Grothe, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Craig Young, Max Krilich (c), Les Boyd, Wayne Pearce, John Muggleton, Ray Price. Res – Wally Lewis, Rod Morris
| Wednesday, 20 October | Leeds  |
4 – 31 | Australia |
Headingley, Leeds | |
| Tries: Goals: Mark Conway (2) |
Tries: Steve Ella (2), Mal Meninga (2), Kerry Boustead, Eric Grothe, Steve Rogers Goals: Mal Meninga (5) |
Attendance: 11,570 Referee: Billy Thompson Man of the Match: Wayne Pearce |
Leeds: Neil Hague, Alan Smith, Ian Wilkinson, Les Dyl, Andrew Smith, John Holmes, Mark Conway, Roy Dickinson, David Ward (c), Tony Burke, Keith Rayne, Wayne Heron, David Heron. Res – Mark Massa, Andrew Sykes. Coach – Robin Dewhurst
Australia: Greg Brentnall, Kerry Boustead, Mal Meninga, Steve Rogers, Eric Grothe, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Craig Young, Max Krilich (c), Les Boyd, Paul McCabe, John Muggleton, Wayne Pearce. Res – Steve Ella, Rod Morris
Wales
The Kangaroos played a non-test international against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff.
24 Oct 1982 |
Wales  |
7 – 37 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Brynmor Williams Goals: Steve Fenwick (1) Lyn Hopkins (1) |
Tries: Steve Ella (4) John Ribot (2) Wally Lewis Mark Murray Don McKinnon Goals: Wally Lewis (4) Don McKinnon (1) |
The Ashes series
Due to sponsorship reasons, the 1982 Ashes was known as the "Dominion Insurance Test series".
First Test
While Australia's side for the opening Test was built around the new breed of young players such as Eric Grothe, Wayne Pearce, Mal Meninga, Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling mixing with veterans Craig Young, Les Boyd, Ray Price, Rod Reddy, Kerry Boustead, Steve Rogers and captain Max Krilich, Great Britain chose five players aged over 30. The only player over the age of 30 for the Kangaroos first test team was Krilich who had turned 33 only five days prior to the test.
30 Oct 1982 |
Great Britain  |
4 – 40 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries Goals Lee Crooks (2/2) |
Tries Mal Meninga Les Boyd Eric Grothe Ray Price Kerry Boustead Brett Kenny Wayne Pearce Rod Reddy Goals Mal Meninga (8/10) |
Great Britain did well in the first half to trail by only 4-10 at half time, but the two penalty goals by Hull second rower Lee Crooks in his test debut was as good as it got for the home side. In the second half the Kangaroos unleashed their skills and fitness, and blazed six stunning tries to leave the British game, and most of the 26,771 strong crowd at Hull's Boothferry Park stunned. The game was Australia's 5th straight win over Great Britain, dating back to the final Test of the 1978 Kangaroo Tour and the 3-0 whitewash of the Lions on their lacklustre 1979 Australasian tour.
In his test debut for Australia, back row forward Wayne Pearce was judged as the Man of the Match. Centre Mal Meninga, playing in the first of what would eventually be a record 17 Ashes tests against Great Britain, scored the opening try of the game after good lead up work by Peter Sterling and Pearce, then palming off Les Dyl and outpacing fullback George Fairbairn to score in the corner. Meninga also kicked 8 of 10 goals for a personal haul of 19 points.
In commentary for the BBC, former England international Ray French stated after the final siren "Well, I've got to eat a little humble pie. I thought Great Britain could do something but with only those two penalty goals from Lee Crooks its back to the drawing board for the Great Britain selectors I'm afraid", while his commentary partner, former Lions halfback and Kangaroos tormentor Alex Murphy said during the Kangaroos second half onslaught "We need something to combat this lot."
| Wednesday, 3 November | Leigh  |
4 – 44 | Australia |
Hilton Park, Leigh | |
| Tries: Goals: John Woods (2) |
Tries: Chris Anderson (3), Paul McCabe (3), John Ribot (3), John Muggleton (2), Wally Lewis Goals: Mal Meninga (3/11) Wally Lewis (1/2) |
Attendance: 7,680 Referee: Trevor Court |
Leigh: Mick Hogan, Des Drummond, John Henderson, Steve Donlan, Graham Worgan, John Woods, Ken Green, Alf Wilkinson, Ray Tabern, Derek Pyke, Eric Chisnall, Geoff Clarkson, Ian Potter. Res - Steve Tomlinson, Edwin Hunter. Coach - Colin Clarke
Australia: Steve Ella, Chris Anderson, Mal Meninga, Gene Miles, John Ribot, Wally Lewis (c), Steve Mortimer, Don McKinnon, Ray Brown, Rod Morris, Paul McCabe, John Muggleton, Ian Schubert
| Sunday, 7 November | Bradford Northern  |
6 – 13 | Australia |
Odsal Stadium, Bradford | |
| Tries: Goals: Keith Mumby (3) |
Tries: Greg Brentnall, Gene Miles, Paul McCabe Goals: Steve Rogers (2) |
Attendance: 10,506 Referee: Mick Beaumont Man of the Match: Jeff Grayshon |
Bradford Northern: John Green, David Barends, Keith Mumby, Richard Davies, Steve Pullen, Bill Kells, Alan Redfearn, Jeff Grayshon, Brian Noble, Gary Van Bellen, Graham Idle, Dick Jasiewicz, Alan Rathbone. Res - Dean Carroll, Chris Parrott. Coach - Peter Fox
Australia: Greg Brentnall, Chris Anderson, Gene Miles, Steve Rogers (c), Eric Grothe, Brett Kenny, Mark Murray, Craig Young, Greg Conescu, Rohan Hancock, Rod Reddy, Paul McCabe, Ray Price. Res - Ray Brown
| Tuesday, 9 November | Cumbria  |
2 – 41 | Australia |
Brunton Park, Carlisle | |
| Tries: Goals: Lyn Hopkins (1) |
Tries: Mal Meninga (2), Kerry Boustead, Steve Ella, Don McKinnon, Wayne Pearce, John Ribot, Steve Rogers, Peter Sterling Goals: Mal Meninga (7) |
Attendance: 5,748 Referee: Stan Wall |
Cumbria: Lyn Hopkins, Bob Mackie, Dean Bell, Ralph McConnell, Terry Moore, Mel Mason, David Cairns, Steve Herbert, Alan McCurrie, Malcolm Flynn, Bill Pattison, Peter Gorley, Derek Hadley. Res – David Beck, Ian Hartley
Australia: Greg Brentnall, Kerry Boustead, Mal Meninga, Steve Ella, John Ribot, Wally Lewis, Peter Sterling, Don McKinnon, Max Krilich (c), Rohan Hancock, John Muggleton, Ian Schubert, Wayne Pearce. Res – Steve Rogers, Ray Price
| Sunday, 14 November | Fulham  |
5 – 22 | Australia |
Craven Cottage, London | |
| Tries: Hussein M'Barki Goals: Steve Diamond (1) |
Tries: Steve Ella, John Muggleton, Mark Murray, Paul McCabe, Don McKinnon, John Ribot Goals: Steve Ella (1/4) Wally Lewis (1/4) |
Attendance: 10,432 Referee: Billy Thompson |
Fulham: David Eckersley, Adrian Cambriani, David Allen, Steve Diamond, Hussein M'Barki, John Crossley, Reg Bowden (c), Harry Beverley, John Dalgreen, Tony Gourley, Martin Herdman, Peter Souto, John Doherty. Res – Neil Tuffs. Coach - Reg Bowden
Australia: Steve Ella, Chris Anderson, Gene Miles, Wally Lewis (c), John Ribot, Mark Murray, Steve Mortimer, Don McKinnon, Ray Brown, Les Boyd, Paul McCabe, John Muggleton, Ian Schubert. Res – Greg Conescu
| Tuesday, 16 November | Hull  |
7 – 13 | Australia |
The Boulevard, Hull | |
| Tries: David Topliss Goals: Lee Crooks (2) |
Tries: Eric Grothe (2), Kerry Boustead Goals: Mal Meninga (2) |
Attendance: 16,049 Referee: John Holdsworth |
Hull: Gary Kemble, Dane O'Hara, Steve Evans, James Leuluai, Paul Prendiville, David Topliss (c), Tony Dean, Mick Harrison, Keith Bridges, Paul Rose, Wayne Proctor, Lee Crooks, Mick Crane. Res – Barry Banks, Mick Sutton. Coach – Arthur Bunting
Australia: Greg Brentnall, Kerry Boustead, Mal Meninga, Steve Rogers, Eric Grothe, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Craig Young, Max Krilich (c), Les Boyd, Wayne Pearce, Rod Reddy, Ray Price. Res – Wally Lewis
Second Test
Despite ten changes to the Lions' side, with only winger Des Drummond and props Trevor Skerrett and Jeff Grayshon, who also took over the captaincy, retained from the first Test thrashing, the second Test was scarcely a contest and the Kangaroos won by 27-6.
20 November 1982 |
| Great Britain |
6 – 27 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries Goals Keith Mumby (3/3) |
Tries Ray Price Peter Sterling Eric Grothe Mal Meninga Steve Rogers Goals Mal Meninga (6/8) |
Australia's fiery forward Les Boyd was sent off late in the first half for kicking a tackled player on the ground. The touch judge, only seeing Boyd's kick and not that it was in reaction to tackled Lions hooker John Dalgreen lashing out with a boot at Boyd while he was on the ground, came on with his flag up and French referee Julien Rascagneres, who did not actually see the incident, did not hesitate in sending Boyd off, leaving the Kangaroos to play out the remaining 46 minutes with twelve men. Eric Grothe suffered a knee injury while scoring a try late in the first half and was replaced at half time by Wally Lewis. The injury would see Grothe miss the third Test, played a week later in Leeds. Lewis came straight in to the five-eighth position while Brett Kenny moved to the centres and Mal Meninga out to the wing. Half-way through the second half Wally showed the Lions what the British game was missing when he sent a bullet like 20 metre pass to Meninga to score in the corner. The pass did psychological damage to the Lions, who wondered how good the Kangaroos were if they had reserves could pass like Lewis did.
| Tuesday, 23 November | Widnes  |
6 – 19 | Australia |
Naughton Park, Widnes | |
| Tries: Goals: Mick Burke (3) |
Tries: Steve Mortimer (2), Paul McCabe, John Ribot, Steve Rogers Goals: Mal Meninga (2/6) |
Attendance: 9,790 Referee: John McDonald |
Widnes: Mick Burke, John Basnett, Joe Lydon, Keiron O'Loughlin, Chris Camilleri, Andy Gregory, David Hulme, Kevin Tamati, Keith Elwell, Steve O'Neill, Keith Newton, Eric Prescott, Tony Myler. Res - John Myler. Coach – Doug Laughton
Australia: Steve Ella, Chris Anderson, Mal Meninga, Steve Rogers, John Ribot, Wally Lewis (c), Steve Mortimer, Craig Young, Ray Brown, Rod Morris, Les Boyd, Paul McCabe, Ian Schubert. Res – Mark Murray, John Muggleton
Third Test
Injuries forced Frank Stanton to make three changes to the Kangaroos for the final Test. Eric Grothe's knee injury in the second Test kept him out with the tour's leading try scorer John Ribot coming onto the wing; Rod Morris replaced Craig Young in the front row; while Ray Price was also ruled out with a knee injury and was replaced by Paul McCabe in the second row allowing Wayne Pearce to move to his favoured position at lock forward.
28 November 1982 |
| Great Britain |
8 – 32 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries Steve Evans Goals Lee Crooks (2/3) Field Goals Lee Crooks |
Tries Kerry Boustead John Ribot Steve Rogers Brett Kenny Max Krilich Wayne Pearce Goals Mal Meninga (7/10) |
Stanton predicted that the third Test would be the best contested of the three, and it was up until the final ten minutes. Recalled Widnes halfback Andy Gregory, and Bradford Northern hooker Brian Noble (on Test debut), led the way for the Lions and provided a service to their speedy outside backs that Britain had lacked in the first two Tests. The Lions made more line breaks in the third Test at Headingley than they had in the previous two Tests combined. The Australians ran with a very strong breeze in the first half and used this to their advantage, keeping much of the play in Great Britain's half, though they were unable to cross the British try line. Mal Meninga kicked three goals (two from near half-way) while Hull youngster Lee Crooks kicked two long range penalties into the breeze to keep the Lions in the game at 6-4 at half time. Winger Des Drummond brought the crowd to its feet mid-way through the half with a 40-metre run from near his own line before he was brought down on half-way by Greg Brentnall and Steve Rogers in cover.
The first try of the game came with just on 50 minutes gone. From deep in his own half, Brentnall made a break down the right wing after breaking a tackle. The play looked like breaking down when he didn't pass to an un-marked Kerry Boustead on his outside and was tackled from behind by a desperate David Stephenson. From there the Kangaroos spread the ball to the opposite wing where Ribot was tackled. Wayne Pearce then broke the British line before passing to Rod Reddy who gave the ball to Ribot flying on his outside. Ribot crashed over in the corner with Lions fullback George Fairbairn clinging to his legs. Pearce then made another break and sent captain Max Krilich on a 30-metre run for his first try of the tour. Krilich scored under the posts giving Meninga an easy conversion and Australia held a 14-4 lead. With just over 10 minutes left to play the Aussies were holding-off Great Britain by 14-8 and an intense finish loomed after Hull winger Steve Evans had scored the Lions only try of the series (it was also the first try the Australians had conceded in all 11 Tests they'd played since the second Ashes Test of 1979 against the Lions in Brisbane). It seemed Britain had not been so far behind Australia's standard after all, but in the final 10 minutes the Kangaroos superior fitness told and they ripped the home side apart with 4 tries to Boustead, Pearce, Steve Rogers and Man of the Match Brett Kenny to run out win 32-8 winners and become the first touring side to go through Britain undefeated.
Right on half-time there was a set-to between forwards Les Boyd and Mick Crane which resulted in an all-in brawl. Boyd had hit Lions captain David Topliss (their third captain in as many tests) with a shoulder charge on the half-way line and Topliss had lashed out with his feet at Boyd who then punched Topliss as he lay on the ground, with Crane then coming in and began trading punches with the Australian front rower. As the teams lined up for the second half, referee Rascagneres called out both Boyd and Crane and sent both to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.
The Ashes series win was Australia's 4th straight over the Lions dating back to 1974, and their second straight 3-0 series win. It also continued the streak started by the 1963-64 Kangaroos of successfully defending The Ashes in England. As of 2015, this was also the last test Australia played at Headingley. Starting with the 1986 Kangaroo tour, all internationals Australia has played in Leeds have been played at the Elland Road stadium, home of the Leeds United soccer club, due to its greater spectator capacity (Elland Road currently holds 37,914 while Headingley has a capacity of 21,062).
France
| Wednesday, 1 December | Racing Club Roanne XIII  |
0 – 65 | Australia |
Stade Malleval, Roanne | |
| Attendance: 2,000 |
French Tests
First Test
The tourists found the French Tests more of a challenge than the British, but in the end the Kangaroos prevailed and finished their tour unbeaten.
Sunday, 5 Dec |
France  |
4 – 15 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries Goals Andre Perez (2) |
Tries Eric Grothe (2) Wayne Pearce Goals Mal Meninga (3) |
| France | Position | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Andre Perez | FB | Greg Brentnall |
| Patrick Solal | WG | Kerry Boustead |
| Guy Delaunay | CE | Steve Rogers |
| Jacques Guigue | CE | Brett Kenny |
| Philippe Fourcade | WG | Mal Meninga |
| Herve Guiraud | SO | Wally Lewis |
| Ivan Grésèque | SH | Peter Sterling |
| Henri Daniel | PR | Craig Young |
| Christian Macalli | HK | Max Krilich (c) |
| Max Chantal | PR | Rod Morris |
| Guy Laforgue | SR | Paul McCabe |
| Marc Ambert | SR | Les Boyd |
| Joel Roosebrouck (c) | LF | Wayne Pearce |
| Christian Laumond | Int. | Eric Grothe |
| Manuel Caravaca | Int. | Ray Brown |
| Coach | Frank Stanton |
During the first half, Wally Lewis dislocated his shoulder while attempting to tackle a French player which ended his tour, though as there were only 2 weeks remaining he remained with the squad until they returned to Australia. He was replaced by Eric Grothe who went to the wing, Mal Meninga moved to his preferred centre with Brett Kenny moving to 5/8.
| Tuesday, 7 December | Aquitaine  |
2 – 67 | Australia |
Stade de la Myre Mory, Villeneuve | |
| Attendance: 3,579 Referee: H. Martinez |
| Thursday, 9 December | Les Espoirs (Colts) | 3 – 42 | Australia |
Stade des Minimes, Toulouse | |
| Attendance: 2,000 |
| Sunday, 12 December | XIII Catalan  |
2 – 53 | Australia |
Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan | |
| Attendance: 4,676 Referee: J. Rascagneres |
| Tuesday, 14 December | Midi-Pyrénées XIII  |
0 – 26 | Australia |
Stade Municipal, Pamiers | |
| Attendance: 1,000 |
Second Test
18 Dec 1982 |
| France |
9 – 23 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries Ivan Grésèque Goals Fernand Kaminski (3/3) |
Tries Eric Grothe (2) Brett Kenny Rod Reddy Mal Meninga Goals Mal Meninga (4/5) |
| France | Position | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Jacques Guigue | FB | Greg Brentnall |
| Patrick Solal | WG | Kerry Boustead |
| Guy Delaunay | CE | Steve Rogers |
| Christian Laumond | CE | Mal Meninga |
| Fernand Kaminski | WG | Eric Grothe |
| Herve Guiraud | SO | Brett Kenny |
| Ivan Grésèque | SH | Peter Sterling |
| Charles Zalduendo | PR | Craig Young |
| Christian Macalli | HK | Max Krilich (c) |
| Max Chantal | PR | Les Boyd |
| Jean-Jacques Cologni | SR | Rod Reddy |
| Guy Laforgue | SR | Paul McCabe |
| Joel Roosebrouck (c) | LF | Wayne Pearce |
| Michel Laville | Int. | Steve Ella |
| Manuel Caravaca | Int. | Ray Brown |
| Coach | Frank Stanton |
Statistics
Leading Try Scorer
- 25 by John Ribot
Leading Point Scorer
- 166 by Mal Meninga (10 tries, 68 goals)
Largest Attendance
- 26,771 - First test vs Great Britain at Boothferry Park
Largest Club Game Attendance
- 16,049 - Australia vs Hull at The Boulevard
Footnotes
- 1 2 Heads, Lester p309
- ↑ Whiticker p319
- ↑ Last Straw for Lamb
- ↑ John MacDonald and Ian Arnold (29 June 1989). "Kangaroos fly the Maroon flag". The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). p. 50. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
References
- Heads, Ian and Lester, Gary (1988) 200 Years of Australian Sport, Lester Townsend, Sydney
- Whiticker, Alan(2004) Captaining the Kangaroos, New Holland, Sydney
- Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
External links
- 1982 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France at rl1908.com
- 1982 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France at rlhalloffame.org.uk
- Ashes Series 1982 at rugbyleagueproject.com
- "1982 Kangaroos Tour of England and France" by Jason Cave (theroar.com.au)
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||