1980 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand
1980 rugby league tour
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The 1980 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played seven matches on tour, including a two test series against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 1 June and finished on 17 June.[1]
The Test matches against the Kiwis were broadcast back to New South Wales and Queensland by 0–Ten with Ray Warren in commentary. Warren was joined in the first Test call by St George centre Graham Quinn while he was joined by Kerry Boustead for the second Test. Boustead missed the second Test due to a shoulder injury picked up in the first Test and was ironically replaced on the wing by Quinn.
Leadership
As he had been since 1978, Frank Stanton, in 1980 coaching at Redcliffe in the Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) competition, was the coach of the Australian team while Greek born Canterbury-Bankstwon hooker George Peponis was in his second year as Australian captain. Unfortunately due to persistent neck injuries, the second Test against New Zealand would not only be his last test as Australian captain but his last game of representative football. Peponis, a fully qualified Physician, ended his tenure as Australian Test captain with a 5–0 win–loss record.
Touring squad
The 18 man squad was made up mostly of those playing in the Sydney Premiership. Although not the only Queenslander in the squad (there was also Kerry Boustead, Rod Morris and Rod Reddy), Chris Close was the sole player selected from Queensland, prior to his Man of the Match performance in the experimental 1980 State of Origin game. In his first game against the NZ Māori, Close was sent-off.
* Tests and (as sub) not included in Games total.
| Player | Club | Position(s) | Games (as sub) |
Tests (as sub) |
Tries | Goals | F/Goals | Points |
| Chris Anderson |  Canterbury-Bankstown |
Wing | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Kerry Boustead |  Eastern Suburbs |
Wing | (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Les Boyd |  Manly-Warringah |
Second-row, Wing | 3 (1) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Greg Brentnall | Canterbury-Bankstown |
Centre, Wing, Fullback | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Chris Close |  Redcliffe |
Centre | 3 (1) | – | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Michael Cronin |  Parramatta |
Centre | 3 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 50 |
| Garry Dowling | Parramatta |
Fullback | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Jim Leis |  Western Suburbs |
Lock, Centre | 2 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Martin | Manly-Warringah |
Five-eighth, Halfback | 3 (1) | – | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Rod Morris |  Balmain |
Prop | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| George Peponis (c) | Canterbury-Bankstown |
Hooker | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Ray Price | Parramatta |
Lock | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Graham Quinn |  St George |
Centre, Wing | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 24 |
| Tommy Raudonikis |  Newtown |
Halfback | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Rod Reddy | St George |
Second-row | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Alan Thompson | Manly-Warringah |
Five-eighth | 2 (1) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Graeme Wynn | St George |
Second-row | 3 (1) | – | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Craig Young | St George |
Prop | 3 (1) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Tour
The Australian's played seven games on the tour, winning five, losing one with one drawn game.
1st Test
Sunday 1 June |
New Zealand  |
6 – 27 |  Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Goals: Michael O'Donnell (3/4) |
[2][3] |
Tries: Alan Thompson (2) Craig Young Kerry Boustead Rod Reddy Goals: Michael Cronin (6/8) |
         New Zealand
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     Australia
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Wednesday 4 June |
Māori  |
10 – 10 |  Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: James Leuluai, Kevin Tamati Goals: Dennis Williams (2) |
[4][5][6] |
Tries: Graham Quinn, Chris Close Goals: Graeme Wynn (2) |
Māori: James Leuluai, Lou Kapa, John Smith, Dennis Williams (c), Ron Siulepa, Ray Harris, Dennis Key, Rick Muru, Howie Tamati, Warren Rangi, Pat Poasa, Kevin Tamati, Ian Bell. Reserves – Bart Herangi. Coach – Tom Newton
Australia: Garry Dowling, Chris Anderson, Graham Quinn, Chris Close, Greg Brentnall, Steve Martin, Tommy Raudonikis (c), Rohan Hancock, John Lang, Rod Morris, Rod Reddy, Graeme Wynn, Jim Leis. Reserves – Kerry Boustead, Craig Young
Friday 6 June |
Central Districts  |
0 – 23 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Goals: |
[7][8] |
Tries: Graham Quinn (2), Rohan Hancock, Greg Brentnall, Graeme Wynn Goals: Michael Cronin (4) |
Central Districts: Paul Christensen, Lou Kapa, John Whittaker (c), Gary Butler, Nolan Tupaea, Lance Pupuke, Monty Henry, Paul Te Ariki, Howie Tamati, Whetu Henry, Eddie Allbright, Bruce Gall, Victor Bracken. Reserves – John Knuckey, Mike Butler. Coach –
Australia: Garry Dowling, Chris Anderson, Greg Brentnall, Michael Cronin, Graham Quinn, Alan Thompson (c), Steve Martin, Rohan Hancock, John Lang, Craig Young, Les Boyd, Rod Reddy, Ray Price. Reserves – Chris Close, Graeme Wynn
Sunday 8 June |
New Zealand XIII  |
7 – 51 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Ron O'Regan Goals: Gary Kemble (2) |
[9] |
Tries: Greg Brentnall (2), Chris Close (2), Rod Reddy (2), Chris Anderson, Les Boyd, George Peponis, Graham Quinn, Tommy Raudonikis Goals: Michael Cronin (9) |
New Zealand XIII: Gary Kemble, Dick Uluave, Lewis Hudson, Ron O'Regan, Mark Petersen, Chris Menzies, Daryl Morrison, Danny Campbell, Paul Ravlich, Alan Rushton, Tony Coll (c), Graeme West, Gary Prohm. Reserves – Billy Kells, Owen Wright. Coach – Neville Denton
Australia: Greg Brentnall, Chris Anderson, Chris Close, Michael Cronin, Graham Quinn, Alan Thompson, Tommy Raudonikis, Rod Morris, George Peponis (c), Craig Young, Les Boyd, Rod Reddy, Ray Price. Reserves – Steve Martin, Graeme Wynn
Wednesday 11 June |
| South Island |
12 – 11 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Kevin Franklin, Paul McCone Goals: Barry Edkins (2) Michael O'Donnell (1) |
[10][11][12] |
Tries: Garry Dowling (2), Chris Anderson Goals: Graeme Wynn (1) |
South Island: Michael O'Donnell, Michael Williams, Bruce Dickinson, Bernard Green, Paul McCone, Chris Menzies, Gordon Smith, Mark Broadhurst, Paul Truscott, Alan Rushton, Kevin Franklin, Tony Coll (c), Barry Edkins. Reserves – David Field, Wayne Dwyer. Coach – Cecil Clark
Australia: Garry Dowling, Graham Quinn, Chris Close, Greg Brentnall, Chris Anderson, Steve Martin, Tommy Raudonikis (c), Rod Morris, John Lang, Rohan Hancock, Jim Leis, Graeme Wynn, Ray Price. Reserves – Alan Thompson, Les Boyd
2nd Test
Sunday 15 June |
| New Zealand |
6 – 15 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Goals: Michael O'Donnell (3/5) |
[13][14][15] |
Tries: Les Boyd Michael Cronin Rod Reddy Goals: Michael Cronin (3/4) |
New Zealand
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Australia
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Australian winger Kerry Boustead suffered a shoulder injury in the first test that kept him out of the second test. St George centre Graham Quinn came in onto the wing for his only Test match. Boustead spent the game in the 0–Ten commentary booth calling the game for Australian television next to chief commentator Ray Warren.
Tuesday 17 July |
| Auckland |
7 – 21 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Dave Lepper Goals: Chris Jordan (2) |
[16][17] |
Tries: Michael Cronin, Steve Martin, Goals: Graham Quinn (6) |
Auckland: Gary Kemble, Chris Jordan, James Leuluai, Dennis Williams (c), Dane O'Hara, Ron O'Regan, John Smith, Doug Gailey, John Gordon, Pat Poasa, Tom Conroy, Alan McCarthy, Gary Prohm. Reserves – Ian Bell, Dave Lepper. Coach – Don Hammond
Australia: Greg Brentnall, Graham Quinn, Michael Cronin, Jim Leis, Les Boyd, Steve Martin, Tommy Raudonikis, John Lang, Craig Young, Rod Reddy, Graeme Wynn, Ray Price (c). Reserves –
Statistics
Leading Try Scorer
- 4 by Rod Reddy and Graham Quinn
Leading Point Scorer
- 50 by Michael Cronin (2 tries, 22 goals)
Largest Test Attendance
- 12,321 – First test vs New Zealand at Carlaw Park
Largest non-test Attendance
- 14,000 – Australia vs Auckland at Carlaw Park