1982 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

1982 rugby league tour January 2020 October 2011 1982 Kangaroos tour 10 October 1982 – 18 December 1982 Frank Farrington Frank Stanton Max Krilich Mal Meninga (158) Steve Ella (22) 22 22 0 0 5 5 0 0 GBR 3 3 0 0 FRA 2 2 0 0 1978 1986 The 1982 Kangaroo tour was the fifteenth Kangaroo tour where the Australian national rugby league team played a number of matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to the Test matches. The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 barring wartime, toured Great Britain every four years often capping the tour with matches and Tests in France. This regular touring side (and in recent years all Australian representative sides) are known as the Kangaroos. The 1982 Kangaroos, coached by Frank Stanton dominated, winning both Test series against Great Britain (three Tests) and France (two Tests); winning every match of the tour and earning the nickname The Invincibles. This was the first Kangaroo undefeated touring side winning twenty-two matches played and scoring 1,005 points with 120 against at an average of 45.6 points per game while conceding only 5.4 points per game. The twenty-eight player squad was captained by Max Krilich, with Wally Lewis his deputy. The next Kangaroo Tour was staged in 1986. Touring party The team was coached by Balmain Tigers coach Frank Stanton who was making his third tour. Stanton's first tour came as a player in 1963–64, this was his second consecutive as coach after also coaching the 1978 Kangaroo tour. Manly-Warringah's Max Krilich was making his second Kangaroo tour and was named captain.Heads, Lester p309 Queensland captain Wally Lewis was named as tour vice-captain. Interviewed by journalist/author Ian Whiticker in 2004 Krilich said about the talented squad; "The players in that squad were yet to reach their full potential. We were criticised as a weak side, but nobody knew how great a player Wayne Pearce was going to be on the tour. Wally Lewis was still in his early 20s, and many of the Queenslanders were in the early stages of their careers". He also spoke of Stanton (who was his Manly-Warringah club coach when he had won the 1976 and 1978 NSWRFL premierships, the second of which Krilich was captain of the Sea Eagles): "Frank was a mentally tough coach who totally believed in what he told his players. Great credit must go to Stanton who played down the accomplishment and kept our heads straight."Whiticker p319 While the pair did not enjoy an easy relationship, mostly due to Stanton not being impressed with his attitude to training or habits on tour which actually caused him to put on weight, Wally Lewis also found respect for Stanton he had not previously experienced after making his test debut under him against France in 1981. After missing selection for the first Test in Hull in favour of Parramatta's 1982 premiership winning FE Brett Kenny (Lewis was selected on an extended bench but wasn't used), Stanton challenged Lewis to get back into shape and win his way back into the Test team, something he achieved with selection on the bench for the second Test in Wigan and the third Test in Leeds. Lewis later admitted that early on in the tour his poor attitude did not sit well with Stanton and that it had led to his missing first test selection. Although this was his first Kangaroo Tour, it was not the first tour of Great Britain and France for Lewis who had been a member of the 1977 Australian Schoolboys rugby union tour of Japan, Great Britain and France, a team that included future dual-rugby international Michael O'Connor as well as the Ella brothers Mark, Gary and Glen, cousins of 1982 tourist Steve Ella. Six players from the 1982 NSWRL premiership winning Parramatta Eels were selected in the squad, a new Kangaroo tour record for the club with all six players playing in at least one test each on the tour. Manly, the team they defeated in the inaugural Winfield Cup Grand Final, also had six players selected. One Manly player considered unlucky not to tour was their Queensland back rower Paul Vautin who had made his test debut earlier in the year against New Zealand and was one of Manly's best in their run to the Grand Final. Max Krilich later would tell that it was his belief that Vautin's comment during the year that representing Queensland was a bigger honour than playing for Australia had ultimately cost him a place on the tour. Ironically, Vautin would be back in the test team for the tests against New Zealand in 1983. 1982 Brisbane premiers Wynnum-Manly had two players selected (Gene Miles and Rod Morris), while the team they defeated in the BRL Grand Final Souths Magpies were represented by Mal Meninga, a goal kicking Queensland centre who was as big as a second rower (107 kg stlb on) and could run with the pace of a winger. One notable absentee was Western Suburbs FE Terry Lamb who had represented NSW in the 1981 State of Origin game. Lamb was originally selected to tour but declined to do so due to his upcoming wedding to his fiancé Kim.Last Straw for Lamb Tour managers were the Newtown administrator Frank Farrington and Queenslands, Tom Drysdale. Open Rugby magazine claimed the Australians had brought "a new dimension of excitement and adventure" to the game and former England great Alex Murphy, who called each test for the BBC alongside Ray French, called then "men from another planet." This was the first Kangaroo tour since the introduction of State of Origin and it allowed Queensland to counter New South Wales' long dominance in representative selection with a record-equalling eleven Queenslanders selected for the tour. John MacDonald and Ian Arnold Kangaroos fly the Maroon flag The Sydney Morning Herald Australia 50 29 June 1989 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JzZWAAAAIBAJ&pg=3374,7978420 21 February 2011 This was a considerable increase on the Queensland representation in the 1978 Kangaroos when only three players were selected. Two of those players, Kerry Boustead and Rod Morris, were also members of the 1982 Kangaroos. Despite there being a record number, the selection of only 11 Queenslander's in the 28 man touring squad was controversial. Queensland had won the 1982 State of Origin series despite being comparatively under prepared due to the NSWRFL clubs refusing to release their Queensland players for pre-series training. Among the Queensland Origin representatives to miss selection were Manly-Warringah's Paul Vautin and Chris Close (who had been the Man of the Match in both Origin games in 1980 and 1981), Wynnum-Manly fullback Colin Scott and South Sydney outside back Mitch Brennan. Future Kangaroos captain Mal Meninga, making the first of his record four consecutive Kangaroo Tours, was the leading point scorer on tour with 166 from 10 tries and 68 goals, including 48 points in the three Tests against Great Britain (2 tries, 21 goals), and 17 points in the two Tests against France (1 try, 7 goals). John Ribot was the leading try scorer on tour with 25 from just 14 games, including a try in the 3rd test against Great Britain. Ribot added 20 goals to his points tally to join Meninga as the only players on tour to score over 100 points. Meninga's second rowers size coupled with his wingers pace made him a sensation on the tour. He was often bigger than the British forwards Australia played and he could also score length of the field tries. His signature became much sought after both during and after the Kangaroo tour with multiple clubs chasing him. Ultimately he would go on to sign for a season with St Helens in 1984–85 where he would replicate his 1982 tour form to the delight of Saints fans. Player Club Position(s) Tests Matches Tries Goals F/Goals Points New South Wales Chris Anderson Canterbury 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs WG 0 12 8 0 0 24 Queensland 1901 Kerry Boustead Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs Roosters WG 6 13 9 0 0 27 New South Wales Les Boyd Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles SR PR 3 14 3 0 0 9 New South Wales Greg Brentnall Canterbury 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs FB 6 13 3 0 0 9 New South Wales Ray Brown Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles HK 0 14 0 0 0 0 Queensland 1901 Greg Conescu Norths Devils 16 Norths Devils (Qld) HK 0 14 2 1 0 8 New South Wales Steve Ella Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels CE FB 0 13 21 1 0 65 New South Wales Eric Grothe Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels WG 4 14 21 1 0 65 Queensland 1901 Rohan Hancock Australia 16 Warwick Wattles (Qld) PR 1 10 0 0 0 0 New South Wales Brett Kenny Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels FE 6 12 6 0 0 18 New South Wales Max Krilich (c) Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles HK 6 12 1 0 0 3 Queensland 1901 Wally Lewis (vc) Valleys 16 Fortitude Valley Diehards (Qld) FE CE 3 14 3 9 0 27 New South Wales Paul McCabe Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles SR 3 13 7 0 0 21 New South Wales Don McKinnon North Sydney 16 North Sydney Bears PR 0 10 3 1 0 11 Queensland 1901 Mal Meninga Souths Magpies 16 Souths Logan Magpies (Qld) CE WG 6 14 10 68 0 166 Queensland 1901 Gene Miles Wynnum-Manly 16 Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (Qld) CE 0 11 1 0 0 3 Queensland 1901 Rod Morris Wynnum-Manly 16 Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (Qld) PR 0 12 0 0 0 0 New South Wales Steve Mortimer Canterbury 16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs HB 0 9 6 1 0 20 New South Wales John Muggleton Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels SR 1 14 9 0 0 27Queensland 1901 Mark Murray Valleys 16 Fortitude Valley Diehards (Qld) HB FE 0 10 4 1 0 14 New South Wales Wayne Pearce Balmain 16 Balmain Tigers LK SR 5 13 5 0 0 15 New South Wales Ray Price Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels LK 3 9 2 0 0 6 Queensland 1901 John Ribot Manly 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles WG 2 14 25 20 0 115 Queensland 1901 Rod Reddy St George 16 St George Dragons SR 4 12 2 0 0 6 New South Wales Steve Rogers Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks CE 5 16 10 7 0 44 New South Wales Ian Schubert Easts 16 Eastern Suburbs Roosters FB LK SR 0 12 3 0 0 9 New South Wales Peter Sterling Parramatta 16 Parramatta Eels HB 5 12 8 0 0 24 New South Wales Craig Young St George 16 St George Dragons PR 4 11 1 0 0 3 By club The touring side was represented by 17 New South Welshmen (N) and 11 Queenslanders (Q). Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (5): Max Krilich (captain) (N), John Ribot (Q), Les Boyd (N), Paul McCabe (Q), Ray Brown (N) Parramatta Eels (6): Brett Kenny (N), Peter Sterling (N), Steve Ella (N), Eric Grothe (N), Ray Price (N), John Muggleton (N) Canterbury Bulldogs (3): Greg Brentnall (N), Chris Anderson (N), Steve Mortimer (N) Fortitude Valley Diehards (2): Wally Lewis (vice-captain) (Q), Mark Murray (Q) St George Dragons (2): Rod Reddy (Q), Craig Young (N) Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (2): Gene Miles (Q), Rod Morris (Q) Balmain Tigers (1): Wayne Pearce (N) Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (1): Steve Rogers (N) Eastern Suburbs Roosters (2): Ian Schubert (N), Kerry Boustead (Q) Norths Devils (1): Greg Conescu (Q) North Sydney Bears (1): Don McKinnon (N) Souths Magpies (1): Mal Meninga (Q) Warwick Wattles (1): Rohan Hancock (Q) Papua New Guinea and Western Australia Before flying to England, half the squad, led by Kangaroos vice-captain Wally Lewis, went to Perth to play Western Australia, while the other half, along with coach Stanton, travelled to Papua New Guinea for Australia's first ever Test match against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls, won 38–2 by the Kangaroos. Nine of the players who travelled to PNG with Stanton would go on to play in the first Test against Great Britain. Winger John Ribot crossed for four tries (though he would be overlooked for the first two Ashes Tests in favour of Eric Grothe), while fullback Greg Brentnall scored twice. Other try scorers for the Kangaroos were Kerry Boustead, Brett Kenny, Mal Meninga and Steve Rogers, while Meninga kicked 4 goals. Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny, Mark Murray and Ray Brown made their test debuts in the match. Those missing from the 2nd test win over New Zealand earlier in the year at the Sydney Cricket Ground were Michael Cronin who did not tour, and Wally Lewis, Steve Mortimer, Les Boyd and Rod Morris who played in Perth on the same day. Of the quartet that played in Perth, only Boyd would go on to play in the first test against Great Britain. #eeeeee PNG AUS 2–38 Papua New Guinea vs Australia Tries: Goals: Kungas Kuveu (1/2) Tries: John Ribot (4) Greg Brentnall (2) Kerry Boustead Brett Kenny Mal Meninga Steve Rogers Goals: Mal Meninga (4/10) Saturday, 2 October 1982 Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby 15,000 Don Wilson NZL _redborder _Vwidered _redborder _hoops_red FFFF00 FFFF00 FFFF00 FF0000 000000 Papua New Guinea_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Kungas KuveuRW 2Alan ReroCE 3Ifiso SegeyaroCE 4James YipLW 5D. TimiFE 6Jon Joseph (c)HB 7Alfred KabavasPR 8Tara GauHK 9Otti AsotauPR 10Joe TepSR 11Arebo TaumakuSR 12L. TeteLK 13Roy LoitiveSubstitutions:IC 14Francis MatmilloIC 15Ekon TogiliCoach:PNG Skerry Palanga FB 1 Greg BrentnallLW 2 John RibotCE 3 Mal MeningaCE 4 Steve RogersRW 5 Kerry BousteadFE 6 Brett KennyHB 7 Peter SterlingPR 8 Craig YoungHK 9 Max Krilich (c)PR 10 Rohan HancockSR 11 John MuggletonSR 12{ Rod ReddyLK 13 Ray PriceSubstitutions:IC 14 Mark MurrayIC 15 Ray BrownCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Saturday, 2 October Western Australia Castleford 16 5–57 Western Australia vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Mick Rasmussen Goals: P. Harrison (1) Tries: Eric Grothe (4), Ian Schubert (2), Chris Anderson, Greg Conescu, Steve Ella, Gene Miles, Rod Morris, Paul McCabe, Wayne Pearce Goals: Wally Lewis (4) Steve Ella (3) Les Boyd (2) Cannington Raceway, Perth 3,000 _goldborder _WARL _goldborder _hoops_black 000000 000000 000000 000000 FFD700 Western Australia_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1RW 2CE 3CE 4LW 5FE 6HB 7PR 8HK 9PR 10SR 11SR 12LK 13Substitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach: FB 1 Ian SchubertLW 2 Eric GrotheCE 3 Steve EllaCE 4 Gene MilesRW 5 Chris AndersonFE 6 Wally Lewis (c)HB 7 Steve MortimerPR 8 Rod MorrisHK 9 Greg ConescuPR 10 Don McKinnonSR 11 Les BoydSR 12 Paul McCabeLK 13 Wayne PearceSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach: In Perth, the Kangaroos crossed for 13 tries (with Eric Grothe bagging four) and predictably defeated WA 57–5. Great Britain Once on English soil controversy surfaced when the incumbent Australian Test halves from the mid-year tests against New Zealand, Steve Mortimer and Wally Lewis (both had played the game against WA in Perth), were incomprehensibly not chosen for the opening match. Instead, Stanton chose to go with the halves from the test against Papua New Guinea, Parramatta's Grand Final winning duo Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny. The Eels pair took the field against Hull Kingston Rovers and, playing alongside nine of the eventual first Test team, set about locking up their positions for the first Test on 30 October. Leading up to the first Test at the Boothferry Park ground in Hull, the Kangaroos also played a tour international match against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff on 24 October. The match was played in heavy rain in front of 5,617 fans and Australia, captained by Wally Lewis, ran in nine tries to one in a 37–7 rout. The game marked the first time Lewis, who would take over the Test captaincy in 1984, captained Australia in an international match. Fiery forward Les Boyd enhanced his reputation for the rough play when he was sent off twice on tour. He was sent off in the first game of the tour against Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven Park, and in the second Test against the Lions at Central Park in Wigan. He was also sin-binned in the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds. Test Venues The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues. Hull Wigan Leeds Boothferry Park Central Park Headingley Capacity: 26,800 Capacity: 37,000 Capacity: 30,000 200px 200px 200px Sunday, 10 October Hull Kingston Rovers Hull KR 16 10–30 Hull KR vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Steve Hartley, Gary Prohm Goals: George Fairbairn (2) Tries: Peter Sterling (2), Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Steve Rogers, Craig Young Goals: Mal Meninga (6) Craven Park, Hull 10,742 Fred Lindop Mal Meninga Australia 16 _redshoulders _redhorizontal _redshoulders _color_3_stripes_white FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FF0000 Hull Kingston Rovers_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1George Fairbairn (c)RW 2Steve HubbardCE 3Mike SmithCE 4Ian RobinsonLW 5Garry ClarkSO 6Steve HartleySH 7James WalshPR 8Roy HoldstockHK 9David WatkinsonPR 10Steve CrooksSR 11Andy KellySR 12Chris BurtonLF 13Gary ProhmSubstitutions:IC 14Phil LoweIC 15Coach:ENG Roger Millward FB 1Greg BrentnallRW 2Eric GrotheCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Steve RogersLW 5John RibotFE 6Brett KennyHB 7Peter SterlingPR 8Craig YoungHK 9Max Krilich (c)PR 10Rod MorrisSR 11Les BoydSR 12Rod ReddyLF 13Ray PriceSubstitutions:IC 14Wally LewisIC 15John MuggletonCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Hull KR led the Kangaroos 8–5 at half time but that was as good as it got for Roger Millward's men as the Kangaroos piled on 25 points to just 2 in the second half to run out easy 30–10 winners. Man of the Match Mal Meninga lit up Craven Park on his first taste of football on English soil, scoring a try and kicking 6 goals in the win. Wednesday, 13 October Wigan Wigan 16 9–13 Wigan vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Henderson Gill Goals: Colin Whitfield (3) Tries: Kerry Boustead, John Muggleton, Paul McCabe Goals: Steve Ella (2) Central Park, Wigan 12,158 Gerry Kershaw _thinredhoops _donbosco _thinredhoops _color_3_stripes_red FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Wigan_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Barry WilliamsRW 2Dennis RamsdaleCE 3David StephensonCE 4Colin WhitfieldLW 5Henderson GillSO 6Martin FoySH 7Gary Stephens (c)PR 8Lee BamberHK 9Nicky KissPR 10Glyn ShawSR 11Brian JuliffSR 12Mick ScottLF 13John PendleburySubstitutions:IC 14Jimmy FairhurstIC 15Danny CampbellCoach:ENG Alex Murphy FB 1Ian SchubertRW 2Chris AndersonCE 3Steve EllaCE 4Gene MilesLW 5Kerry BousteadFE 6Wally Lewis (c)HB 7Steve MortimerPR 8Don McKinnonHK 9Ray BrownPR 10Rohan HancockSR 11Paul McCabeSR 12John MuggletonLF 13Wayne PearceSubstitutions:IC 14Steve RogersIC 15Ray PriceCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Friday, 15 October Barrow Barrow 16 2–29 Barrow vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Goals: Steve Tickle (1) Tries: Ian Schubert (2), Greg Conescu, Steve Ella, Mark Murray, Wayne Pearce, Steve Rogers Goals: Wally Lewis (3) Steve Rogers (1) Craven Park, Barrow 6,282 Derek Fox _butcher stripes white _butcher stripes white _butcher stripes white _color_3_stripes_white 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF Barrow_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Steve TickleRW 2Keith BentleyCE 3Ron O'ReganCE 4Ralph McConnellLW 5Michael JamesSO 6Mel Mason (c)SH 7David CairnsPR 8Malcolm FlynnHK 9Les WallPR 10Peter GeeSR 11Eddie SzymalaSR 12Mark GillespieLF 13Derek HadleySubstitutions:IC 14Steve HerbertIC 15Coach:ENG Frank Foster FB 1Ian SchubertRW 2Chris AndersonCE 3Steve EllaCE 4Gene MilesLW 5John RibotFE 6Wally Lewis (c)HB 7Mark MurrayPR 8Rohan HancockHK 9Greg ConescuPR 10Rod MorrisSR 11Les BoydSR 12Rod ReddyLF 13Wayne PearceSubstitutions:IC 14Ray BrownIC 15Steve RogersCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Sunday, 17 October St. Helens St Helens 16 0–32 St Helens vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Goals: Tries: Kerry Boustead (2), Les Boyd (2), Eric Grothe (2), Steve Rogers, Peter Sterling Goals: Mal Meninga (4/8) Knowsley Road, St. Helens 8,190 Robin Whitfield Les Boyd AUS _redborder _Vwidered _redborder _2 red stripes FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF St Helens_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Clive GriffithsRW 2Barry LedgerCE 3Chris ArkwrightCE 4David FaircloughLW 5Denis LitherlandSO 6Stephen PetersSH 7Neil HoldingPR 8Mel JamesHK 9Michael GloverPR 10Brian GellingSR 11Roy Mathias (c)SR 12Paul ForberLF 13Andy PlattSubstitutions:IC 14John SmithIC 15Paul BrownbillCoach:ENG Billy Benyon FB 1Greg BrentnallRW 2Kerry BousteadCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Steve RogersLW 5Eric GrotheFE 6Brett KennyHB 7Peter SterlingPR 8Craig YoungHK 9Max Krilich (c)PR 10Les BoydSR 11Wayne PearceSR 12John MuggletonLF 13Ray PriceSubstitutions:IC 14Wally LewisIC 15Rod MorrisCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Wednesday, 20 October Leeds Leeds 16 4–31 Leeds vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Goals: Mark Conway (2) Tries: Steve Ella (2), Mal Meninga (2), Kerry Boustead, Eric Grothe, Steve Rogers Goals: Mal Meninga (5) Headingley, Leeds 11,570 Billy Thompson Wayne Pearce AUS _yellowbluehoops _Leeds2012WCC _yellowbluehoops _yellowtop 00008B 00008B 00008B FFFFFF 00008B Leeds_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Neil HagueRW 2Alan SmithCE 3Ian WilkinsonCE 4Les DylLW 5Andrew SmithSO 6John HolmesSH 7Mark ConwayPR 8Roy DickinsonHK 9David Ward (c)PR 10Tony BurkeSR 11Keith RayneSR 12Wayne HeronLF 13David HeronSubstitutions:IC 14Mark MassaIC 15Andrew SykesCoach:ENG Robin Dewhurst FB 1Greg BrentnallRW 2Kerry BousteadCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Steve RogersLW 5Eric GrotheFE 6Brett KennyHB 7Peter SterlingPR 8Craig YoungHK 9Max Krilich (c)PR 10Les BoydSR 11Paul McCabeSR 12John MuggletonLF 13Wayne PearceSubstitutions:IC 14Steve EllaIC 15Rod MorrisCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Wales The Kangaroos played a non-test international against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff. This was the first time Wally Lewis (playing in the unfamiliar position of centre) would captain Australia against an international team. The Kangaroos would not play Wales again until 1994, that game also at Ninian Park. #eeeeee WAL AUS 7–37 Wales vs Australia Tries: Brynmor Williams Goals: Steve Fenwick (1) Lynn Hopkins (1) Tries: Steve Ella (4) John Ribot (2) Wally Lewis Mark Murray Don McKinnon Goals: Wally Lewis (4) Don McKinnon (1) Sunday, 24 October 1982 Ninian Park, Cardiff 5,617 Gerry Kershaw ENG Steve Ella Australia 16 _whiteborder _whitecollar _whiteborder _whitehorizontal FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FFFFFF FF0000 Wales_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Lynn HopkinsRW 2Chris CamilleriCE 3Steve FenwickCE 4John Bevan (c)LW 5Paul PrendivilleSO 6Lynn HallettSH 7Brynmor WilliamsPR 8Glyn ShawHK 9Donald ParryPR 10Tommy DavidSR 11Martin HerdmanSR 12Brian JuliffLF 13Paul RingerSubstitutions:IC 14Mark McJennettIC 15Coach:WAL David WatkinsNinian Park, Cardiff|250px FB 1Steve EllaLW 2Chris AndersonCE 3Gene MilesCE 4Wally Lewis (c)RW 5John RibotFE 6Mark MurrayHB 7Steve MortimerPR 8Rod MorrisHK 9Ray BrownPR 10Don McKinnonSR 11Paul McCabeSR 12Rod ReddyLK 13Ian SchubertSubstitutions:IC 14Kerry BousteadIC 15Greg ConescuCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Playing fullback, Steve Ella pressed for test selection by scoring 4 tries in the game. Only two players from the team, second row forward Rod Reddy and reserve winger Kerry Boustead, were considered certainties for selection in the upcoming 1st Ashes test. The Ashes series Due to sponsorship reasons, the 1982 Ashes was known as the "Dominion Insurance Test series". First Test While Australia's side for the opening Test was built around the new breed of young players such as Eric Grothe, Wayne Pearce, Mal Meninga, Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling mixing with veterans Craig Young, Les Boyd, Ray Price, Rod Reddy, Kerry Boustead, Steve Rogers and captain Max Krilich, Great Britain chose five players aged over 30. The only player over the age of 30 for the Kangaroos first test team was Krilich who had turned 33 only five days prior to the test. Great Britain were captained by veteran Leeds hooker David Ward. Making his debut for the Lions was Hull F.C. teenager Lee Crooks who was also handed the goal kicking duties in preference to George Fairbairn. Wayne Pearce was awarded the Man of the Match award after throwing the last pass for four tries and scoring a try himself. #eeeeee GBR AUS 4–40 1st Ashes Test Tries Goals Lee Crooks (2/2) Tries Mal Meninga Les Boyd Eric Grothe Ray Price Kerry Boustead Brett Kenny Wayne Pearce Rod Reddy Goals Mal Meninga (8/10) Saturday, 30 October 1982 Boothferry Park, Hull 26,771 Julien Rascagnères FRA Wayne Pearce Australia 16 _GBR1 _GBR1982 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Great Britain_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1George FairbairnRW 2Des DrummondCE 3Eric HughesCE 4Les DylLW 5Steve EvansSO 6John WoodsSH 7Steve NashPR 8Jeff GrayshonHK 9David Ward (c)PR 10Trevor SkerrettSR 11Lee CrooksSR 12Les GorleyLF 13Steve NortonSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15David HeronIC 16IC 17Coach:ENG Johnny Whiteley FB 1Greg BrentnallLW 2Eric GrotheCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Steve RogersRW 5Kerry BousteadFE 6Brett KennyHB 7Peter SterlingPR 8Craig YoungHK 9Max Krilich (c)PR 10Les BoydSR 11Wayne PearceSR 12Rod ReddyLK 13Ray PriceSubstitutions:IC 14Steve EllaIC 15John MuggletonIC 16Wally LewisIC 17Rod MorrisCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Great Britain did well in the first half to trail by only 10–4 at half time, but the two penalty goals by debutante second rower Lee Crooks was as good as it got for the home side. In the second half the Kangaroos unleashed their skills and fitness, and blazed six tries to leave the British game, and most of the 26,771 strong crowd packed into Hull's Boothferry Park stunned. The game was Australia's 5th straight win over Great Britain, dating back to the final Test of the 1978 Kangaroo Tour and including the 3–0 whitewash of the Lions on their lacklustre 1979 Australasian tour. In his test debut for Australia, back row forward Wayne Pearce was judged as the Man of the Match thanks to his defensive work and having a hand in a number of tries as well as backing up a break by Max Krilich and Craig Young to race away and score a 45-metre try with only French referee Julien Rascagneres anywhere near him. Centre Mal Meninga, playing his 4th test and the first of what would eventually be a record 17 Ashes tests against Great Britain, scored the opening try of the game after good lead up work by Peter Sterling and Pearce, then easily palming off Les Dyl and outpacing fullback George Fairbairn to score in the corner. Meninga also kicked 8 of 10 goals for a personal haul of 19 points. His 8 goals also broke the record number of goals for an Australian in a test in England, the old record of 7 had been set by Graeme Langlands in the second test of the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour (the famous "Swinton Massacre" test). It also equaled the most goals for an Australian in an Ashes test, the record was previously the sole property of Noel Pidding who kicked 8 in the first test of the 1954 series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In commentary for the BBC, former Great Britain and England dual-rugby international forward Ray French stated after the final siren "Well, I've got to eat a little humble pie. I thought Great Britain could do something, but with only those two penalty goals from Lee Crooks its back to the drawing board for the Great Britain selectors I'm afraid", while his commentary partner, Wigan coach, former Lions halfback and Kangaroos tormentor Alex Murphy said during the first half "We need something to combat this lot." Wednesday, 3 November Leigh Leigh 16 4–44 Leigh vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Goals: John Woods (2) Tries: Chris Anderson (3), Paul McCabe (3), John Ribot (3), John Muggleton (2), Wally Lewis Goals: Mal Meninga (3/11) Wally Lewis (1/2) Hilton Park, Leigh 7,680 Trevor Court _red_hoops _redhoops _red_hoops _color_3_stripes_white FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FF0000 Leigh_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Mick HoganRW 2Des DrummondCE 3John HendersonCE 4Steve DonlanLW 5Graham WorganSO 6John Woods (c)SH 7Ken GreenPR 8Alf WilkinsonHK 9Ray TabernPR 10Derek PykeSR 11Eric ChisnallSR 12Geoff ClarksonLF 13Ian PotterSubstitutions:IC 14Steve TomlinsonIC 15Edwin HunterCoach:ENG Colin Clarke FB 1Steve EllaRW 2Chris AndersonCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Gene MilesLW 5John RibotFE 6Wally Lewis (c)HB 7Steve MortimerPR 8Don McKinnonHK 9Ray BrownPR 10Rod MorrisSR 11Paul McCabeSR 12John MuggletonLF 13Ian SchubertSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach:AUS Frank Stanton Sunday, 7 November Bradford Northern Bradford 16 6–13 Bradford Northern vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Goals: Keith Mumby (3) Tries: Greg Brentnall, Gene Miles, Paul McCabe Goals: Steve Rogers (2) Odsal, Bradford 10,506 Mick Beaumont Jeff Grayshon Bradford 16 _Bradford82 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Bradford Northern_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1John GreenRW 2David BarendsCE 3Keith MumbyCE 4Richard DaviesLW 5Steve PullenSO 6Bill KellsSH 7Alan RedfearnPR 8Jeff Grayshon (c)HK 9Brian NoblePR 10Gary Van BellenSR 11Graham IdleSR 12Dick JasiewiczLF 13Alan RathboneSubstitutions:IC 14Dean CarrollIC 15Chris ParrottCoach:ENG Peter Fox FB 1Greg BrentnallRW 2Chris AndersonCE 3Gene MilesCE 4Steve Rogers (c)LW 5Eric GrotheFE 6Brett KennyHB 7Mark MurrayPR 8Craig YoungHK 9Greg ConescuPR 10Rohan HancockSR 11John MuggletonSR 12Paul McCabeLF 13Ray PriceSubstitutions:IC 14Ray BrownIC 15Coach:AUS Frank Stanton Tuesday, 9 November Cumbria Cumbria 2–41 Cumbria vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Goals: Lyn Hopkins (1) Tries: Mal Meninga (2), Kerry Boustead, Steve Ella, Don McKinnon, Wayne Pearce, John Ribot, Steve Rogers, Peter Sterling Goals: Mal Meninga (7) Brunton Park, Carlisle 5,748 Stan Wall _butcher stripes white _butcher stripes white _butcher stripes white _3whitehoops 000000 000000 000000 FFFFFF 000000 Cumbria_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Lyn HopkinsRW 2Bob MackieCE 3Dean BellCE 4Ralph McConnellLW 5Terry MooreSO 6Mel MasonSH 7David CairnsPR 8Steve HerbertHK 9Alan McCurriePR 10Malcolm FlynnSR 11Bill PattisonSR 12Peter Gorley (c)LF 13Derek HadleySubstitutions:IC 14David BeckIC 15Ian HartleyCoach: FB 1Greg BrentnallRW 2Kerry BousteadCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Steve EllaLW 5John RibotFE 6Wally LewisHB 7Peter SterlingPR 8Don McKinnonHK 9Max Krilich (c)PR 10Rohan HancockSR 11John MuggletonSR 12Ian SchubertLF 13Wayne PearceSubstitutions:IC 14Steve RogersIC 15Ray PriceCoach:AUS Frank Stanton This was the first time that future Australian test halves pair Wally Lewis and Peter Sterling played alongside each other as Australia's five-eighth and halfback. Future New Zealand test captain Dean Bell, then playing for Carlisle at whose home ground the match was played, represented Cumbria in the centres. Sunday, 14 November Fulham London Broncos 16 5–22 Fulham vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Hussein M'Barki Goals: Steve Diamond (1) Tries: Steve Ella, John Muggleton, Mark Murray, Paul McCabe, Don McKinnon, John Ribot Goals: Steve Ella (1/4) Wally Lewis (1/4) Craven Cottage, London 10,432 Billy Thompson _FulhamRLFC 000000 000000 000000 000000 000000 Fulham_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1David EckersleyRW 2Adrian CambrianiCE 3David "Dave" AllenCE 4Steve DiamondLW 5Hussein M'BarkiSO 6John Crossley, Jr.SH 7Reg Bowden (c)PR 8Harry BeverleyHK 9John DalgreenPR 10Tony GourleySR 11Martin HerdmanSR 12Peter SoutoLF 13Joe DohertySubstitutions:IC 14Neil TuffsIC 15Coach:ENG Reg Bowden FB 1Steve EllaLW 2Chris AndersonCE 3Gene MilesCE 4Wally Lewis (c)RW 5John RibotFE 6Mark MurrayHB 7Steve MortimerPR 8Don McKinnonHK 9Ray BrownPR 10Les BoydSR 11Paul McCabeSR 12John MuggletonLK 13Ian SchubertSubstitutions:IC 14Greg ConescuIC 15Coach:AUS Frank Stanton Tuesday, 16 November Hull F.C. Hull 16 7–13 Hull F.C. vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: David Topliss Goals: Lee Crooks (2) Tries: Eric Grothe (2), Kerry Boustead Goals: Mal Meninga (2) The Boulevard, Hull 16,049 John Holdsworth _thin_blackhoops _butcher stripes white _thin_blackhoops FFFFFF 000000 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Hull _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Gary KembleRW 2Dane O'HaraCE 3Steve EvansCE 4James LeuluaiLW 5Paul PrendivilleSO 6David Topliss (c)SH 7Tony DeanPR 8Mick HarrisonHK 9Keith BridgesPR 10Paul RoseSR 11Wayne ProctorSR 12Lee CrooksLF 13Mick CraneSubstitutions:IC 14Barry BanksIC 15Mick SuttonCoach:ENG Arthur Bunting FB 1Greg BrentnallRW 2Kerry BousteadCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Steve RogersLW 5Eric GrotheFE 6Brett KennyHB 7Peter SterlingPR 8Craig YoungHK 9Max Krilich (c)PR 10Les BoydSR 11Wayne PearceSR 12Rod ReddyLF 13Ray PriceSubstitutions:IC 14Wally LewisIC 15Coach:AUS Frank Stanton Emulating what cross-town rivals Hull Kingston Rovers had done in the opening game of the tour, Hull led the Kangaroos at half time, this time 7–0. It would not be until Leeds led Australia 10–6 at Headingley during the 1990 Kangaroo tour that an English club side would lead the Kangaroos at half time of a tour match. However, a double to Eric Grothe and another to Kerry Boustead, with Meninga kicking 2 goals, along with Australia keeping Hull scoreless in the second saw the Kangaroos keep their undefeated record alive with a 13–7 win in front of 16,049 fans. This was the largest tour match attendance at The Boulevard since Australia defeated a combined Hull / Hull KR XIII 37–14 during the 1956–57 Kangaroo tour. It was also the Kangaroos 9th win in a row over Hull since 1911–12 and the largest tour match attendance of the 1982 tour. Australia played the game with the same team that would line up in the second test at Wigan just 4 days later. Second Test Despite ten changes to the Lions' side, with only winger Des Drummond and props Trevor Skerrett and Jeff Grayshon (who also took over the captaincy) retained from the first Test thrashing, plus Leeds loose forward David Heron who was brought into the starting side from the bench after a good personal second half at Boothferry Park in the first test, the second Test was scarcely a contest as the Kangaroos, playing with mostly 12 men after Les Boyd's send-off, won by 27–6. The only changes to the Kangaroos were tour vice-captain Wally Lewis' inclusion on the main bench (after only being on the extended bench in Hull) and, with captain Max Krilich in some doubt with a niggling neck injury, hooker forward and Manly teammate Ray Brown was also selected on the Kangaroos bench. Prior to the second test, Phil Larder, the Coaching Director of the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) spent a week in camp with Frank Stanton and the Kangaroos to observe their training and tactics. After Great Britain's first test humiliation, Larder (who at the time was not actually connected to the Great Britain team in any way) had taken it upon himself to contact Stanton and request the opportunity. English football had begun to fall well behind Australia in recent years and Larder's initiative was rewarded by being made the Coaching Director of the Rugby Football League in 1983. He would also become the assistant coach of the Great Britain side in 1983.McGregor Adrian Simply The Best: The 1990 Kangaroos 1991 University of Queensland Press Queensland 0-7022-2370-0 46–59 The Fall and Rise of England First #eeeeee GBR AUS 6–27 2nd Ashes Test Tries Goals Keith Mumby (3/3) Tries Ray Price Peter Sterling Eric Grothe Mal Meninga Steve Rogers Goals Mal Meninga (6/8) Saturday, 20 November 1982 Central Park, Wigan 23,126 Julien Rascagnères FRA Ray Price Australia 16 _GBR1 _GBR1982 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Great Britain_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Keith MumbyRW 2Des DrummondCE 3Mike SmithCE 4David StephensonLW 5Henderson GillSO 6John HolmesSH 7Ken KellyPR 8Jeff Grayshon (c)HK 9John DalgreenPR 10Trevor SkerrettSR 11Bob EcclesSR 12Chris BurtonLF 13David HeronSubstitutions:IC 14John WoodsIC 15Alan RathboneCoach:ENG Johnny Whiteley FB 1Greg BrentnallLW 2Eric GrotheCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Steve RogersRW 5Kerry BousteadFE 6Brett KennyHB 7Peter SterlingPR 8Craig YoungHK 9Max Krilich (c)PR 10Les BoydSR 11Wayne PearceSR 12Rod ReddyLK 13Ray PriceSubstitutions:IC 14Wally LewisIC 15Ray BrownCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Australia's fiery forward Les Boyd was sent off late in the first half for kicking a tackled player on the ground. The touch judge, only seeing Boyd's kick and not that it was in reaction to tackled Lions hooker John Dalgreen lashing out with a boot at Boyd while he was on the ground, came on with his flag up and French referee Julien Rascagneres, who did not actually see the incident, did not hesitate in sending Boyd off, leaving the Kangaroos to play out the remaining 46 minutes with twelve men. Eric Grothe suffered a knee injury while scoring a try late in the first half and was replaced at half time by Wally Lewis. The injury would see Grothe miss the third Test, played a week later in Leeds. Lewis came straight in to the five-eighth position while Brett Kenny moved to the centres and Mal Meninga out to the wing. Half-way through the second half Lewis showed the 23,126 crowd at Central Park what the British game was missing when he sent a bullet like 20 metre pass to Meninga to score in the corner. While those long passes would become a feature of Wally's game over the next decade, that particular pass did psychological damage to the already defeated Lions, who were left wondering just how good the Kangaroos really were if a player who could pass like Lewis did could not even make the starting XIII. Tuesday, 23 November Widnes Widnes 16 6–19 Widnes vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Tries: Goals: Mick Burke (3) Tries: Steve Mortimer (2), Paul McCabe, John Ribot, Steve Rogers Goals: Mal Meninga (2/6) Naughton Park, Widnes 9,790 John McDonald _blackborder _blackcollar _blackborder _2 white stripes FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 FFFFFF Widnes_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Mick BurkeRW 2John BasnettCE 3Joe LydonCE 4Keiron O'LoughlinLW 5Chris CamilleriSO 6Andy GregorySH 7David HulmePR 8Kevin TamatiHK 9Keith ElwellPR 10Steve O'NeillSR 11Keith NewtonSR 12Eric PrescottLF 13Tony Myler (c)Substitutions:IC 14John MylerIC 15Coach:ENG Doug Laughton FB 1Steve EllaRW 2Chris AndersonCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Steve RogersLW 5John RibotFE 6Wally Lewis (c)HB 7Steve MortimerPR 8Craig YoungHK 9Ray BrownPR 10Rod MorrisSR 11Les BoydSR 12Paul McCabeLF 13Ian SchubertSubstitutions:IC 14Mark MurrayIC 15John MuggletonCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Third Test Injuries forced Frank Stanton to make three changes to the Kangaroos for the final Test. Eric Grothe's knee injury in the second Test kept him out with the tour's leading try scorer John Ribot re-claiming his test spot on the wing; Rod Morris replaced Craig Young in the front row; while second test man of the match Ray Price was also ruled out with a knee injury and was replaced by Paul McCabe in the second row allowing Wayne Pearce to move to his favoured position at lock forward. #eeeeee GBR AUS 8–32 3rd Ashes Test Tries Steve Evans Goals Lee Crooks (2/3) Field Goals Lee Crooks Tries Kerry Boustead John Ribot Steve Rogers Brett Kenny Max Krilich Wayne Pearce Goals Mal Meninga (7/10) Sunday, 28 November 1982 Headingley, Leeds 17,318 Julien Rascagnères FRA Brett Kenny Australia 16 _GBR1 _GBR1982 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Great Britain_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1George FairbairnRW 2Des DrummondCE 3David StephensonCE 4Mike SmithLW 5Steve EvansSO 6David Topliss (c)SH 7Andy GregoryPR 8Mike O'NeillHK 9Brian NoblePR 10Paul RoseSR 11Peter SmithSR 12Lee CrooksLF 13Mick CraneSubstitutions:IC 14Neil CourtneyIC 15Coach:ENG Johnny Whiteley FB 1Greg BrentnallLW 2John RibotCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Steve RogersRW 5Kerry BousteadFE 6Brett KennyHB 7Peter SterlingPR 8Les BoydHK 9Max Krilich (c)PR 10Rod MorrisSR 11Paul McCabeSR 12Rod ReddyLK 13Wayne PearceSubstitutions:IC 14Wally LewisIC 15Ray BrownCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Kangaroos coach Frank Stanton predicted that the third Test would be the best contested of the three, and he was proved correct until the final ten minutes of play. Recalled Widnes halfback Andy Gregory, and Bradford Northern hooker Brian Noble (making his Test debut), led the way for the Lions and provided a service to their speedy outside backs that Britain had lacked in the first two Tests. The Lions made more line breaks in the third Test at Headingley than they had in the previous two Tests combined. The Australian's ran with a very strong breeze in the first half and used this to their advantage, keeping much of the play in Great Britain's half, though they were unable to cross the British try line. Mal Meninga kicked three goals (two from near half-way) while Hull youngster Lee Crooks kicked two long range penalties into the breeze to keep the Lions in the game at 6–4 at half time. Lions winger Des Drummond brought the crowd to its feet mid-way through the half with a 40-metre run from near his own line before he was brought down on half-way by Greg Brentnall and Steve Rogers in cover. The first try of the game came with just on 50 minutes gone. From deep in his own half, Brentnall made a break down the right wing after breaking a tackle. The play looked like breaking down when he didn't pass to an un-marked Kerry Boustead on his outside and was tackled from behind by a desperate David Stephenson. From there the Kangaroos spread the ball to the opposite wing where Ribot was tackled. Wayne Pearce then broke the British line before passing to Rod Reddy who gave the ball to Ribot flying on his outside. Ribot crashed over in the corner with Lions fullback George Fairbairn clinging to his legs. Pearce then made another break and sent captain Max Krilich on a 30-metre run for his first try of the tour. Krilich scored under the posts giving Meninga an easy conversion and Australia held a 14–4 lead. With just over 10 minutes left to play the Aussies were holding-off Great Britain by 14–8 and an intense finish loomed after Hull F.C. winger Steve Evans had scored the Lions only try of the series (it was also the first try the Australians had conceded in all 11 Tests they'd played since the second Ashes Test of 1979 against the Lions in Brisbane). It seemed Britain had not been so far behind Australia's standard after all, but in the final 10 minutes the Kangaroos superior fitness told and they ripped the home side apart with 4 tries to Boustead, Pearce, Steve Rogers and Man of the Match Brett Kenny to run out win 32–8 winners and become the first touring side to go through Britain undefeated. Right on half-time there was a set-to between forwards Les Boyd and Mick Crane which resulted in an all-in brawl. Boyd had hit Lions captain David Topliss (their third captain in as many tests) with a shoulder charge on the half-way line and Topliss had lashed out with his feet at Boyd who then punched Topliss as he lay on the ground, with Crane then coming in and began trading punches with the Australian front rower. As the teams lined up for the second half, referee Rascagneres called out both Boyd and Crane and sent both to the sin-bin for 10 minutes. The Ashes series win was Australia's 4th straight over the Lions dating back to 1974, and their second straight 3–0 Ashes series win. It also continued the streak started by the 1963–64 Kangaroos of successfully defending The Ashes in England. This was also the last test Australia played at Headingley until 2022 when they defeated Fiji 42–8 there during the 2021 World Cup (played in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Starting with the 1986 Kangaroo tour, all test matches Australia has played in Leeds have been played at the Elland Road stadium, home of the Leeds United soccer club, due to its greater spectator capacity (Elland Road currently holds 37,890 while Headingley has a capacity of 21,062). France Wednesday, 1 December Racing Club Roanne XIII 0–65 Roanne XIII vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Stade Malleval, Roanne 2,000 First Test The tourists found the French Tests more of a challenge than the British, but in the end the Kangaroos prevailed and finished their tour unbeaten. #eeeeee FRA AUS 4–15 1st Test – France vs Australia Tries Goals André Perez (2/2) Tries Eric Grothe (2) Wayne Pearce Goals Mal Meninga (3/5) Sunday, 5 December 1982 Parc des Sports, Avignon 8,000 Robin Whitfield ENG _francerl80s _francerl82 _francerl80s _frarlclassic _redtop 0000CD 0000CD 0000CD FFFFFF 0000CD France_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1André PerezRW 2Patrick SolalCE 3Guy DelaunayCE 4Jacques GuigueLW 5Philippe FourcadeSO 6Hervé GuiraudSH 7Ivan GrésèquePR 8Henri DanielHK 9Christian MacalliPR 10Max ChantalSR 11Guy LaforgueSR 12Marc AmbertLF 13Joël Roosebrouck (c)Substitutions:IC 14Christian LaumondIC 15Manuel CaravacaCoach:FRA Michel Maïque FB 1Greg BrentnallRW 2Kerry BousteadCE 3Steve RogersCE 4Brett KennyLW 5Mal MeningaFE 6Wally LewisHB 7Peter SterlingPR 8Craig YoungHK 9Max Krilich (c)PR 10Rod MorrisSR 11Paul McCabeSR 12Les BoydLK 13Wayne PearceSubstitutions:IC 14Eric GrotheIC 15Ray BrownCoach:AUS Frank Stanton During the first half, Wally Lewis dislocated his shoulder while attempting to tackle a French player which ended his tour, though as there were only 2 weeks remaining he remained with the squad until they returned to Australia (the injury was a recurrence of a similar injury he had suffered while touring Japan, Great Britain and France with the Australian Schoolboys rugby union team in 1977). He was replaced by Eric Grothe who went to the wing, Mal Meninga moved to his preferred centre with Brett Kenny moving to 5/8. Within 12 minutes of being on the field, Grothe had scored two tries. Tuesday, 7 December Aquitaine Aquitaine 16 2–67 Aquitaine vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Stade de la Myre Mory, Villeneuve 3,579 H. Martinez Thursday, 9 December Les Espoirs (Colts) 3–42 Les Espoirs vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Stade des Minimes, Toulouse 2,000 Sunday, 12 December XIII Catalan Catalans 16 2–53 XIII Catalan vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan 4,676 J. Rascagneres Tuesday, 14 December Midi-Pyrénées XIII Midi-Pyrénées 16 0–26 Midi-Pyrénées vs Australia Australia 16 Australia Stade Municipal, Pamiers 1,000 Second Test #eeeeee FRA AUS 9–23 2nd Test – France vs Australia Tries Ivan Grésèque Goals Étienne Kaminski (3/3) Tries Eric Grothe (2) Brett Kenny Rod Reddy Mal Meninga Goals Mal Meninga (4/5) Saturday, 18 December 1982 Stade de l'Egassiarial, Narbonne 7,000 Robin Whitfield ENG _francerl80s _francerl82 _francerl80s _francerlclassic _redtop 0000CD 0000CD 0000CD FFFFFF 0000CD France_kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _kangaroos78 _adidasyellow _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia FB 1Jacques GuigueRW 2Patrick SolalCE 3Guy DelaunayCE 4Christian LaumondLW 5Étienne KaminskiSO 6Hervé GuiraudSH 7Ivan GrésèquePR 8Charles ZalduendoHK 9Christian MacalliPR 10Max ChantalSR 11Jean-Jacques CologniSR 12Guy LaforgueLF 13Joël Roosebrouck (c)Substitutions:IC 14Michel LavilleIC 15Manuel CaravacaCoach:FRA Michel Maïque FB 1Greg BrentnallRW 2Kerry BousteadCE 3Mal MeningaCE 4Steve RogersLW 5Eric GrotheFE 6Brett KennyHB 7Peter SterlingPR 8Craig YoungHK 9Max Krilich (c)PR 10Les BoydSR 11Rod ReddySR 12Paul McCabeLK 13Wayne PearceSubstitutions:IC 14Steve EllaIC 15Ray BrownCoach:AUS Frank Stanton Statistics Largest Attendance 26,771 – First test vs Great Britain at Boothferry Park Largest Club Game Attendance 16,049 – Australia vs Hull F.C. at The Boulevard Leading Point Scorer 169 by Mal Meninga (11 tries, 68 goals) Leading Try Scorer 25 by Eric Grothe The tally of 25 tries by Eric Grothe includes 4 tries scored in the match against Western Australia. The leading try scorer in Great Britain and France was Steve Ella, with 22. Ella also scored one try against Papua New Guinea. Location Point Scorer Leading Try Scorers Mal Meninga Steve Ella Eric Grothe John Ribot Tries Goals Points Tries Tries Tries PNG 1 4 11 dnp dnp 4 Western Australia Western Australia dnp 1 4 dnp GB 7 50 121 9 7 9 FRA 3 14 37 13 14 10 Total 11 68 169 23 25 23 Aftermath Following the most successful Kangaroo Tour in history, a number of Australians were targeted by English clubs. Over the next 3 years players such as Peter Sterling (Hull F.C.), Brett Kenny and Steve Ella (Wigan), Eric Grothe (Leeds), Wally Lewis (Wakefield Trinity) and Mal Meninga (St Helens) would have short, but successful stints in England. See also Heads, Ian and Lester, Gary (1988) 200 Years of Australian Sport, Lester Townsend, Sydney Whiticker, Alan (2004) Captaining the Kangaroos, New Holland, Sydney Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sydney Australian cricket team in England in 1948 References 30em External links 1982 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France at rl1908.com 1982 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France at rlhalloffame.org.uk Ashes Series 1982 at rugbyleagueproject.com "1982 Kangaroos Tour of England and France" by Jason Cave (theroar.com.au) Kangaroo Tour Kangaroo Tour Kangaroo Tour Kan Category:Rugby league tours of Great Britain Category:Rugby league tours of France Category:Australia national rugby league team tours Category:1982 in Welsh rugby league Category:Rugby league tours of Papua New Guinea