1989 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand
1989 rugby league tour
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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.[1]
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.[2]
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).
Tour
The Australians played six games on the tour, winning five.
Tuesday 4 July |
New Zealand XIII  |
18 – 50 |  Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Duane Mann, Kelly Shelford, Dave Watson Goals: Phil Bancroft (3) |
[3][4][5] |
Tries: Greg Alexander (3), Gary Belcher (3), Sam Backo, Des Hasler, Michael O'Connor Goals: Michael O'Connor (7) |
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
Sunday 9 July |
New Zealand  |
6 – 26 |  Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Mark Elia Goals: Kevin Iro (1/2) |
[6][7] |
Tries: Tony Currie Wally Lewis Paul Sironen Kerrod Walters Goals: Mal Meninga (5/5) |
Queen Elizabeth II Park, Christchurch Attendance: 17,000 Referee: Ray Tennant  Player of the Match: Bradley Clyde |
          New Zealand
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     Australia
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Wednesday 12 July |
Auckland  |
26 – 24 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Shane Hansen, Francis Leota, Mike Patton, Dave Watson Goals: Kelly Shelford (5/6) Tea Ropati (0/1) |
[8][9] |
Tries: Dale Shearer (2), Greg Alexander, Tony Currie, Michael Hancock Goals: Michael O'Connor (2/5) |
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.[10] 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
Sunday 16 July |
| New Zealand |
0 – 8 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Goals: Phil Bancroft (0/1) Kevin Iro (0/2) Tony Kemp (0/1) |
[11][12][13] |
Tries: Michael Hancock Goals: Mal Meninga (2/3) |
New Zealand
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Australia
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Wednesday 19 July |
| Wellington | 10 – 28 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Morvin Edwards Goals: George Lajpold (3) |
[14][15][16] |
Tries: Dale Shearer (2), Greg Alexander, Michael Hancock, Michael O'Connor Goals: Michael O'Connor (3) Paul Vautin (1) |
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.
Sunday 23 July |
| New Zealand |
14 – 22 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Mark Elia Gary Mercer Goals: Kelly Shelford (3/5) |
[17][18][19] |
Tries: Bradley Clyde Mal Meninga Michael O'Connor Dale Shearer Goals: Mal Meninga (1/3) Michael O'Connor (2/3) |
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Ray Tennant Player of the Match: Bradley Clyde |
New Zealand
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Australia
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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).[20]
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