1949 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand

1949 rugby league tour The 1949 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was the fourth full tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team and the first following the end of World War II. The Australians played ten matches on a one-month tour, including Two tests against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 12 September and finished on 10 October. Leadership The tour's Captain-Coach was Newtown halfback and 1948 Kangaroo Tourist Keith Froome. In games not played by Froome, the Kangaroos were captained either by former Eastern Suburbs 5/8 Wally O'Connell or by former South Sydney half Billy Thompson who by this time was playing for Toowoomba Valleys in Queensland. November 2024 Touring squad Of the 22 man squad, 14 had been members of the 1948–49 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France. Manly-Warringah front rower Roy Bull, and Parramatta centre Ian Johnston became the first players respectively to gain Kangaroos and Test selection from their clubs who had only been admitted into the Sydney Premiership in 1947. Bull's selection also made him the first local junior from Manly to play test football while Johnston scored 4 tries on debut in the tour opener against South Auckland and also made his Test debut in the 1st Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. November 2024 * Tests and (as sub) included in games total. Player Club Position(s) Games(as sub) Tests(as sub) Tries Goals F/Goals Points Vic Bulgin Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs FB CE 8 – 3 0 0 9 Roy Bull Manly 16 Manly-Warringah PR 6 1 1 0 0 3 Clive Churchill Souths 16 South Sydney FB 5 2 1 0 0 3 Les Cowie Souths 16 South Sydney LK 8 2 5 0 0 15 Fred de Belin Balmain 16 Balmain SR 5 1 1 0 0 3 Keith Froome (c) Newtown 16 Newtown HB 5 2 2 11 0 28 Johnny Graves Souths 16 South Sydney WG 7 1 12 8 0 52 Ron Griffiths Ipswich 16 Ipswich (Qld) HK 3 – 0 0 0 0 Kevin Hansen Western Suburbs 16 Western Suburbs SR 6 – 0 0 0 0 Johnny Hawke St George 16 St George CE 4 1 1 0 0 3 Jack Holland St George 16 St George PR 8 2 0 0 0 0 Ian Johnston Parramatta 16 Parramatta CE 5 1 7 12 0 45 Matt McCoy St George 16 St George CE 7 2 9 14 0 55 Pat McMahon Balmain 16 Toowoomba Souths (Qld) WG 8 2 7 0 0 21 Noel Mulligan NSW 16 Bowral Blues LK PR SR 7 2 3 0 0 9 Wally O'Connell Canada 16 Christian Brothers Wollongong FE 5 2 1 0 0 3 Jack Rayner Souths 16 South Sydney SR 7 2 1 0 0 3 Ron Roberts St George 16 St George WG 6 (1) 1 8 0 0 24 Kevin Schubert St George 16 Wollongong HK 7 2 0 0 0 0 Frank Stanmore Western Suburbs 16 Western Suburbs FE 5 – 3 0 0 9 Alan Thompson Souths Magpies 16 Brisbane Souths (Qld) PR 4 (1) – 0 0 0 0 Billy Thompson Norths 16 Toowoomba Valleys (Qld) HB 5 – 2 0 0 6 Test Venues Wellington Auckland Basin Reserve Carlaw Park Capacity: 11,000 Capacity: 20,000 200px 200px Tour #eeeeee 12 September 1949 South Auckland St George 16 Australia 16 Australia 7 – 33 Report Tries: Turner Goals: R. Martin (2) Tries: Ian Johnston (4), Johnny Graves (2), Matt McCoy (2), Ron Roberts Goals: Johnny Graves (2) Matt McCoy (1) Davies Park, Huntly 1,823 Rolly Avery South Auckland: R. Martin, Turner, O'Carroll, O'Callaghan, A. Rodgers, Phillips, A. Aoaki, Albert Hambleton (c), J. Tupaea, Norman, Tonga, F. Hilton, Moyes. Reserves – . Coach – Australia: Vic Bulgin, Pat McMahon, Ian Johnston, Matt McCoy, Johnny Graves, Frank Stanmore, Keith Froome (c), Alan Thompson, Kevin Schubert, Jack Holland, Kevin Hansen, Jack Rayner, Noel Mulligan. Reserves – Ron Roberts First test #eeeeee 17 September 1949 NZL AUS 26 – 21 1949 New Zealand 26 def. Australia 21 – 1st Test Tries: Abby Graham (2) Charlie McBride (2) Tommy Baxter Warwick Clarke Goals: Warwick Clarke (4) Tries: Johnny Graves (2) Matt McCoy Pat McMahon Wally O'Connell Goals: Ian Johnston (3) Basin Reserve, Wellington 7,737 Rolly Avery New ZealandPositionAustraliaWarwick ClarkeFBClive ChurchillDave RedmondWGJohnny GravesMaurie RobertsonCEMatt McCoyTommy BaxterCEIan JohnstonBill McKenzieWGPat McMahonAbby GrahamFEWally O'ConnellJack Russell-GreenHBKeith Froome (c)Pat Smith (c)PRJack HollandBob AynsleyHKKevin SchubertJack NewtonPRNoel MulliganSandy HurndellSRJack RaynerCharlie McBrideSRFred de BelinTravers HardwickLFLes CowieScotty McClymontCoachKeith Froome #eeeeee 21 September 1949 West Coast NZ Firsts St Helens 16 Australia 16 Australia 14 – 39 Report Tries: Bob Aynsley, R. Baxendale Goals: J. Soster (4) Tries: Ron Roberts (3), Les Cowie (2), Matt McCoy (2), Pat McMahon (2) Goals: Vic Bulgin (3) Matt McCoy (3) Victoria Park, Greymouth 3,676 Jim Griffin West Coast NZ Firsts: J. Soster, J. Curragh, V. Meates, J. Pascoe, M. Thomas (c), George Menzies, M. Ord, Frank Mulcare, Bob Aynsley, Jack Newton, W. Lennon, Charlie McBride, R. Baxendale. Reserves – . Coach – Australia: Vic Bulgin, Pat McMahon, Johnny Hawke, Matt McCoy, Ron Roberts, Wally O'Connell (c), Billy Thompson, Roy Bull, Ron Griffiths, Jack Holland, Noel Mulligan, Jack Rayner, Les Cowie. Reserves – #eeeeee 24 September 1949 South Island Kiwis 16 Australia 16 Australia 8 – 38 Report Tries: P. Callinan, Bill McKenzie Goals: J. Soster (1) Tries: Les Cowie (2), Pat McMahon (2), Johnny Graves, Johnny Hawke, Noel Mulligan, Matt McCoy Goals: Keith Froome (7) Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch 2,900 G. Symes South Island: J. Soster, Bill McKenzie, P. Callinan, L. Brown, K. Henry, George Menzies, Jimmy Haig, Jack Newton, Bob Aynsley, Pat Smith (c), F. Blanchard, Charlie McBride, Alister Atkinson. Reserves – M. Ord. Coach – Australia: Vic Bulgin, Pat McMahon, Johnny Hawke, Matt McCoy, Johnny Graves, Wally O'Connell, Keith Froome (c), Noel Mulligan, Kevin Schubert, Jack Holland, Kevin Hansen, Jack Rayner, Les Cowie. Reserves – #eeeeee 26 September 1949 Southern Provinces Kiwis 16 Australia 16 Australia 15 – 17 Report Tries: E. Chatham, A. Haysarm, J. Kraeyl Goals: B. Sillwell (3) Tries: Fred de Belin, Johnny Graves, Ron Roberts Goals: Johnny Graves (3) Ian Johnston (1) Cooks Gardens, Whanganui 1,500 G. Kelly Southern Provinces: B. Sillwell, J. Parata, A. Haysarm, N. Evans, E. Chatham, T. Dodd, J. Sutton, R. Westerley, G. Davidson, Ken English (c), K. O'Brien, L. Morgan, J. Kraeyl. Reserves – . Coach – Australia: Vic Bulgin, Johnny Graves, Johnny Hawke, Ian Johnston, Ron Roberts, Frank Stanmore, Billy Thompson (c), Roy Bull, Ron Griffiths, Alan Thompson, Kevin Hansen, Fred de Belin, Noel Mulligan. Reserves – #eeeeee 28 September 1949 New Zealand Māori Australia 16 Australia 0 – 33 Report Tries: Goals: Tries: Johnny Graves (4), Matt McCoy, Pat McMahon, Jack Rayner Goals: Matt McCoy (6) Pukekura Park, New Plymouth 1,827 K. McIvor New Zealand Māori: R. Martin (c), Andrew Berryman, Rex Hohaia, C. Masters, R. Hohua, S. Toka, A. Aoaki, R. Ewe, R. Bolton, Gordon Hohaia, F. Williams, N. Paratine, L. Wright. Reserves – . Coach – Australia: Vic Bulgin, Pat McMahon, Johnny Hawke, Matt McCoy, Johnny Graves, Wally O'Connell (c), Billy Thompson, Roy Bull, Kevin Schubert, Jack Holland, Fred de Belin, Jack Rayner, Les Cowie. Reserves – #eeeeee 1 October 1949 Auckland AucklandNZRL 16 Australia 16 Australia 18 – 36 Report Tries: D. Anderson, W. Spence Goals: Warwick Clarke (6) Tries: Ron Roberts (3), Frank Stanmore (2), Roy Bull, Keith Froome, Matt McCoy Goals: Keith Froome (3) Matt McCoy (3) Carlaw Park, Auckland 12,831 G. Kelly Auckland: Warwick Clarke (c), D. Anderson, Tommy Baxter, Maurie Robertson, Dave Redmond, Abby Graham, Jack Russell-Green, W. Spence, G. Davidson, Sandy Hurndell, Graham Burgoyne, Allan Laird, R. Rogers. Reserves – . Coach – Australia: Clive Churchill, Pat McMahon, Vic Bulgin, Matt McCoy, Ron Roberts, Frank Stanmore, Keith Froome (c), Roy Bull, Kevin Schubert, Jack Holland, Kevin Hansen, Fred de Belin, Les Cowie. Reserves – #eeeeee 4 October 1949 Northern Provinces NSW 16 Australia 16 Australia 9 – 39 Report Tries: G. Kay Goals: B. Latham (3) Tries: Vic Bulgin (2), Ian Johnston (2), Les Cowie, Johnny Graves, Noel Mulligan, Frank Stanmore, Billy Thompson Goals: Johnny Graves (3) Ian Johnston (2) Vic Bulgin (1) Jubilee Park, Whangārei 1,164 J. O'Shannessey Northern Provinces: B. Latham, J. Rogers, J. Gibson, G. Kay, J. Stringfellow, R. Tweedie, W. Toker, P. Dormer, Cliff Johnson, S. Roff, A. Hambleton, R. Packham, Allan Laird (c). Reserves – . Coach – Australia: Clive Churchill, Johnny Graves, Vic Bulgin, Ian Johnston, Ron Roberts, Frank Stanmore, Billy Thompson (c), Alan Thompson, Kevin Schubert, Noel Mulligan, Kevin Hansen, Fred de Belin, Les Cowie. Reserves – Second test #eeeeee 8 October 1949 NZL AUS 10 – 13 1949 Australia 13 def. New Zealand 10 – 2nd Test Tries: Tommy Baxter Bill McKenzie Goals: Warwick Clarke (2) Tries: Keith Froome Noel Mulligan Matt McCoy Goals: Keith Froome (1) Matt McCoy (1) Carlaw Park, Auckland 12,361 Rolly Avery New ZealandPositionAustraliaWarwick ClarkeFBClive ChurchillBill McKenzieWGRon RobertsTommy BaxterCEJohnny HawkeMaurie RobertsonCEMatt McCoyDave RedmondWGPat McMahonLen JordanFEWally O'ConnellJack Russell-GreenHBKeith Froome (c)Ron WesterbyPRRoy BullBob AynsleyHKKevin SchubertPat Smith (c)PRJack HollandJack NewtonSRNoel MulliganCharlie McBrideSRJack RaynerTravers HardwickLFLes CowieScotty McClymontCoachKeith Froome #eeeeee 10 October 1949 Auckland Colts AucklandNZRL 16 Australia 16 Australia 16 – 30 Report Tries: V. Barchard, S. Rogers Goals: Des White (5) Tries: Vic Bulgin, Clive Churchill, Johnny Graves, Ian Johnston, Pat McMahon, Billy Thompson Goals: Ian Johnston (6) Carlaw Park, Auckland 1,953 G. Kelly Auckland Colts: Des White, N. Moore, J. Fisher, W. Brooking, N. Clarkin, J. Lepper (c), W. Tocker, V. Barchard, S. Rogers, Raymond Cranch, G. McNichol, J. Herring, Joe Wright. Reserves – . Coach – Australia: Clive Churchill, Pat McMahon, Vic Bulgin, Ian Johnston, Johnny Graves, Frank Stanmore, Billy Thompson (c), Roy Bull, Ron Griffiths, Jack Holland, Kevin Hansen, Jack Rayner, Les Cowie. Reserves – Alan Thompson Statistics Leading Try Scorer 12 by Johnny Graves Leading Point Scorer 55 by Matt McCoy (9 tries, 14 goals) Largest Test Attendance 12,361 - Second Test vs New Zealand at Carlaw Park, Auckland Largest non-test Attendance 12,831 - Auckland vs Australia at Carlaw Park, Auckland References Category:Rugby league tours of New Zealand Category:Australia national rugby league team tours Kangaroo tour Kangaroo tour