1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain

Rugby league tour (1908–1909) 1908–09 Australia rugby union tour of Britain Kangaroos tour 1908 1909.jpg The pioneer Kangaroos squad of 1908–09 3 October 1908 – 8 March 1909 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Australasia 1908 1909 Great Britain J. J. Giltinan Denis Lutge Jim Devereux (3) Dally Messenger (155) 45 19 6 20 3 0 1 2 GBR 3 0 1 2 1911–12 The 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain was the first ever such tour for the newly-formed Australia national rugby league team (or 'The Kangaroos'). The tour was to England and Wales and coincided with the first Wallabies Rugby Union tour of Great Britain, which in hindsight put the Kangaroos in a tough position. The game of rugby league was not yet twelve months old in Australia however a New Zealand side had already toured to Britain (the All Golds in 1907), Australia had encountered New Zealand during the 1908 season and the pioneer Australian leaders of the game were keen to match up against the Northern Union founders of the code. The 1908–09 Kangaroos wore jumpers of sky blue and maroon representing the New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons players that comprised the team. The first Kangaroo tour was considered a financial failure, with poor weather and economic conditions contributing to smaller than expected gate takings. The best ever Australian Sports Writing Cunneen Chris 2001 Black Inc. Australia 1-86395-266-7 318 https://books.google.com/books?id=66OBschGE_YC 19 February 2011 Tour promoter James Giltinan was bankrupted as result. However for almost a century afterward, Kangaroo tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain (under the name Northern Union) and a number of tour matches. The 1908-09 tour was later depicted in the 1988 Australian television movie The First Kangaroos. John Robinson and Garrett Jones Family fights to clear League Hero's Name The Sydney Morning Herald Australia 74 8 June 1988 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eq8yAAAAIBAJ&pg=3217,6447980 20 February 2011 The tour Itinerary The Kangaroos sailed for Britain on RMS Macedonia prior to the close of the 1908 NSWRFL season, denying some of the selected players to appear in the inaugural grand final. Football The Sydney Mail 644 1908-09-02 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U30QAAAAIBAJ&pg=6923,3477172 2009-11-20 They worked as stokers to keep their fitness levels up as well as doing daily sessions in the ship's gymnasium and boxing ring. The jerseys were coloured sky blue and maroon, combining the state colours of NSW and Queensland respectively. When tour captain, Lutge was injured early in the tour, Messenger became captain in the 1st and 2nd Test Matches. After he was injured, Alec Burdon assumed the captaincy for the 3rd Test. One of the players Pat Walsh sailed to Britain separately on the ship, Salamis and brought the live Kangaroo mascot with him. Walsh arrived in England for the 5th match of the tour against Salford.The team's live marsupial mascot died before the end of the tour due to the execrable weather.The Arrow. April 17, 1909 The Kangaroos scored some memorable victories, including wins against Yorkshire, Lancashire and Hunslet (featuring their fearsome forwards "The Terrible Six"). Rugby league made its first appearance in Scotland in 1909 when Glasgow’s Celtic Park hosted a game between the Northern Rugby Football Union representative side and the touring Australians.Scotland http://www.rlwc2013.com/teams/scotland rlwc2013.com Rugby League International Federation 22 September 2013 25 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130925194631/http://www.rlwc2013.com/teams/scotland dead Results Matches played: 45 Won: 17 Drew: 6 Lost: 221908-09 Kangaroo Tour at Rugby League Project The Ashes: Great Britain 2-0. Leading try scorers of the tour were Devereaux 17, Messenger 10, Frawley 10, Walsh 9, Courtney 8. Dally Messenger was the tourists' leading point-scorer with 160, a full 103 points clear of next highest-scorer. totalrl.com Death of The Master On this day in history League Publications Ltd http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=285&featcat_id=32 2009-07-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20110727230249/http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=285&featcat_id=32 2011-07-27 dead N° Opposing Team F A Date Venue Attendance Status1 Wales 16 Mid-Rhondda 20 6 3 October 1908 King George's Field, Tonypandy 7,500 Tour match2 Bradford 16 Bradford Northern 12 11 7 October 1908 Valley Parade, Bradford 4,000 Tour match3 Rochdale 16 Rochdale Hornets 5 0 10 October 1908 Athletic Grounds, Rochdale 3,000 Tour match4 Balmain 16 York 5 5 14 October 1908 Clarence Street, York 1,781 Tour match5 Salford City 16 Salford 9 9 17 October 1908 The Willows, Salford 6,100 Tour match6 Ipswich Jets 16 Runcorn 9 7 21 October 1908 Canal Street, Runcorn 2,700 Tour match7 Cumbria Cumberland 52 10 24 October 1908 Recreation Ground, Whitehaven 4,000 Tour match8 Leigh 16 Leigh 11 14 28 October 1908 Mather Lane, Leigh 6,000 Tour match9 Dewsbury 16 Dewsbury 0 15 31 October 1908 Old Crown Flatt ground, Dewsbury 2,000 Tour match10 Yorkshire Yorkshire 24 11 5 November 1908 The Boulevard, Hull 3,500 Tour match11 Hunslet 16 Hunslet 12 11 7 November 1908 Parkside, Hunslet 6,000 Tour match12 Bundaberg 16 Aberdare 37 10 10 November 1908 Athletic Ground, Aberdare 5,000 Tour match13 Warrington 16 Warrington 3 10 14 November 1908 Wilderspool, Warrington 5,000 Tour match14 England 16 Northern Union XIII 10 9 18 November 1908 Goodison Park, Liverpool 6,000 Tour match15 Hull KR 16 Hull Kingston Rovers 16 21 21 November 1908 Craven Street, Hull 7,000 Tour match16 Lancashire Lancashire 20 6 25 November 1908 Central Park, Wigan 4,000 Tour match17 Barrow 16 Barrow 21 5 28 November 1908 Cavendish Park, Barrow 6,500 Tour match18 Halifax 16 Halifax 8 12 5 December 1908 Thrum Hall, Halifax 6,000 Tour match19 Swinton 16 Swinton 10 9 9 December 1908 Chorley Road, Swinton 1,500 Tour match20 GBR Northern Union 22 22 12 December 1908 Park Royal Ground, London 2,000 Test match21 Wales 16 Treherbert 6 3 16 December 1908 Athletic Ground, Treherbert 4,000 Tour match22 Wakefield Trinity 16 Wakefield Trinity 13 20 20 December 1908 Belle Vue, Wakefield 3,000 Tour match23 Leeds 16 Leeds 14 10 25 December 1908 Headingley, Leeds 12,000 Tour match24 Oldham 16 Oldham 5 11 28 December 1908 Watersheddings, Oldham 11,800 Tour match25 England 16 Northern Union XIII 9 14 2 January 1909 Fartown, Huddersfield 7,000 Tour match26 Widnes 16 Widnes 13 2 6 January 1909 Lowerhouse Lane, Widnes 1,000 Tour match27 Wigan 16 Wigan 15 7 9 January 1909 Central Park, Wigan 4,000 Tour match28 Batley 16 Batley 5 12 12 January 1909 Mount Pleasant, Batley 5,735 Tour match29 Wales 16 Welsh League XIII 13 14 16 January 1909 Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil 6,000 Tour match30 Wales 16 Ebbw Vale 9 8 18 January 1909 Bridge End Field, Ebbw Vale 5,000 Tour match31 Wigan 16 Wigan 8 16 20 January 1909 Central Park, Wigan 9,100 Tour match32 GBR Northern Union 5 15 23 January 1909 St James' Park, Newcastle 22,000 Test match33 Keighley 16 Keighley 8 8 26 January 1909 Lawkholme Lane, Keighley 1,000 Tour match34 Hull 16 Hull F.C. 9 8 30 January 1909 The Boulevard, Hull 10,000 Tour match35 England 16 Northern Union XIII 17 17 3 February 1909 Celtic Park, Glasgow 3,000 Tour match36 Cumbria Cumberland 2 11 4 February 1909 Devonshire Park, Carlisle 2,000 Tour match37 Cronulla 16 Broughton Rangers 12 14 6 February 1909 Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford 12,000 Tour match38 Warrington 16 Warrington 8 8 8 February 1909 Wilderspool, Warrington 7,000 Tour match39 St Helens 16 St. Helens 12 14 6 February 1909 Knowsley Road, St. Helens 1,500 Tour match40 GBR Northern Union 5 6 10 February 1909 Villa Park, Birmingham 9,000 Test match41 Huddersfield 16 Huddersfield 5 3 20 February 1909 Fartown, Huddersfield 9,700 Tour match42 Barrow 16 Barrow 3 11 22 February 1909 Cavendish Park, Barrow 6,000 Tour match43 Wales 16 Merthyr Tydfil 13 15 27 February 1909 Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil 4,000 Tour match44 England 16 Northern Union XIII 7 14 3 March 1909 Goodison Park, Liverpool 3,000 Tour match45 Lancashire Lancashire 14 19 8 March 1909 Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford 4,000 Tour match Financial difficulties The seven-month tour proved to be a true test of survival and was almost a disaster due to small gate-takings.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17987358 1908-9 KANGAROOS BLAZED R.L. TRAIL The Sydney Morning Herald 33,843 New South Wales, Australia 12 June 1946 25 June 2024 9 National Library of Australia A crippling cotton mill strike in northern England made it difficult for many fans to afford their way through the turnstiles and there was criticism of the entry price the Australians wanted to charge. Australian morale ebbed during one of the meanest northern winters on record.Andrews, ABC of Rugby League p299 We are having nothing but rain, snow, sleet and cold... why, you cannot feel your hands and feet and the referees are cruel, don't give us anything at all.Baker Andrew 100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era The Independent independent.co.uk 1995-08-20 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/100-years-of-rugby-league-from-the-great-divide-to-the-super-era-1597130.html 2009-09-25 James Giltinan, Tour Manager wrote home in 1908 30px 30px Giltinan as promoter of the tour had borrowed £2,000 to fund the operation and took the full risk. He paid the players a weekly allowance of one pound early in the tour but before long it was cut to ten shillings. Things eventually became so bad that the team would travel on overnight trains to save on accommodation. The players had sailed from Sydney on one-way fares and the Northern Union had to pay the players' fares home. Later, evidence emerged that Giltinan lost £418 on the campaign and was bankrupted on his return to Sydney. Aftermath Peter Moir a seminal figure in the foundation of the Glebe club had an unhappy tour and played in only four games and no Tests. At tour's end he wrote a letter home, The team is run by a clique and you are picked by them. I am very disappointed at not getting a game. It is very hard as all my people live here and they keep asking me why I am not playing and I cannot tell them a lie.Heads, Middleton p45 Deane, Walsh, Frawley, Devereux, McCabe and Rosenfeld all stayed behind to play in the wintry Northern Union competition when the Australians boarded the RMS Seuvic for the journey home. On the return journey Messenger met and fell in love with Annie Macauley whom he would marry. Also while en route back to Australia, secretary J. J. Giltinan, president Henry Hoyle and treasurer, Victor Trumper, the men who had done most to form the NSWRL, were being voted out of it. John Coffey, Bernie Wood 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008 Huia Publishers 2008 https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC 978-1-86969-331-2 Touring party right|thumb|300px|A group of the 1908 Kangaroos Tour management Tour manager: James Giltinan Giltinan had borrowed £2,000 to fund the entire tour as promoter. He was one of the founders of the breakaway code's Australian formation in Sydney a year earlier.Heads Middleton pp36-37 Assistant manager: John Fihelly Fihelly was one of the code's founders in Queensland. He had represented for Queensland in rugby union and in the state's first representative league side in May 1908. He was a state selector that year. He did not play any matches on tour & performed the role of Assistant Manager. He would later referee many matches of the 1909 Brisbane club competition & a 1910 Test match.Heads Middleton p57 Tour secretary: Bill Noble Selected as a player, Noble the 1908 Newtown club captain was injured early and made only three tour match appearances. He performed the role of Secretary/Treasurer, managing the tour's scarce finances. Tour captain: Denis Lutge A rugged North Sydney forward North who worked as a stevedore, Lutge was elected Tour Captain by his team-mates shortly after the squad set sail from Sydney. He had captained Australia in the 3rd ever Test match against New Zealand in June 1908. Lutge broke his arm early in the tour and appeared in only five tour matches and no Tests. Test captains: Dally Messenger & Alex Burdon Lutge's deputy as tour vice-captain, Messenger stepped up to lead Australia in the first two Tests, scoring all of Australian's points in the 2nd. A knee injury from attempting field goals kept him out of the 3rd Test. Burdon was one of the founders of the Glebe club and its first captain. He was a selector on the 1908 tour and selected himself in two Tests and 24 tour matches. He led Australia in the 3rd Test. Whiticker p 22 Touring squad Name Tests Club Tour Apps Position Pts Dally Messenger 2 Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs 31 Three-quarter back 155 Jim Devereaux 2 Norths 16 North Sydney 31 Three-quarter back 54 Dan Frawley 2 Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs 24 Three-quarter back 41 Andy Morton 1 Norths 16 North Sydney 24 Three-quarter back 32 Ed "Tedda" Courtney 3 Newtown 16 Newtown 31 Forward 30 Albert Conlon 1 Glebe 16 Glebe 8 Half-back 27 Pat "Nimmo" Walsh 3 Newcastle1908 16 Newcastle Rebels 28 Forward 24 Arthur Butler 2 Souths 16 South Sydney 20 Half-back 22 Sid Deane 2 Norths 16 North Sydney 26 Three-quarter back 21 Albert Rosenfeld 1 Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs 14 Three-quarter back 21 Tom McCabe 1 Glebe 16 Glebe 22 Forward 18 Arthur "Pony" Halloway 1 Glebe 16 Glebe 31 Half-back 15 Larry O'Malley 3 Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs 34 Forward 15 Jim Abercrombie 2 Western Suburbs 16 Western Suburbs 32 Forward 12 Bill Heidke 2 Souths Magpies 16 Souths Brisbane (Qld) 26 Three-quarter back 12 Lou Jones 0 Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs 5 Forward 6 Bill "Jerry" Bailey 0 Newcastle1908 16 Newcastle Rebels 3 Three-quarter back 9 Mick Bolewski 3 Queensland 16 Queensland 33 Three-quarter back 9 Alec Burdon 2 Glebe 16 Glebe 26 Forward 9 Billy Cann 0 Souths 16 South Sydney 9 Forward 6 Robert Graves 1 Balmain 16 Balmain 23 Forward 6 Peter Moir 0 Glebe 16 Glebe 4 Forward 6 Arthur Anlezark 1 Queensland 16 Queensland 17 Half-back 3 Sandy Pearce 3 Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs 33 Forward 3 Bill Hardcastle 0 Ipswich 16 Ipswich 6 Forward 3 Charlie Hedley 1 Glebe 16 Glebe 18 Forward 2 Tommy Anderson 0 Souths 16 South Sydney 5 Forward 0 Frank Cheadle 0 Newtown 16 Newtown 7 Three-quarter back 0 Jim Davis 0 Souths 16 South Sydney 6 Forward 0 Alf Dobbs 0 Balmain 16 Balmain 6 Forward 0 Arthur Hennessy 0 Souths 16 South Sydney 7 Forward 0 Denis Lutge (c) 0 Norths 16 North Sydney 5 Forward 0 Bill Noble 0 Newtown 16 Newtown 3 Forward 0 John Rosewell 0 Souths 16 South Sydney 1 Forward 0 Test matches First Test #eeeeee Northern Union GBR AUS 22 – 22 Tries: William Batten (2) Johnny Thomas Ernie Brooks George Tyson Asa Robinson Goals: Ernie Brooks (2) Tries: Jim Devereux (3) Arthur Butler Goals: Dally Messenger (5) 12 December 1908 Park Royal Ground, London 2,000 J Smith Northern UnionPositionAustraliaHarry GiffordFBMick BolewskiWilliam BattenWGBill HeidkeBert Jenkins (c)CESid DeaneGeorge DickensonCEDally Messenger (c)George TysonWGJim DevereauxErnie BrooksSOArthur HallowayJohnny ThomasSHArthur ButlerArthur MannPRLarry O'MalleyJohn HigsonHKSandy PearceWilliam JukesPRAlex BurdonWilliam LongworthSRJim AbercrombieArthur SmithSRTedda CourtneyAsa RobinsonLFPat Walsh Great Britain led 14-5 at half-time and stretched to 17-5 before Australia began their fightback spearheaded by Devereaux's three ties. They led 22-20 in the dying minutes before Great Britain snatched a draw with a penalty goal. Second Test #eeeeee Northern Union GBR AUS 15 – 5 Tries: James Lomas Johnny Thomas George Tyson Goals: James Lomas (2) Field Goals: James Lomas Tries: Dally Messenger Goals: Dally Messenger (1) 23 January 1909 St James' Park, Newcastle 22,000 William McCutcheon Northern UnionPositionAustraliaHarry GiffordFBMick BolewskiGeorge TysonWGDan FrawleyJames Lomas (c)CEDally Messenger (c)Bert JenkinsCEAlbert RosenfeldWilliam BattenWGAndy MortonErnie BrooksSOArthur HallowayJohnny ThomasSHArthur ButlerJohn HigsonPRLarry O'MalleyWilliam JukesHKSandy PearceWilliam LongworthPRJim AbercrombieArthur SmithSRTom McCabeAsa RobinsonSRTedda CourtneyDick SilcockLFPat Walsh Third Test #eeeeee Northern Union GBR AUS 6 – 5 Tries: James Lomas George Tyson Goals: Tries: Dan Frawley Goals: Jim Devereaux (1) 10 February 1909 Villa Park, Birmingham 9,000 E Smirk Northern UnionPositionAustraliaFrank YoungFBCharlie HedleyWilliam BattenWGBill HeidkeBert JenkinsCEDan FrawleyJames Lomas (c)CEJim DevereauxGeorge TysonWGMick BolewskiErnie BrooksSOSid DeaneJohnny ThomasSHArthur AnlezarkWilliam JukesPRLarry O'MalleyDick PadburyHKSandy PearceArthur SmithPRAlex Burdon (c)William LongworthSRRobert GravesArthur MannSRTedda CourtneyFrank BoylenLFPat Walsh A heavy pitch limited scoring opportunities and Great Britain went to the half-time break with a three nil lead. Australia's defence was solid throughout the second half and when Frawley scored for Devereaux to convert they took the lead. However, with Australian centre Bill Heidke off the field having a dislocated shoulder put back in place, Oldham winger George Tyson scored late in the match and secured The Ashes for Great Britain for the first time.Heads, Middleton p37thumb|left|Villa Park, host venue for the third Ashes Test. References Sources Whiticker, Alan(2004) Captaining the Kangaroos, New Holland, Sydney Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney Heads, Ian and Middleton, David (2008) A Centenary of Rugby League, MacMillan Sydney 1908/09 Kangaroo Tour to Great Britain at rlhalloffame.org.uk 1908/09 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain at rl1908.com Australia's First 'Ashes' Team at rl1908.com Touring With The 1908 Pioneers at rl1908.com Ashes Series 1908/09 at rugbyleagueproject.org Kangaroo Tour Kangaroo Tour Category:Australia national rugby league team tours Great Kan Category:Rugby league tours of Great Britain Category:1908 in Welsh rugby league Category:1909 in Welsh rugby league Category:Australia–United Kingdom sports relations