1989 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand

1989 rugby league tour The 1989 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played six matches on tour, including a three test series against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 4 July and finished on 23 July.1989 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand @ Rugby League Project Australia, the reigning Rugby League World Cup champions after having defeated New Zealand 25–12 in the 1988 World Cup Final at Auckland's Eden Park ground, defeated the home side 3–0 in the series. The third test of the series also doubled as the first match of the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup tournament.1989-1992 World Cup @ Rugby League Project The series was broadcast to Australia by the Nine Network with commentary provided by Ray Warren and Darrell Eastlake with former New Zealand coach Graham Lowe giving special comments from the Nine studios in Brisbane for the first two tests. As of 2024, this remains the last full mid-season Kangaroo tour of New Zealand in which the Australians played against club and regional teams. Leadership Don Furner had stepped down after three successful years as coach and was replaced by 1978 Kangaroo tour captain and Manly-Warringah's 1987 premiership winning coach Bob Fulton. Wally Lewis was the captain of the side as he had been since 1984 while Manly-Warringah's Paul Vautin was the team vice-captain. Vautin captained the team in the three non-test games of the tour. Touring squad Queensland had won the 1989 State of Origin series with a 3–0 clean sweep of New South Wales prior to the tour. Of the 20 man touring team, 12 were from Qld with 8 from NSW. Balmain Tigers front rower Steve Roach was the only tourist who had not played in the Origin series. Only 10 players from the touring party would go on to be selected for the 1990 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France (Alexander, Belcher, Bella, Hancock, Hasler, Meninga as captain, Roach, Shearer, Sironen and Walters). Player Club Position(s) Games Tests Tries Goals F/Goals Points Greg Alexander Old Penrith 16 Penrith Panthers HB 5 2 5 – – – Sam Backo Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos PR 6 3 1 – – 4 Gary Belcher Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders FB 5 3 3 – – 12 Martin Bella North Sydney 16 North Sydney Bears PR 3 – – – – – Bradley Clyde Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders SR 4 3 1 – – 4 Tony Currie Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos CE 5 3 2 – – 8 Michael Hancock Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos WG 6 3 3 – – 12 Des Hasler Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles FE HB 4 2 1 – – 4 Peter Jackson Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos CE 3 – – – – – Wally Lewis (c) Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos FE 3 3 – – – – Bruce McGuire Balmain 16 Balmain Tigers SR LK 5 2 – – – – Mal Meninga Canberra 16 Canberra Raiders CE SR 3 3 1 8 – 20 Michael O'Connor Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles WG 5 2 3 15 – 42 Steve Roach Balmain 16 Balmain Tigers PR 5 3 – – – – Dale Shearer Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles WG FB CE 5 3 5 – – 20 Paul Sironen Balmain 16 Balmain Tigers SR 3 2 1 – – 4 Dan Stains Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks SR 3 – – – – – David Trewhella Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs Roosters HK 3 – – – – – Paul Vautin (vc) Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles LK FE 6 3 – 1 – 2 Kerrod Walters Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos HK 5 3 1 – – 4 Tour The Australians played six games on the tour, winning five. Tuesday 4 July New Zealand XIII New Zealand Kiwis 16 18 – 50 New Zealand XIII vs Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122280484 Tamati gives Roos a word of advice The Canberra Times Canberra 4 Jul 1989 1 Jan 2022 26 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122280696 Roos rampant in tour opener The Canberra Times Canberra 5 Jul 1989 1 Jan 2022 44 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Duane Mann, Kelly Shelford, Dave Watson Goals: Phil Bancroft (3) Tries: Greg Alexander (3), Gary Belcher (3), Sam Backo, Des Hasler, Michael O'Connor Goals: Michael O'Connor (7) Palmerston North Showgrounds 5,000 Jim Stokes New Zealand XIII: Morvin Edwards, Sam Panapa, Dave Watson, Tea Ropati, David Ewe, Kelly Shelford, Phil Bancroft, George Mann, Duane Mann, Russell Tuuta, Shane Hansen, Francis Leota, Mike Kuiti (c). Res - Gary Mercer, Peter Brown. Australia: Gary Belcher, Michael O'Connor, Peter Jackson, Tony Currie, Michael Hancock, Des Hasler, Greg Alexander, Sam Backo, David Trewhella, Steve Roach, Bruce McGuire, Dan Stains, Paul Vautin (c). Res - Kerrod Walters, Martin Bella. First test #eeeeee Sunday 9 July NZL AUS 6 – 26 1st Test - New Zealand vs Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122281875 Times Sport - Sironen, Roach justify recalls The Canberra Times Canberra 10 Jul 1989 1 Jan 2022 24 National Library of Australia Tries: Mark Elia Goals: Kevin Iro (1/2) Tries: Tony Currie Wally Lewis Paul Sironen Kerrod Walters Goals: Mal Meninga (5/5) Queen Elizabeth II Park, Christchurch 17,000 Ray Tennant ENG Bradley Clyde _whiteshoulders _NZKiwis _whiteshoulders _thinwhitesides _2whitestripes 000000 000000 000000 000000 000000 New Zealand _goldborder_2 _kangaroos1 _goldborder _thingoldsides _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1 Darrell WilliamsRW 2 Tony IroCE 3 Kevin IroCE 4 Tony KempLW 5 Mark EliaFE 6 Shane CooperHB 7 Clayton FriendPR 8 Brent ToddHK 9 Barry HarveyPR 10 James GouldingSR 11 Hugh McGahan (c)SR 12 Sam StewartLF 13 Brendon TuutaSubstitutions:IC 14 Gary FreemanIC 15IC 16IC 17 Mark HoroCoach:NZL Tony Gordon FB 1 Gary BelcherRW 2 Dale ShearerCE 3 Mal MeningaCE 4 Tony CurrieLW 5 Michael HancockFE 6 Wally Lewis (c)HB 7 Greg AlexanderPR 8 Sam BackoHK 9 Kerrod WaltersPR 10 Steve RoachSR 11 Paul SironenSR 12 Bradley ClydeLF 13 Paul VautinSubstitutions:IC 14 Michael O'ConnorIC 15 Bruce McGuireIC 16IC 17Coach:AUS Bob Fulton Wednesday 12 July Auckland aucklandnzrl 16 26 – 24 Auckland vs Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122282394 Fulton cries foul in Auckland The Canberra Times Canberra 13 Jul 1989 1 Jan 2022 22 National Library of Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Shane Hansen, Francis Leota, Mike Patton, Dave Watson Goals: Kelly Shelford (5/6) Tea Ropati (0/1) Tries: Dale Shearer (2), Greg Alexander, Tony Currie, Michael Hancock Goals: Michael O'Connor (2/5) Carlaw Park, Auckland 9,000 Bill Shrimpton Auckland: Carl Magatogia, Sam Panapa, Mike Patton, Dave Watson, Kevin Pulieta, Kelly Shelford (c), Neville Ramsay, Mike Thomson, Peter Ropati, George Mann, Tawera Nikau, Francis Leota, Shane Hansen. Res - Tea Ropati, Taime Tagaloa. Coach - Cameron Bell Australia: Dale Shearer, Michael O'Connor, Peter Jackson, Tony Currie, Michael Hancock, Des Hasler, Greg Alexander, Sam Backo, David Trewhella, Martin Bella, Dan Stains, Bruce McGuire, Paul Vautin (c). Res - Bradley Clyde. The 26-24 loss to Auckland was the Kangaroos first loss to a club or provincial team since losing 12-11 to NZ side South Island during the 1980 NZ tour.South Island vs Australia 1980 at Rugby League Project As of 2024 it remains the last time an Australian side has lost a non-test match. This was also the last time the Australians would play a match at Carlaw Park. Second test #eeeeee Sunday 16 July NZL AUS 0 – 8 2nd Test - New Zealand vs Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122283051 Sharks chew into Raiders' finals hopes - Kiwis to aim for Aussie trio The Canberra Times Canberra 16 Jul 1989 1 Jan 2022 16 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122283315 Times Sport - Defence is key to Test triumph The Canberra Times Canberra 17 Jul 1989 1 Jan 2022 22 National Library of Australia Tries: Goals: Phil Bancroft (0/1) Kevin Iro (0/2) Tony Kemp (0/1) Tries: Michael Hancock Goals: Mal Meninga (2/3) Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua 26,000 Ray Tennant ENG _whiteshoulders _NZKiwis _whiteshoulders _thinwhitesides _2whitestripes 000000 000000 000000 000000 000000 New Zealand _goldborder_2 _kangaroos1 _goldborder _thingoldsides _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1 Darrell WilliamsRW 2 Tony IroCE 3 Kevin IroCE 4 Tony KempLW 5 Gary MercerFE 6 Shane CooperHB 7 Gary FreemanPR 8 Brent ToddHK 9 Duane MannPR 10 James GouldingSR 11 Hugh McGahan (c)SR 12 Sam StewartLF 13 Brendon TuutaSubstitutions:IC 14 Phil BancroftIC 15IC 16IC 17 Mark HoroCoach:NZL Tony Gordon FB 1 Gary BelcherRW 2 Dale ShearerCE 3 Mal MeningaCE 4 Tony CurrieLW 5 Michael HancockFE 6 Wally Lewis (c)HB 7 Greg AlexanderPR 8 Sam BackoHK 9 Kerrod WaltersPR 10 Steve RoachSR 11 Paul SironenSR 12 Bradley ClydeLF 13 Paul VautinSubstitutions:IC 14 Des HaslerIC 15 Bruce McGuireIC 16 Michael O'ConnorIC 17 David TrewhellaCoach:AUS Bob Fulton Wednesday 19 July Wellington 10 – 28 Wellington vs Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122283583 More pressure for Currie The Canberra Times Canberra 19 Jul 1989 1 Jan 2022 52 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122283892 Walters undecided over career future The Canberra Times Canberra 20 Jul 1989 1 Jan 2022 20 National Library of Australia Australia Tries: Morvin Edwards Goals: George Lajpold (3) Tries: Dale Shearer (2), Greg Alexander, Michael Hancock, Michael O'Connor Goals: Michael O'Connor (3) Paul Vautin (1) Basin Reserve, Wellington 5,000 Alan Church Wellington: Morvin Edwards, David Ewe, George Lajpold, Charlie McAlister, Victor Aramoana, Geoffrey Tangira, Sibi Raika, Arnold Lomax, Barry Harvey (c), Daroa Ben-Moide, Sonny Whakarau, Kelly Makoare, Mike Kuiti. Coach – Howie Tamati Australia: Gary Belcher, Michael O'Connor, Peter Jackson, Dale Shearer, Michael Hancock, Paul Vautin (c), Greg Alexander, Steve Roach, David Trewhella, Martin Bella, Dan Stains, Paul Sironen, Bruce McGuire. Res - Kerrod Walters, Sam Backo. As of 2024, this remains the last game Australia has played against a NZ club or provincial side. Third test The dead rubber third test also doubled as the first game of the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup tournament and it also saw the first time that the Mount Smart Stadium would host a rugby league test match. Australia's vice-captain Paul Vautin played his 13th and last test match. Tony Currie, Sam Backo and Bruce McGuire also played their last tests. With Paul Sironen out injured having rolled an ankle at training, Mal Meninga was moved into the second row for only the second (and last) time in his test career. After 9 tests on the wing, Dale Shearer played his first test at centre with Manly team mate Michael O'Connor coming in on the wing. This would also be the 24th and last time Wally Lewis would captain Australia in a test match. For the Kiwis, goal kicking Eastern Suburbs centre and former All Black Kurt Sherlock became a dual rugby international with his selection on the bench, while St Helens outside back Mark Elia was playing his 10th and final test in New Zealand colours (he would later appear twice for Western Samoa in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup). Auckland 5/8 Kelly Shelford was also playing his first test for the Kiwis and also took over the goal kicking after they had used three kickers without any success in Rotorua. #eeeeee Sunday 23 July NZL AUS 14 – 22 3rd Test - New Zealand vs Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122284436 Times Sport - Meninga in for front line action The Canberra Times Canberra 23 Jul 1989 1 Jan 2022 16 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122284611 Times Sport - Roach pushing Beetson The Canberra Times Canberra 24 Jul 1989 1 Jan 2022 22 National Library of Australia Tries: Mark Elia Gary Mercer Goals: Kelly Shelford (3/5) Tries: Bradley Clyde Mal Meninga Michael O'Connor Dale Shearer Goals: Mal Meninga (1/3) Michael O'Connor (2/3) Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland 15,000 Ray Tennant ENG Bradley Clyde _whiteshoulders _NZKiwis _whiteshoulders _thinwhitesides _2whitestripes 000000 000000 000000 000000 000000 New Zealand _goldborder_2 _kangaroos1 _goldborder _thingoldsides _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1 Darrell WilliamsRW 2 Gary MercerCE 3 Kevin IroCE 4 Tony KempLW 5 Mark EliaFE 6 Kelly ShelfordHB 7 Gary FreemanPR 8 Brent ToddHK 9 Duane MannPR 10 James GouldingSR 11 Mark HoroSR 12 Sam StewartLF 13 Hugh McGahan (c)Substitutions:IC 14 Kurt SherlockIC 15IC 16 Brendon TuutaIC 17Coach:NZL Tony Gordon FB 1 Gary BelcherRW 2 Michael O'ConnorCE 3 Dale ShearerCE 4 Tony CurrieLW 5 Michael HancockFE 6 Wally Lewis (c)HB 7 Des HaslerPR 8 Sam BackoHK 9 Kerrod WaltersPR 10 Steve RoachSR 11 Mal MeningaSR 12 Bradley ClydeLF 13 Paul VautinSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15IC 16 Bruce McGuireIC 17Coach:AUS Bob Fulton During the second half of the game, Australian captain Wally Lewis pulled off a massive (but fair) hit on Kiwi fullback Darrell Williams. Lewis later told that he thought he was lining up Brendon Tuuta who had produced a fair bit of foul play through the series, only to look down at the tackled player and find it was Williams and not Tuuta (who wasn't actually on the field at the time).Fatty visits The King Following the game as a bit of a release at the end of the tour, Wally Lewis and Peter Jackson both Bungee jumped from the back of Mount Smart Stadium's main grandstand. Statistics Leading Try Scorer 5 by Greg Alexander and Dale Shearer Leading Point Scorer 42 by Michael O'Connor (3 tries, 15 goals) Largest Attendance 26,000 - Second test vs New Zealand at Rotorua International Stadium Largest non-test Attendance 9,000 - Australia vs Auckland at Carlaw Park References Category:Rugby league tours of New Zealand Category:Australia national rugby league team tours Kangaroo tour of New Zealand Kangaroo tour of New Zealand