1973 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

1973 rugby league tour 1973 Australia 1973 1973 England France Charles Gibson Albert Bishop Graeme Langlands Graeme Langlands Bob McCarthy Tom Raudonikis Arthur Beetson Mick Cronin 77 Bob Fulton 20 Bob Fulton 15 Bob Fulton 5 19 17 0 2 5 4 0 1 GB 3 2 0 1 FRA 2 2 0 0 1967-68 1978 The 1973 Kangaroo Tour was the thirteenth Kangaroo Tour, and saw the Australian national rugby league team travel to Europe and play nineteen matches against British and French club and representative rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches against Great Britain and two Tests against the French. It followed the tour of 1967-68 and the next was staged in 1978. Due to the advent of the Jet Age which had made international travel times much shorter (a Jumbo Jet airplane could travel between Sydney and London in a day compared to the weeks it took a ship at sea), and with a slimed down tour itinerary (the 1973 Kangaroos played 19 games compared to the 27 played by the 1967-68 Kangaroos), this was the first Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France to be held inside of a single calendar year. The squad's leadership The team was captain-coached by Graeme Langlands making his third Kangaroo Tour. Managers of the team were Albert Bishop and Charlie Gibson with Alf Richards as the team trainer. Touring squad The following players were in the touring squad. Christensen E.E. 1974 E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book 1974 State Library of NSW, Sydney New South Wales Rugby League 46 Player Club Position(s) Tests Games Tries Goals F/Goals Points Arthur Beetson (vc) Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs Roosters PR 5 16 3 0 0 9 Ray Branighan Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles CE WG FB 4 13 7 2 0 25 Mick Cronin France 16 Gerringong Lions CE 2 12 7 28 0 77 Graham Eadie Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles FB 2 10 4 9 0 30 Bob Fulton Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles CE FE 5 14 20 0 1 61 Ted Goodwin St George 16 St George Dragons WG CE 3 10 7 0 0 21 Bill Hamilton Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles PR 0 8 1 0 0 3 John Lang Easts Tigers 16 Eastern Suburbs Tigers (Qld) HK 1 7 2 0 0 6 Graeme Langlands (c) St George 16 St George Dragons FB CE 1 8 4 27 0 66 Ken Maddison Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks SR 4 13 6 0 0 18 Bob McCarthy (vc) South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs SR 2 8 4 0 0 12 John O'Neill Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles PR 1 6 0 0 0 0 Bob O'Reilly Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels PR 4 13 0 0 0 0 Warren Orr Wests Panthers 16 Wests Panthers (Qld) WG 0 6 4 0 0 12 Tim Pickup North Sydney 16 North Sydney Bears FE HB 4 12 2 0 0 6 Greg Pierce Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks LK SR 1 8 1 0 0 3 Terry Randall Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles SR LK 0 5 1 0 0 3 Tom Raudonikis (vc) Western Suburbs 16 Western Suburbs Magpies HB 4 10 3 0 0 9 Steve Rogers Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks CE 0 7 2 0 0 6 Paul Sait South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs SR LK 4 13 2 0 0 6 Geoff Starling Balmain 16 Balmain Tigers CE LK 5 13 8 0 0 24 Gary Stevens South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs SR 3 8 1 0 0 3 David Waite Adelaide 16 Wests Wollongong WG 4 12 4 0 0 12 Elwyn Walters South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs HK 4 15 2 0 0 6 Dennis Ward Wynnum-Manly 16 Western Suburbs Rosellas HB 0 8 1 0 0 3 Lionel Williamson Newtown 16 Newtown Bluebags WG 3 9 0 0 0 0 1973 NSWRFL Premiers Manly-Warringah provided a record 6 players to the Kangaroos while the team they defeated in the Grand Final Cronulla-Sutherland, provided 3 players. Surprisingly, no players were selected from either of the 1973 Brisbane Rugby League Grand Finalists, winners Fortitude Valley or runners up Redcliffe. Of the 26 player squad, 21 were from New South Wales and 5 from Queensland, with 3 of the Queenslanders picked Sydney teams (team vice captain Arthur Beetson (Easts), Souths hooker Elwyn Walters and Newtown winger Lionel Williamson). Brisbane Easts hooker John Lang and Brisbane Wests winger Warren Orr were the only players picked from Queensland based clubs. Great Britain The Ashes series against Great Britain saw an aggregate crowd of 36,567 attending the Test series Test Venues The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues. London Leeds Warrington Wembley Headingley Wilderspool Capacity: 100,000 Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 15,000 200px 200px 200px Sunday, 30 September 3.30pm Salford Salford City 16 12 – 15 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110750275 Fulton's three tries for 'Roos The Canberra Times Canberra 2 Oct 1973 26 Dec 2021 18 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: 2 Ian Holland Keith Fielding Goals: 3 David Watkins (3) Tries: 3 Bob Fulton (3) Goals: 3 Graeme Langlands (3) The Willows, Salford 11,064 Gate £4,711 M. J. Naughton Wednesday, 3 October Wakefield Trinity Wakefield 16 9 – 13 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110750768 Rogers and Fulton impress The Canberra Times Canberra 5 Oct 1973 26 Dec 2021 20 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: 1 D. Topliss Goals: 3 T. Crook (3) Tries: 3 Bill Hamilton Steve Rogers David Waite Goals: 2 Graham Eadie (2) Belle Vue, Wakefield 5,863 Gate £2,004 R. Jackson Sunday, 7 October 3.30pm Dewsbury Dewsbury Rams 16 3 – 17 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110751326 Starling tops in league win The Canberra Times Canberra 9 Oct 1973 26 Dec 2021 18 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: nil Goals: 1 N. Stephenson Field goals: 1 N. Stephenson Tries: 3 Bob Fulton (2) Paul Sait Goals: 4 Graeme Langlands (4) Old Crown Flatt ground, Dewsbury 5,865 Gate £2,059 G. Kershaw Wednesday, 10 October 7.30pm Castleford Castleford 16 10 – 16 Australia 16 Australia Tries: nil Goals: 5 S. Lloyd (5) Tries: 4 Graham Eadie Mick Cronin Ray Branighan Ken Maddison Goals: 2 Graham Eadie (2) Wheldon Road, Castleford 2,419 Gate £947 K. Allatt Sunday, 14 October 3.00pm Widnes Widnes 16 10 – 25 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110752350 Costly win for Kangaroos The Canberra Times Canberra 16 Oct 1973 26 Dec 2021 20 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: 2 T. Warburton D. Macko Goals: 2 R. Dutton (2) Tries: 7 Graeme Langlands (2) Bob Fulton Warren Orr Tom Raudonikis Gary Stevens Bob McCarthy Goals: 2 Graeme Langlands Mick Cronin Naughton Park, Widnes 5,185 Gate £1,710 Harry Hunt Friday, 19 October 7.30pm Oldham Oldham 16 10 – 44 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110753230 Kangaroos hooker has neck injury The Canberra Times Canberra 22 Oct 1973 26 Dec 2021 12 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: 2 P. Astbury J. Blair Goals: 2 T. Clawson (2) Tries: 10 Geoff Starling (4) Ken Maddison (2) Bob McCarthy Paul Sait Ted Goodwin Mick Cronin Goals: 7 Mick Cronin (7) Watersheddings, Oldham 2,895 Gate £991 Wednesday, 24 October 2.15pm Cumberland Cumbria 2 – 28 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110753957 Eadie and Randall Test prospects The Canberra Times Canberra 26 Oct 1973 26 Dec 2021 18 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: nil Goals: 1 R. Nicholson Tries: 6 Ted Goodwin (2) David Waite (2) Graham Eadie Mick Cronin Goals: 5 Mick Cronin (5) Recreation Ground, Whitehaven 3,666 Gate £1,258 Mick Naughton Sunday, 28 October 3.00pm Bradford Northern Bradford 16 14 – 50 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110754324 Starling rated best Kangaroo The Canberra Times Canberra 30 Oct 1973 26 Dec 2021 16 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: 2 A. Long G. Joyce Goals: 4 E. Tees (4) Tries: 12 Bob Fulton (4) Tom Raudonikis (2) Arthur Beetson (2) Terry Randall Tim Pickup Ted Goodwin Geoff Starling Goals: 7 Graeme Langlands (7) Odsal, Bradford 5,667 F. Lindop The Ashes series First Test In the first rugby league international played at Wembley since 1963, the Lions shocked the then unbeaten Australian's 21–12 in front of just 9,874 fans. The match had been moved to Wembley from the Central Park ground in Wigan at the request of the Australian team management. #eeeeee GBR AUS 21 – 12 1st Ashes Testhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131690290 Kangaroos lose first Test The Canberra Times Canberra 5 Nov 1973 26 Dec 2021 12 National Library of Australia Tries: Phil Lowe (2) Colin Clarke Brian Lockwood Goals: Terry Clawson (4) Field Goals: Steve Nash (1) Tries: Ray Branighan Bob Fulton Goals: Graeme Langlands (3) Saturday, 3 November 1973 Wembley Stadium, London 9,874 Billy Thompson ENG Phil Lowe _GBR1 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Great Britain _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _thingoldsides _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1 Paul CharltonRW 2 Clive Sullivan (c)RC 3 Syd HynesLC 4 Chris HeskethLW 5 John AtkinsonSO 6 David ToplissSH 7 Steve NashPR 8 Terry ClawsonHK 9 Colin ClarkePR 10 Brian LockwoodSR 11 Phil LoweSR 12 George NichollsLK 13 Ray BattenSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach:ENG Jim Challinor FB 1 Graeme Langlands (c)RW 2 Ray BranighanRC 3 Bob FultonLC 4 Geoff StarlingLW 5 Ted GoodwinFE 6 Tim PickupHB 7 Tommy RaudonikisPR 8 Bob O'ReillyHK 9 Elwyn WaltersPR 10 Arthur BeetsonSR 11 Bob McCarthySR 12 Ken MaddisonLF 13 Paul SaitSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach:AUS Graeme Langlands Wednesday, 7 November 7.30pm Hull Kingston Rovers Hull KR 16 9 – 25 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131691201 Manly continues to seek Phil Lowe The Canberra Times Canberra 9 Nov 1973 26 Dec 2021 22 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: 1 G. Dunn Goals: 3 Roger Millward (3) Tries: 5 Mick Cronin (2) Graham Eadie (2) Bob McCarthy Goals: 5 Mick Cronin (5) Craven Park, Hull 5,150 Gate £1,747 P. Geraghty Saturday, 10 November Huddersfield Huddersfield 16 2 – 32 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131691648 Kangaroos score 32-2 victory The Canberra Times Canberra 12 Nov 1973 26 Dec 2021 11 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: nil Goals: 1 F. Davies Tries: 8 Bob Fulton (3) Ray Branighan (2) Arthur Beetson David Waite Mick Cronin Goals: Graeme Langlands (4) Fartown, Huddersfield 1,333 Gate £451 R. Wood Sunday, 11 November Leigh Leigh 16 4 – 31 Australia 16 Australia Tries: nil Goals: 2 J. Fiddler (2) Tries: 7 Graeme Langlands (2) Ted Goodwin Steve Rogers Warren Orr Tim Pickup John Lang Goals: 5 Graeme Langlands (5) Hilton Park, Leigh 2,607 Gate £826 A. Givvons Tuesday, 13 November St. Helens St Helens 16 11 – 7 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131692246 Eadie Injury A Blow To Kangaroos The Canberra Times Canberra 15 Nov 1973 26 Dec 2021 26 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: 1 F. Wilson Goals: 4 K. Coslett (4) Tries: 1 Geoff Starling Goals: 2 Mick Cronin (2) Knowsley Road, St. Helens 10,013 Gate £3,419 T. Keane Sunday, 18 November 3.00pm Featherstone Rovers Featherstone 16 13 – 18 Australia 16 Australia Tries: 2 L. Tonks W. Harris Goals: 3 H. Box (3) Field Goals: 1 S. Nash Tries: 4 Ray Branighan (2) Bob Fulton Elwyn Walters Goals: 3 Mick Cronin (3) Post Office Road, Featherstone 5,659 Gate £7,776 S. Shepherd Second Test The second test at Headingley in Leeds saw the Australian's tie the series at one game all with a 14–6 win in front of the tours largest attendance of 16,674. #eeeeee GBR AUS 6 – 14 2nd Ashes Testhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131694514 League series even after 14-6 win The Canberra Times Canberra 26 Nov 1973 26 Dec 2021 14 National Library of Australia Tries: Goals: Terry Clawson (3) Tries: Bob McCarthy Goals: Graham Eadie (5) Saturday, 24 November 1973 Headingley, Leeds 16,674 Billy Thompson ENG Graham Eadie _GBR1 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Great Britain _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _thingoldsides _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1 Paul CharltonRW 2 Clive Sullivan (c)RC 3 Syd HynesLC 4 Chris HeskethLW 5 John AtkinsonSO 6 David ToplissSH 7 Steve NashPR 8 Terry ClawsonHK 9 Colin ClarkePR 10 Brian LockwoodSR 11 Phil LoweSR 12 John MantleLK 13 Ray BattenSubstitutions:IC 14 David EckersleyIC 15 Colin DixonCoach:ENG Jim Challinor FB 1 Graham EadieRW 2 Lionel WilliamsonRC 3 Geoff StarlingLC 4 Ray BranighanLW 5 Ted GoodwinFE 6 Bob FultonHB 7 Tommy RaudonikisPR 8 Bob O'ReillyHK 9 Elwyn WaltersPR 10 Arthur BeetsonSR 11 Bob McCarthy (c)SR 12 Gary StevensLF 13 Paul SaitSubstitutions:IC 14 Ken MaddisonIC 15Coach:AUS Graeme Langlands Kangaroos captain-coach Graeme Langlands was ruled out of the second test with a broken hand. To replace him at fullback, Langlands selected Manly-Warringah's 19 year old dual premiership winning fullback Graham Eadie to make his test debut (Eadie, known affectionately as "Wombat", would turn 20 the next day). Eadie was also handed the goal kicking duties on the day and despite a very strong wind making conditions tricky for kickers, kicked 5 goals which proved vital in the Kangaroos 14–6 win over the Lions to keep The Ashes series alive. After conceding 4 tries in the first test loss at Wembley, the Kangaroos kept their line intact with the Lions only scores coming from 3 goals by prop forward Terry Clawson. Third Test The Kangaroos won back The Ashes with a hard-fought 15–5 win in trying conditions at Warrington. The pitch at Wilderspool was frozen which suited the Australians who were used to playing on hard grounds at home. #eeeeee GBR AUS 5 – 15 3rd Ashes Testhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131695883 15-5 victory clinches Test series The Canberra Times Canberra 3 Dec 1973 26 Dec 2021 16 National Library of Australia Tries: Roger Millward Goals: Roger Millward Tries: Ken Maddison (2) Bob Fulton Geoff Starling Elwyn Walters Goals: Graham Eadie (0/4) Ray Branighan (0/2) Saturday, 1 December 1973 Wilderspool, Warrington 10,019 Billy Thompson ENG Ken Maddison _GBR1 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Great Britain _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _thingoldsides _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1 Paul CharltonRW 2 Alan SmithRC 3 Syd HynesLC 4 Chris HeskethLW 5 Clive Sullivan (c)SO 6 David EckersleySH 7 Roger MillwardPR 8 Terry ClawsonHK 9 Colin ClarkePR 10 Mick HarrisonSR 11 George NichollsSR 12 Phil LoweLK 13 Doug LaughtonSubstitutions:IC 14 David WatkinsIC 15 Colin DixonCoach:ENG Jim Challinor FB 1 Graham EadieRW 2 Lionel WilliamsonRC 3 Geoff StarlingLC 4 Ray BranighanLW 5 David WaiteFE 6 Bob FultonHB 7 Tommy Raudonikis (c)PR 8 Bob O'ReillyHK 9 Elwyn WaltersPR 10 Arthur BeetsonSR 11 Ken MaddisonSR 12 Gary StevensLF 13 Paul SaitSubstitutions:IC 14 Tim PickupIC 15Coach:AUS Graeme Langlands With coach Graeme Langlands still out with a broken hand and looking on from the sidelines, the Kangaroos wrapped up the Ashes with a 15–5 win on the frozen ground at Wilderspool. Man of the match Ken Maddison crossed for two tries while Warrington born Bob Fulton, centre Geoff Starling and hooker Elwyn Walters also crossed for tries. For the Lions, their only score came from a try and goal from Hull Kingston Rovers halfback Roger Millward. France |- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Date | Opponent | Score | Ground | Referee | Crowd | Report |- bgcolor=pink | 9 December | France | 9 – 21 | Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan | G. Jameau (FRA) | 5,109 | |- |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | 12 December | France XIII | 12 – 24 | Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux | | 2,523 | |- |- bgcolor=pink | 16 December | France | 3 – 14 | Stade des Minimes, Toulouse | M. Caillol (FRA) | 7,060 | |- French Tests First test #eeeeee FRA AUS 9 – 21 1st Test - France vs Australia Tries: Michel Molinier André Ruiz Goals Roger Garrigue (1) Field Goals: Roger Garrigue (1) Tries: Bob Fulton (2) Ted Goodwin (2) Geoff Starling Goals Ray Branighan (2) Michael Cronin (1) Sunday, 9 December 1973 Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan 5,109 Georges Jameau FRA _francerl70 _francerl70 _francerl70 _redtop 0000CD 0000CD 0000CD FFFFFF 0000CD France _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _thingoldsides _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Maurice de MatosRW 2Serge MarsolanRC 3Michel MolinierLC 4André RuizLW 5Jean-Claude MartySO 6Patrick RivesSH 7Roger Garrigue (c)PR 8Christian CarréHK 9Jacques FrancPR 10Charles ThénégalSR 11Jean-Jacques CologniSR 12Jean-Paul SauretLK 13Georges BonetSubstitutions:IC 14Marius FrattiniIC 15Serge GleyzesCoach: FB 1 Ray BranighanRW 2 Lionel WilliamsonRC 3 Bob FultonLC 4 Michael CroninLW 5 David WaiteFE 6 Tim PickupHB 7 Tommy Raudonikis (c)PR 8 Arthur BeetsonHK 9 John LangPR 10 John O'NeillSR 11 Greg PierceSR 12 Elwyn WaltersLF 13 Geoff StarlingSubstitutions:IC 14 Ted GoodwinIC 15Coach:AUS Graeme Langlands Second Test Arthur Beetson became the first aboriginal player to captain Australia in a rugby league Test match. #eeeeee FRA AUS 3 – 14 2nd Test - France vs Australia Tries: Jacques Franc Goals: Tries: Ray Branighan Michael Cronin Bob Fulton Ken Maddison Goals: Michael Cronin (1) Sunday, 16 December 1973 Stade des Minimes, Toulouse 2,000 Marcel Caillol FRA _francerl70 _francerl70 _francerl70 _redtop 0000CD 0000CD 0000CD FFFFFF 0000CD France _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _thingoldsides _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1José CalleRW 2Serge MarsolanRC 3Michel MolinierLC 4André RuizLW 5Jean-Claude MartySO 6Michel MazaréSH 7Roger Garrigue (c)PR 8Victor SerranoHK 9Jacques FrancPR 10Christian CarréSR 11Jean-Paul SauretSR 12Jean-Jacques CologniLK 13Serge GleyzesSubstitutions:IC 14Georges BonetIC 15Lambert BrunetCoach: FB 1 Ray BranighanRW 2 Ted GoodwinRC 3 Michael CroninLC 4 Geoff StarlingLW 5 David WaiteFE 6 Bob FultonHB 7 Tim PickupPR 8 Bob O'ReillyHK 9 Elwyn WaltersPR 10 Arthur Beetson (c)SR 11 Ken MaddisonSR 12 Gary StevensLF 13 Paul SaitSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach:AUS Graeme Langlands References External links 1973 Kangaroo Tour at Rugby League Project Category:Australia national rugby league team tours Category:Rugby league tours of Great Britain Category:Rugby league tours of France Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France