1993 Trans-Tasman Test series

Rugby League Test Series The 1993 Trans-Tasman Test series was an international rugby league test series played in Australia between Australia and New Zealand. The series, which started on 20 June in Auckland and finished on 30 June in Brisbane, consisted of three test matches.1993 Australia vs New Zealand at Rugby League Project The three Tests attracted a total of 74,494 fans. Due to sponsorship, the series was known as the Lion Red Test Series. The Test series was broadcast into Australia via the Seven Network with commentary provided by Graeme Hughes, Graham Lowe and John Monie with recently retired former Australian dual-rugby international Michael O'Connor the sideline reporter. Australia The Australians, coached by Bob Fulton, had been crowned Rugby League World Cup champions for the 7th time after winning the 1992 Rugby League World Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Mal Meninga captained the side in the final two tests of the Trans-Tasman series but was forced to miss the first test after being suspended by the NSWRL for the use of an elbow on Manly-Warringah's Welsh import centre John Devereux in a club game. Ironically, Manly's coach was also Australian coach Bob Fulton. The captaincy for the first test fell to Meninga's Canberra Raiders team mate and New South Wales captain Laurie Daley. The test series took place following the 1993 State of Origin series which was won by NSW. Dale Shearer's performances at fullback for Qld saw him earn a test recall in front of well performed World Cup and NSW fullback Tim Brasher (though Shearer had been selected at centre for all 3 Ashes series tests in 1992 but withdrew from all 3 with injury). Bradley Clyde, who had not played in the Origin series due to injury was also recalled to the team. New Zealand The Kiwis, coached by Howie Tamati and captained by Gary Freeman had lost their 1992 home series against the touring Great Britain Lions. New Zealand would be without their goal kicking fullback Matthew Ridge who had suffered a season ending knee injury in a club game for Manly-Warringah, but would lack for nothing in goal kicking thanks to the presence of North Sydney Bears superboot winger Daryl Halligan as well as Canterbury-Bankstown's goal kicking forward Gavin Hill. First Test Australia went into the game without regular captain Mal Meninga who had been suspended for 2 games. It would be the first test Meninga had missed since 1988. With Meninga out, the captaincy for the test was handed to NSW captain, Meninga's Canberra Raiders team mate Laurie Daley. Dale Shearer made his return to test football after starring at fullback for Queensland in the final 2 games of the State of Origin series to beat out well performed New South Wales and 1992 World Cup final fullback Tim Brasher. The Kiwis were captained by veteran halfback Gary Freeman, but would be without goal kicking dual-rugby international fullback Matthew Ridge who had suffered a season ending knee injury playing for the Bob Fulton coached Manly-Warringah in a Winfield Cup game with coach Howie Tamati handing the #1 jumper to Balmain's utility back Morvin Edwards. Despite the loss of Ridge, the Kiwis lost nothing in goal kicking with the selection of North Sydney Bears winger Daryl Halligan. The Australians created history with the selection of all three Walters brothers, five-eighth Kevin, hooker Steve and reserve hooker Kerrod for the test, though Kerrod Walters did not get off the bench. #eeeeee NZL AUS 14 – 14 1st Test Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127233822 The Canberra Times Sport - NZ already making excuses: ARL The Canberra Times Canberra 20 Jun 1993 1 Jan 2022 20 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127234175 History created on two fronts in nail-biting Test The Canberra Times Canberra 21 Jun 1993 1 Jan 2022 32 National Library of Australia Tries: Sean Hoppe (2) Goals: Daryl Halligan (3/3) Tries: Dale Shearer Steve Walters Goals: Dale Shearer (2/2) Field Goals: Laurie Daley (2) 20 June 1993 Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland 22,994 Russell Smith ENG Sean Hoppe _whiteborder _whiteV _whiteborder _thinblacksides _hoops_white 000000 000000 000000 FFFFFF 000000 New Zealand _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _thingoldsides _2 gold stripes 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1 Morvin EdwardsLW 2 Sean HoppeRC 3 Jarrod McCrackenLC 4 Dave WatsonRW 5 Daryl HalliganFE 6 Tea RopatiHB 7 Gary Freeman (c)PR 8 Se'e SolomonaHK 9 Duane MannPR 10 Brent ToddSR 11 Gary MercerSR 12 Quentin PongiaLK 13 Tawera NikauSubstitutions:IC 14 Tony KempIC 15 Brendon TuutaIC 16 Jason DonnellyIC 17 John LomaxCoach:NZL Howie Tamati FB 1 Dale ShearerLW 2 Michael HancockRC 3 Laurie Daley (c)LC 4 Brad FittlerRW 5 Willie CarneFE 6 Kevin WaltersHB 7 Allan LangerPR 8 Glenn LazarusHK 9 Steve WaltersPR 10 Paul HarragonSR 11 Paul SironenSR 12 Bob LindnerLF 13 Bradley ClydeSubstitutions:IC 14 Ian RobertsIC 15 Kerrod WaltersIC 16 Brad MackayIC 17 Steve RenoufCoach:AUS Bob Fulton The first test at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium almost produced a shock result. After three first half goals from Daryl Halligan and two tries from winger Sean Hoppe, one an intercept off a Dale Shearer pass that saw him race 80 metres and out-pace Shearer and Willie Carne, the Kiwis led 14-13 at half time. The Australians scored two tries next to the posts through both Shearer and Steve Walters (who scored with only seconds left in the half) with Shearer easily kicking both conversions, while a field goal from Laurie Daley after Shearers try gave the Australians a 7-2 lead until Hoppe's first try. Midway through the first half, English referee Russell Smith earned the ire of the Australians when he ignored a Gary Mercer spear tackle on Bradley Clyde, then on the next tackle also ignored a high tackle by Tawera Nikau on Paul Harragon which caused the Australian front rower to lose the ball with Smith ruling a knock-on. Smith also denied both sides what looked to be legitimate tries with Steve Walters denied one in the first half following a dart from the dummy half, and replacement Kiwi forward John Lomax denied in the second half despite television replays showing that he clearly got the ball down on the Australian line. The second half was scoreless until the 77th minute when a cool under pressure Laurie Daley (who had already missed one attempt to tie the scores) slotted his second field goal to salvage a 14-all draw for the reigning World Champions.New Zealand vs Australia - 1st Test highlights Second Test The Australians made several changes to their line up for the second test. Captain Mal Meninga returned from suspension with Laurie Daley moved from the centres to 5/8 in place of Kevin Walters who moved to the bench at the expense of his brother and Brisbane Broncos team mate Kerrod Walters. Ian Roberts was ruled out with injury with David Gillespie replacing him on the bench while Andrew Ettingshausen returned to the side on the bench in place of Steve Renouf. The only change made by New Zealand coach Howie Tamati was promoting Tony Kemp to start at 5/8 with Tea Ropati dropping to the bench. #eeeeee NZL AUS 8 – 16 2nd Test Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127234953 The Canberra Times Sport - Double cross accusation on eve of Test The Canberra Times Canberra 25 Jun 1993 1 Jan 2022 28 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127234969 Meninga leads Aussie triumph The Canberra Times Canberra 26 Jun 1993 1 Jan 2022 1 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127235060 The Canberra Times Sport - Mal makes giant effort in comeback The Canberra Times Canberra 26 Jun 1993 1 Jan 2022 20 National Library of Australia Tries: Gary Freeman Goals: Daryl Halligan (2) Tries: Bradley Clyde Willie Carne Michael Hancock Goals: Dale Shearer (2) 25 June 1993 Palmerston North Showgrounds, Palmerston North 19,500 Russell Smith ENG Bradley Clyde _whiteborder _whiteV _whiteborder _hoops_white 000000 000000 000000 FFFFFF 000000 New Zealand _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _thingoldsides _2 gold stripes 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1 Morvin EdwardsLW 2 Sean HoppeRC 3 Jarrod McCrackenLC 4 Dave WatsonRW 5 Daryl HalliganFE 6 Tony KempHB 7 Gary Freeman (c)PR 8 Se'e SolomonaHK 9 Duane MannPR 10 Brent ToddSR 11 Gary MercerSR 12 Quentin PongiaLK 13 Tawera NikauSubstitutions:IC 14 Tea RopatiIC 15 John LomaxIC 16 Brendon TuutaIC 17 Jason DonnellyCoach:NZL Howie Tamati FB 1 Dale ShearerLW 2 Michael HancockRC 3 Mal Meninga (c)LC 4 Brad FittlerRW 5 Willie CarneFE 6 Laurie DaleyHB 7 Allan LangerPR 8 Glenn LazarusHK 9 Steve WaltersPR 10 Paul HarragonSR 11 Paul SironenSR 12 Bob LindnerLF 13 Bradley ClydeSubstitutions:IC 14 David GillespieIC 15 Kevin WaltersIC 16 Brad MackayIC 17 Andrew EttingshausenCoach:AUS Bob Fulton After a day of torrential rain, the second test was played on a very wet Palmerston North Showgrounds. The overflow crowd of 19,500 were allowed onto the speedway track (a blunder by the organisers who actually sold more tickets than the venue was licensed to hold), and close to the pitch. A number of times in the second half play was halted as a result of balls being lost in the crowd which had been souvenired by spectators. This (at one stage in the second half the game was held up for almost 5 minutes while a replacement ball was located), and the conditions prompted rival captains Garry Freeman and Mal Meninga to appeal to English referee Russell Smith to actually abandon the game. However, the game continued and the Australia's eventually took a 1-0 lead in the series with a 16-8 win. Third Test Australia's series win extended their series streak over New Zealand to 40 years with the Kangaroos not having lost a test series to the Kiwis since 1952. #eeeeee AUS NZL 16 – 4 3rd Test Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127235916 The Canberra Times Sport - Aust to target NZ pygmy back row The Canberra Times Canberra 30 Jun 1993 1 Jan 2022 36 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127236190 Spiteful end marks tough Test series The Canberra Times Canberra 1 Jul 1993 1 Jan 2022 24 National Library of Australia Hepworth Kevin Tries: Brad Fittler Michael Hancock Mal Meninga Goals: Dale Shearer (2) Tries: Goals: Gavin Hill (2) 30 June 1993 Lang Park, Brisbane 32,000 Russell Smith ENG Laurie Daley _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _thingoldsides _2 gold stripes 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia _whiteborder _whiteV _whiteborder _thinblacksides _hoops_white 000000 000000 000000 FFFFFF 000000 New Zealand FB 1 Dale ShearerLW 2 Michael HancockRC 3 Mal Meninga (c)LC 4 Brad FittlerRW 5 Willie CarneFE 6 Laurie DaleyHB 7 Allan LangerPR 8 Glenn LazarusHK 9 Steve WaltersPR 10 Paul HarragonSR 11 Paul SironenSR 12 Bob LindnerLF 13 Bradley ClydeSubstitutions:IC 14 David GillespieIC 15 Andrew EttingshausenIC 16 Kevin WaltersIC 17 Ian RobertsCoach:AUS Bob Fulton FB 1 Morvin EdwardsRW 2 Sean HoppeRC 3 Jarrod McCrackenLC 4 Dave WatsonLW 5 Jason DonnellyFE 6 Tony KempHB 7 Gary Freeman (c)PR 8 Gavin HillHK 9 Duane MannPR 10 Brent ToddSR 11 Gary MercerSR 12 Brendon TuutaLK 13 Tawera NikauSubstitutions:IC 14 Stephen KearneyIC 15 John LomaxIC 16 Tea RopatiIC 17 Daryl HalliganCoach:NZL Howie Tamati The only test match played in Australia in 1993 saw some 32,000 turn out at Lang Park in Brisbane to see Australia wrap up the Trans-Tasman series 2-0. Scoring three times themselves, the Kangaroos kept their line intact to run out 16-4 winners and send retiring forward Bob Lindner out on a winning note. See also Australian national rugby league team New Zealand national rugby league team Australia vs New Zealand in rugby league References Tra Tra 1993 1993 1993 1993 1993 1993