1988 NSWRL season

Rugby league competition September 2020 1988 New South Wales Rugby League premiership 16 Canterbury 16 Canterbury-Bankstown 6th Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland 1st 183 6,559 1,966,658 Canberra 16 Gary Belcher (218) Canberra 16 John Ferguson (20) Cronulla 16 Barry Russell Rothmans Medal 16x16px Western Suburbs Magpies 15th 1987 NSWRL season 1987 1989 NSWRL season 1989 The 1988 NSWRL season was the 81st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and saw the first expansion of the New South Wales Rugby League Premiership outside the borders of New South Wales, and another expansion outside of Sydney, with the addition of three new teams: the Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast-Tweed Giants. The largest NSWRL premiership yet, sixteen clubs competed during the 1988 season, with the J J Giltinan Shield for minor premiers going to Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The finals culminated in a grand final for the Winfield Cup between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Balmain Tigers.This season NSWRL teams also competed for the 1988 Panasonic Cup. Season summary 1988 was the year of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations, and on 4 March, the season opened with the first game of rugby league played at the newly built Sydney Football Stadium.Sydney Football Stadium Magic Moments sydneycricketground.com.au Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust http://www.scgt.nsw.gov.au/MM-SFS.html https://web.archive.org/web/20070816081038/http://www.scgt.nsw.gov.au/MM-SFS.html dead 16 August 2007 2 September 2009 The St. George Dragons defeated the Eastern Suburbs Roosters 24–14. Easts and South Sydney would use the SFS as their home venue from 1988. This saw the end of both the Sydney Sports Ground (which closed due to the building of the SFS) and Redfern Oval as regular venues. The brand new Brisbane Broncos club, featuring Australian Kangaroos captain Wally Lewis and starting their first ever season of football, played their first match against the previous season's premiers the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and won 44–10. Eventual grand finalists the Balmain Tigers had a dreadful start to the season with six wins and five losses by the end of the first full round. But their plight was rescued by a masterstroke from their chief executive Keith Barnes. The Great Britain side was touring Australia that season and in strict secrecy Barnes negotiated to have the English captain and centre Ellery Hanley – judged the best player in the English competition the previous season and an undoubted world-class player – to join the Tigers. Barnes got to the NSWRL to register Hanley at 4:55pm on 30 June, just five minutes inside the deadline for signing players for that season. The 1988 season's Rothmans Medallist was Cronulla-Sutherland's Barry Russell. Paul Tait & Heather Smith Cool Russell is ready to shoulder the burden for Sharks The Sydney Morning Herald Australia 50 Fairfax 1 September 1988 http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news880901_0276_5052 6 May 2010 The Dally M Award went to Russell's teammate Gavin Miller, and Rugby League Week gave its player of the year award to Balmian's hooker, Ben Elias. Twenty-two regular season rounds were played in total from March till August, with Cronulla-Sutherland winning their first ever minor premiership since joining the competition in 1967. Penrith and Balmain finished on equal points in fifth place and played each other for the place in the top five, alongside Cronulla, Canterbury, Canberra and Manly. The grand finals; Canterbury 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Balmain 16 Balmain Tigers (Senior Grade) Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs Roosters vs Manly 16 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (Reserve Grade) Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels vs Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs Roosters (Under 21s Grade) St. George 16 St. George Dragons vs Balmain 16 Balmain Tigers (Mid-week) The winners in all grades were: Canterbury 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (Senior Grade) Manly 16 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (Reserve Grade) Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels (Under 21s Grade) St. George 16 St. George Dragons (Mid-week) The Tests; Australia 16 Australia vs Great Britain 16 Great Britain Australia 16 Australia vs Toowoomba 16 Rest of the World The State of Origin; Queensland 16 Queensland vs New South Wales 16 New South Wales Teams This season saw the premiership's first expansion since 1982 with the addition of three newly created teams: the Brisbane Broncos, the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants and the Newcastle Knights.History of the Premiership http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/about/history/history-of-the-premiership.aspx centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au Australian Rugby League 21 October 2013 dead https://archive.today/20131021091506/http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/about/history/history-of-the-premiership.aspx 21 October 2013 This brought the League another step closer to becoming a national competition as a total of sixteen teams, the largest number in the tournament's history, contested the premiership, including five Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from Sydney, two from greater New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one from the Australian Capital Territory. BalmainTigers100px|center 81st seasonGround: Leichhardt Oval Coach: Warren RyanCaptain: Wayne PearceBrisbaneBroncos100px|center 1st seasonGround: Lang Park Coach: Wayne BennettCaptain: Wally LewisCanberraRaiders100px|center 7th seasonGround: Seiffert Oval Coach: Tim SheensCaptain: Dean LanceCanterbury-BankstownBulldogs100px|center 54th seasonGround: Belmore Oval Coach: Phil GouldCaptain: Peter TunksCronulla-SutherlandSharks100px|center 22nd seasonGround: Caltex Field Coach: Allan FitzgibbonCaptain: David HatchEastern SuburbsRoosters100px|center 81st seasonGround: Sydney Football Stadium Coach: Arthur BeetsonCaptain: Hugh McGahanGold Coast-TweedGiants100px|center 1st seasonGround: Seagulls Stadium Coach: Bob McCarthyCaptain: Billy JohnstoneIllawarraSteelers100px|center 7th seasonGround: Wollongong Stadium Coach: Terry FearnleyCaptain: Perry Haddock → Paul UpfieldManly-WarringahSea Eagles100px|center 42nd seasonGround: Brookvale Oval Coach: Bob FultonCaptain: Paul VautinNewcastleKnights100px|center 1st seasonGround: Newcastle ISC Coach: Allan McMahonCaptain: Sam StewartNorth SydneyBears100px|center 81st seasonGround: North Sydney Oval Coach: Frank StantonCaptain: Mark GrahamParramattaEels100px|center 42nd seasonGround: Parramatta Stadium Coach: John MonieCaptain: Peter SterlingPenrithPanthers100px|center 22nd seasonGround: Penrith Stadium Coach: Ron WilleyCaptain: Royce SimmonsSouth SydneyRabbitohs100px|center 81st seasonGround: Sydney Football Stadium Coach: George PigginsCaptain: Mario FenechSt. GeorgeDragons100px|center 68th seasonGround: Belmore Sports Ground Coach: Ted GlossopCaptain: Craig YoungWestern SuburbsMagpies100px|center 81st seasonGround: Orana Park Coach: Laurie Freier → John BaileyCaptain: Ian Schubert Advertising 1988 saw the NSWRL move their advertising account from John Singleton Advertising to Hertz Walpole Advertising. There was initially however no shift in the prior campaign direction. For the second year running a visual and vocal performance by Australian rock journeyman John "Swanee" Swan was used. Swanee recorded a purpose-written jingle entitled "The Greatest Game of All" and a rock-clip style ad was shot on a stage setting with smoke, lights and fireworks. The performance footage was interspersed with game action. Five years later Swan's younger brother Jimmy Barnes would also feature in an NSWRL season advertisement performing alongside Tina Turner. Regular season Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 F1 F2 F3 F4 GF Balmain TigersNOR+20PAR−20NEW−4WES+3MAN+2PEN−10BRI+8STG+8SOU−9CBY+11CRO−2EAS+10GCG+14CAN−24ILA+12NOR+10PAR+16NEW+2WES+6MAN−4PEN+2BRI+10PEN+20MAN+13CAN+8CRO+7CBY−12 Brisbane BroncosMAN+34PEN+2WES+34NOR+12PAR+6NEW+14BAL−8CRO−30EAS+4GCG−3CAN−20ILA+22STG+4SOU−12CBY−15MAN+18PEN+2WES+26NOR+18PAR−8NEW+16BAL−10 Canberra RaidersILA+20STG+24SOU+28CBY−5CRO+18EAS+36GCG+44PAR−28WES+14NOR−8BRI+20PEN−6MAN−6BAL+24NEW+18ILA+9STG+16SOU+33CBY−7CRO−22EAS+8GCG+20XCBY−1BAL−8 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsGCG+11CRO+4EAS+4CAN+5ILA−6STG+14SOU+4PEN+6MAN−18BAL−11NEW+18PAR+28WES+25NOR−12BRI+15GCG+15CRO−8EAS+15CAN+7ILA+6STG+26SOU−4XCAN+1CRO+18XBAL+12 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSOU−1CBY−4GCG+1EAS0CAN−18ILA+18STG+16BRI+30PEN+22MAN−14BAL+2NEW0PAR+5WES+36NOR+4SOU+2CBY+8GCG+20EAS+18CAN+22ILA+8STG+2XXCBY−18BAL−7 Eastern Suburbs RoostersSTG−10SOU−2CBY−4CRO0GCG+18CAN−36ILA−4NOR0BRI−4PEN+22MAN+4BAL−10NEW+16PAR−4WES0STG+21SOU−25CBY−15CRO−18GCG+24CAN−8ILA−21 Gold Coast-Tweed GiantsCBY−11ILA0CRO−1STG−8EAS−18SOU−12CAN−44WES−20NOR−4BRI+3PEN−35MAN−28BAL−14NEW+9PAR+3CBY−15ILA+15CRO−20STG−2EAS−24SOU0CAN−20 Illawarra SteelersCAN−20GCG0STG+16SOU−13CBY+6CRO−18EAS+4NEW+8PAR−22WES+16NOR−29BRI−22PEN−34MAN−16BAL−12CAN−9GCG−15STG−2SOU−2CBY−6CRO−8EAS+21 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesBRI−34NOR+26PAR+52NEW+32BAL−2WES+20PEN−22SOU−14CBY+18CRO+14EAS−4GCG+28CAN+6ILA+16STG+16BRI−18NOR+4PAR+30NEW+8BAL+4WES−3PEN+14XBAL−13 Newcastle KnightsPAR−24WES+4BAL+4MAN−32PEN−6BRI−14NOR−34ILA−8STG−12SOU+7CBY−18CRO0EAS−16GCG−9CAN−18PAR+1WES−10BAL−2MAN−8PEN−11BRI−16NOR+32 North Sydney BearsBAL−20MAN−26PEN−27BRI−12WES+7PAR+4NEW+34EAS0GCG+4CAN+8ILA+29STG−8SOU0CBY+12CRO−4BAL−10MAN−4PEN−5BRI−18WES+4PAR+6NEW−32 Parramatta EelsNEW+24BAL+20MAN−52PEN−2BRI−6NOR−4WES−2CAN+28ILA+22STG−12SOU+8CBY−28CRO−5EAS+4GCG−3NEW−1BAL−16MAN−30PEN−4BRI+8NOR−6WES+4 Penrith PanthersWES+20BRI−2NOR+27PAR+2NEW+6BAL+10MAN+22CBY−6CRO−22EAS−22GCG+35CAN+6ILA+34STG+4SOU+8WES+12BRI−2NOR+5PAR+4NEW+11BAL−2MAN−14BAL−20 South Sydney RabbitohsCRO+1EAS+2CAN−28ILA+13STG+32GCG+12CBY−4MAN+14BAL+9NEW−7PAR−8WES+8NOR0BRI+12PEN−8CRO−2EAS+25CAN−33ILA+2STG−2GCG0CBY+4 St. George DragonsEAS+10CAN−24ILA−16GCG+8SOU−32CBY−14CRO−16BAL−8NEW+12PAR+12WES+2NOR+8BRI−4PEN−4MAN−16EAS−21CAN−16ILA+2GCG+2SOU+2CBY−26CRO−2 Western Suburbs MagpiesPEN−20NEW−4BRI−34BAL−3NOR−7MAN−20PAR+2GCG+20CAN−14ILA−16STG−2SOU−8CBY−25CRO−36EAS0PEN−12NEW+10BRI−26BAL−6NOR−4MAN+3PAR−4 Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 F1 F2 F3 F4 GF Bold – Home game X – Bye Opponent for round listed above margin Ladder TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Cronulla 16 Cronulla221624507330+177342 Canterbury 16 Canterbury (P)221606412268+144323 Canberra 16 Canberra221507596346+250304 Manly 16 Manly221507538347+191305 Old Penrith 16 Penrith221507394258+136306 Balmain 16 Balmain221507402341+61307 Brisbane Broncos 16 Brisbane221408474368+106288 South Sydney 16 South Sydney221228425383+42249 North Sydney Bears 16 North Sydney229211366424−582010 St. George Dragons 16 St. George229013352493−1411811 Parramatta 16 Parramatta228014359412−531612 Eastern Suburbs 16 Eastern Suburbs226313387443−561513 Illawarra Steelers 16 Illawarra226115353510−1571314 Newcastle 16 Newcastle225116270460−1901115 16px Gold Coast-Tweed224216238484−2461016 Western Suburbs 16 Western Suburbs224117287493−2069 South Sydney were stripped of 2 competition points due to an illegal replacement in one game. Ladder progression Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5. Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round. Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round. Team123456789101112131415161718192021221Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 0 0 2 3 3 5 7 9 11 11 13 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 342Canterbury 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2 4 6 8 8 10 12 14 14 14 16 18 20 20 22 24 24 26 28 30 32 323Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders 2 4 6 6 8 10 12 12 14 14 16 16 16 18 20 22 24 26 26 26 28 304Manly 16 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 0 2 4 6 6 8 8 8 10 12 12 14 16 18 20 20 22 24 26 28 28 305Old Penrith 16 Penrith Panthers 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 12 12 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 24 26 28 30 30 306Balmain 16 Balmain Tigers 2 2 2 4 6 6 8 10 10 12 12 14 16 16 18 20 22 24 26 26 28 307Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos 2 4 6 8 10 12 12 12 14 14 14 16 18 18 18 20 22 24 26 26 28 288South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2 4 4 6 8 10 10 12 12 12 12 14 15 17 17 17 19 19 21 21 22 249North Sydney 16 North Sydney Bears 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 7 9 11 13 13 14 16 16 16 16 16 16 18 20 2010St. George 16 St. George Dragons 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 6 8 10 12 12 12 12 12 12 14 16 18 18 1811Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 8 8 10 10 10 12 12 12 12 12 12 14 14 1612Eastern Suburbs 16 Eastern Suburbs Roosters 0 0 0 1 3 3 3 4 4 6 8 8 10 10 11 13 13 13 13 15 15 1513Illawarra 16 Illawarra Steelers 0 1 3 3 5 5 7 9 9 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 1314Newcastle 16 Newcastle Knights 0 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 7 7 7 7 9 9 9 9 9 9 111516px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 5 7 7 9 9 9 9 10 1016Western Suburbs 16 Western Suburbs Magpies 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 7 7 7 7 9 9 Finals Balmain had staged a gripping charge for the final five, winning nine of their last eleven games including five in a row to leave them in equal fifth spot with the Penrith Panthers at the regular season's end. They then won four sudden death finals to make it to the Grand final. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd Playoff Old Penrith 23 Penrith Panthers8–28 Balmain 23 Balmain Tigers16 August 1988Parramatta StadiumMick Stone14,206 Qualifying Finals Manly 23 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles6–19 Balmain 23 Balmain Tigers20 August 1988Sydney Football StadiumMick Stone25,327 Canterbury 23 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs19–18 Canberra 23 Canberra Raiders21 August 1988Sydney Football StadiumGraham Annesley19,259 Semi-finals Canberra 23 Canberra Raiders6–14 Balmain 23 Balmain Tigers27 August 1988Sydney Football StadiumMick Stone28,879 Cronulla 23 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks8–26 Canterbury 23 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs28 August 1988Sydney Football StadiumGraham Annesley31,684 Preliminary final Cronulla Sharks 23 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2–9 Balmain Tigers 23 Balmain Tigers4 September 1988Sydney Football StadiumMick Stone34,848 Grand final Canterbury 23 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs24–12 Balmain 23 Balmain Tigers 11 September 1988Sydney Football StadiumMick Stone40,000 Chart 150 Qualifying final Major semi-final Grand final Elimination final Minor semi-final Preliminary final 2 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 19 3 Canberra 16 Canberra 18 4 Manly 16 Manly 6 5 Balmain 16 Balmain 19 1 Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland 8 2 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 26 3 Canberra 16 Canberra 6 5 Balmain 16 Balmain 14 1 Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland 2 5 Balmain 16 Balmain 9 2 Canterbury 16 Canterbury 24 5 Balmain 16 Balmain 12 16 Grand final Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsPositionBalmain Tigers Jason AlchinFB Garry Jack 2. Glen Nissen WG 2. Russell Gartner 3. Tony Currie CE 3. Ellery Hanley 4. Andrew Farrar CE 4. Michael Pobjie 5. Robin Thorne WG 5. Ross Conlon 6. Terry Lamb FE 6. Mick Neil 7. Michael Hagan HB 7. Gary Freeman 13. Paul Dunn PR 13. Bruce McGuire 12. Joe Thomas HK 12. Benny Elias 11. Peter Tunks (c) PR 11. Kerry Hemsley 10. David Gillespie SR 10. Paul Sironen 9. Steve Folkes SR 9. David Brooks 8. Paul Langmack LK 8. Wayne Pearce (c) 14. Mark Bugden Bench 14. Scott Gale 15. Brandon Lee Bench 18. Kevin Hardwick 18. Steve Mortimer Bench 19. Steve Edmed 23. Darren McCarthy Bench Phil Gould Coach Warren Ryan This was the first grand final not to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Following Balmain's extraordinary late season run in winning thirteen of fifteen games, the stage was set for a grand final of great appeal. 1980s master coach Warren Ryan of Balmain was up against the club he had coached for four years to three grand finals and two premierships, as well as being matched against the man who had replaced him at Canterbury – Phil Gould. It was master against pupil. At just 30 years of age, Gould was vying not only to become the youngest coach to win a grand final but the first since Balmain's Leo Nosworthy in 1969 to steer a team to premiership victory in his first season coaching the top-grade. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs faced the Balmain Tigers on 11 September 1988 in the first grand final played at the Sydney Football Stadium and the last game for Steve Mortimer. The match was played early so that Channel Ten could broadcast the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The Australian national anthem was performed by Glenn Shorrock. After five minutes Peter Tunks was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for treading on Ben Elias. The first points of the match were scored shortly after from Terry Lamb's successful penalty kick. Another penalty kick from Lamb put the Bulldogs in front 4 nil. However Balmain grabbed the first try an Elias put up a bomb and was first to the ball ahead of Bulldog Jason Alchin. Conlon's conversion from in front gave the Tigers the lead for first time at 6–4. Weidler Danny Minutes that mattered The Sydney Morning Herald 3 Fairfax Digital 11 September 1988 http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news880911_0159_1735 6 October 2009 A highly controversial tackle by Terry Lamb put Balmain's in form British import Ellery Hanley out of the game before the 30-minute mark had been reached. Coady Ben Grand final dramas WA Today Australia Fairfax Digital 28 September 2009 http://blogs.watoday.com.au/executive-style/sportandstyle/bencoady/2009/09/28/grandfinaldra.html 15 January 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20181004074123/http://blogs.watoday.com.au/executive-style/sportandstyle/bencoady/2009/09/28/grandfinaldra.html 4 October 2018 dead Hanley staggered off, heavily concussed, with the score at 6–4. Under the rules of the time, Hanley was allowed 10 minutes to recover in the head bin. If he could not return he would need to be replaced. He returned just before half-time and stood, out-of-sorts, on the wing. The Bulldogs then ran in a 70-metre try from broken play and went to the break with a lead of 10–8. Hanley did not return after half-time and the Bulldogs started to dominate. A great Canterbury team try to Michael Hagan sealed the match. Bruce McGuire scored Balmain's second try late in the match although the outcome was already clear. The match ended on a sentimental note when Gould called the Bulldogs' representative star, former captain and 271-game veteran, Steve Mortimer to the sideline. He was less than fully fit and had his arm heavily padded to protect the wrist he had broken early in the season. However Mortimer had been named as a fresh reserve as tribute to his previous club contributions and the match ended with him moving to dummy half and taking the ball up for the last time. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24Tries: Nissen, Hagan, Gillespie, LambGoals: Lamb 4 Balmain Tigers 12Tries: Elias, McGuireGoals: Conlon 2 Clive Churchill Medal: Paul Dunn (Canterbury)D'Souza Miguel Grand Final History http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/league/2009-grand-final/grandFinal_History.swf https://web.archive.org/web/20140819082626/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/league/2009-grand-final/grandFinal_History.swf dead 19 August 2014 wwos.ninemsn.com.au Australian Associated Press 8 September 2013 Player statistics The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22. Top 5 point scorers PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField goals210Canberra Gary Belcher10850196Manly Michael O'Connor17640164St. George Ricky Walford15520161Cronulla Alan Wilson7661155Eastern Suburbs David Smith7631 Top 5 try scorers TriesPlayer19Canberra John Ferguson17Cronulla Andrew Ettingshausen17Manly Michael O'Connor15Brisbane Wally Lewis15St. George Ricky Walford Top 5 goal scorers GoalsPlayer85Canberra Gary Belcher66Cronulla Alan Wilson66South Sydney Mark Ellison64Manly Michael O'Connor64Balmain Ross Conlon 1988 Transfers Players Player1987 Club1988 Club Gavin Hanrahan Balmain Balmain Tigers Newcastle Newcastle Knights Phil Sigsworth Balmain Balmain Tigers Retirement Terry Fahey Canberra Canberra Raiders Retirement Jay Hoffman Canberra Canberra Raiders Retirement Terry Regan Canberra Canberra Raiders Hull FC Hull F.C. David Boyd Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Newcastle Newcastle Knights Glen Frendo Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Newcastle Newcastle Knights Pat Jarvis Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters Peter Kelly Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Chris Mortimer Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Peter Mortimer Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Hull KR Hull Kingston Rovers Phil Hurst Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Canberra Canberra Raiders Jim Leis Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Retirement Brian Battese Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters Canberra Canberra Raiders Kevin Hastings Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters Retirement Glen Leggett Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters Illawarra Illawarra Steelers Terry Matterson Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Gary Prohm Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters Retirement Tony Rampling Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Robert Simpkins Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Brad Tessmann Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters Brisbane Brisbane Broncos John Tobin Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters Retirement Graeme Bradley Illawarra Illawarra Steelers Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Chris Close Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Mitchell Cox Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Retirement Ron Gibbs Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Marty Gurr Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Leeds Leeds Martin Meredith Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Halifax Halifax Simon Brockwell North Sydney North Sydney Bears Retirement Olsen Filipaina North Sydney North Sydney Bears Retirement Paul McCaffery North Sydney North Sydney Bears Hull FC Hull F.C. Don McKinnon North Sydney North Sydney Bears Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Graeme Atkins Parramatta Parramatta Eels Retirement Michael Eden Parramatta Parramatta Eels 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Ernie Garland Parramatta Parramatta Eels Western Suburbs Western Suburbs Magpies Neil Hunt Parramatta Parramatta Eels 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Stan Jurd Parramatta Parramatta Eels Retirement Ken Wolffe Parramatta Parramatta Eels Retirement Darryl Brohman Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Retirement Tony Butterfield Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Newcastle Newcastle Knights Warren Fenton Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Retirement Ben Gonzales Old Penrith Penrith Panthers 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Chris Houghton Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Canberra Canberra Raiders Craig Izzard Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Parramatta Parramatta Eels Brandon Lee Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs David Liddiard Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Parramatta Parramatta Eels Glenn Miller Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Newcastle Newcastle Knights Mark Robinson Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Parramatta Parramatta Eels Joe Vitanza Old Penrith Penrith Panthers 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Neil Baker South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Michael Pobjie South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Balmain Balmain Tigers Mark Ross South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Glenn Burgess St. George St. George Dragons 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Bronko Djura St. George St. George Dragons South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs John Fifita St. George St. George Dragons Castleford Castleford Marc Glanville St. George St. George Dragons Newcastle Newcastle Knights Chris Johns St. George St. George Dragons Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Billy Johnstone St. George St. George Dragons 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Billy Noke St. George St. George Dragons Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Brian Quinton St. George St. George Dragons Newcastle Newcastle Knights Tony Townsend St. George St. George Dragons Newcastle Newcastle Knights John Bilbija Western Suburbs Western Suburbs Magpies South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Brett Clark Western Suburbs Western Suburbs Magpies St. George St. George Dragons John Elias Western Suburbs Western Suburbs Magpies Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters Craig Ellis Western Suburbs Western Suburbs Magpies Retirement Paul Sheahan Western Suburbs Western Suburbs Magpies 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Gary Webster Western Suburbs Western Suburbs Magpies Retirement Les White Western Suburbs Western Suburbs Magpies South Sydney South Sydney Rabbitohs Grant Rix Valleys Fortitude Valley Diehards (BRL) Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Allan Langer Ipswich Ipswich Jets (BRL) Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Kerrod Walters Ipswich Ipswich Jets (BRL) Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Geoff Bagnall Norths Devils Norths Devils (BRL) 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Greg Dowling Norths Devils Norths Devils (BRL) Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Trevor Bailey Brothers Past Brothers (BRL) St. George St. George Dragons Peter Gill Brothers Past Brothers (BRL) St. George St. George Dragons Joe Kilroy Brothers Past Brothers (BRL) Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Clinton Mohr Brothers Past Brothers (BRL) St. George St. George Dragons Gary Smith Brothers Past Brothers (BRL) North Sydney North Sydney Bears Greg Conescu Redcliffe Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL) Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Jeff Doyle Redcliffe Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL) Newcastle Newcastle Knights Bryan Niebling Redcliffe Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL) Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Wally Lewis Wynnum-Manly Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL) Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Gene Miles Wynnum-Manly Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL) Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Colin Scott Wynnum-Manly Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL) Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Brett Atkins Castleford Castleford Parramatta Parramatta Eels Neil James Halifax Halifax 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Kerry Boustead Hull KR Hull Kingston Rovers North Sydney North Sydney Bears Mark Hohn Hunslet Hunslet Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Peter Smith Leeds Leeds 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Gary Bridge Oldham Oldham Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs Roosters Steve Halliwell Wakefield Wakefield Trinity 23px Gold Coast-Tweed Giants Paul Bishop Warrington Warrington Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Joe Ropati Warrington Warrington Manly Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Ellery Hanley Wigan Wigan Balmain Balmain Tigers Adrian Shelford Wigan Wigan Newcastle Newcastle Knights Tony Kemp 23px Doncaster Newcastle Newcastle Knights Coaches Coach1987 Club1988 Club Wayne Bennett Canberra Canberra Raiders Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Warren Ryan Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Balmain Balmain Tigers Tim Sheens Old Penrith Penrith Panthers Canberra Canberra Raiders Great Britain Lions Tour 1988 Great Britain Lions tour The 1988 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team, nicknamed the 'Lions', of Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and July of 1988. The tour undertaken by the Great Britain team included a test match against Papua New Guinea, a three-test series against Australia for The Ashes, and a single test against New Zealand, all interspersed with matches against local club and representative teams. The British team was coached by two-time premiership winner with Manly-Warringah, Mal Reilly, who had toured as a player in 1970. The team captain was Ellery Hanley who was making his second Lions tour as a player. Taking place following the conclusion of England's 1987–88 Rugby Football League season and during Australia's 1988 Winfield Cup premiership season, the tour led to friction between the Great Britain team's management and the Australian Rugby League over match scheduling and promotion. The Lions finished the tour with ten wins and six losses. Unfortunately for the Lions, three of their losses came in the Test matches, two against Australia and one against New Zealand. One of their losses was a 30–0 thumping by reigning Premiers Manly-Warringah only 4 days before the 1st Ashes test. Game Date Result Venue Attendance1 27 May Great Britain 16 Great Britain Lions def. Cairns 16 North Queensland 66–16 Cairns Showgrounds, Cairns 4,1812 1 June Great Britain 16 Great Britain Lions def. Newcastle 16 Newcastle Knights 24–12 Marathon Stadium, Newcastle 8,9703 5 June Balmain 16 Northern Division def. Great Britain 16 Great Britain Lions 36–12 Scully Park, Tamworth 4,0004 7 June Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles def. Great Britain 16 Great Britain Lions 30–0 Brookvale Oval, Sydney 21,1315 11 June AUS def. GBR 17–6 Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 24,4806 16 June Great Britain 16 Great Britain Lions def. St Helens 16 Combined Brisbane 28–14 Lang Park, Brisbane 1,8107 17 June Great Britain 16 Great Britain Lions def. Central Comets 16 Central Queensland 64–8 Browne Park, Rockhampton 4,4188 22 June Great Britain 16 Great Britain Lions def. Toowoomba 16 Toowoomba / S-E Queensland 14–0 Athletic Oval, Toowoomba 3,8749 25 June Great Britain 16 Great Britain Lions def. St George 16 Wide Bay 28–12 Albert Park, Gympie 2,31010 26 June AUS def. GBR 34–14 Lang Park, Brisbane 27,13011 3 July Great Britain 16 Great Britain Lions def. Canberra 16 Western Division 28–26 Wade Park, Orange 3,52012 5 July Australia 16 President's XIII def. Great Britain 16 Great Britain Lions 24–16 Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan 6,03713 9 July GBR def. AUS 26–12 Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 15,944 References External links Rugby League Tables – Season 1988 The World of Rugby League. 1988 J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup at rleague.comJanuary 2025 medicmedic Results:1981–90 at rabbitohs.com.au NSWRL season 1988 at rugbyleagueproject.com NSWRL season 1988