Super League Tri-series
1997 rugby league football tournament
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The Super League Tri-series was an international rugby league football tournament contested in 1997 between Queensland, New South Wales, and New Zealand representative rugby league teams. It was run by the breakaway Super League organisation as an alternative to the Australian Rugby League's traditional State of Origin series, with each of the two series involving exclusively players contracted to clubs of their respective League. New South Wales were overall winners of the Tri-series, defeating Queensland in the final.
New Zealand restricted their selections to players based in Australia and New Zealand and did not recognize the matches as international games.
Results
Game 1
Friday 11 April |
New South Wales  |
38 – 10 |  Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Andrew Ettingshausen (3) Ken Nagas (2) Greg Alexander David Peachey Goals: Ryan Girdler (5/7) |
[1] |
Tries: Peter Ryan Wendell Sailor Goals: Mat Rogers (1/2) |
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 26,731 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player of the Match: Greg Alexander |
Game 2
Friday 9 May |
New Zealand  |
12 – 26 | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Stacey Jones John Timu Goals: Gene Ngamu (2/2) |
[2] |
Tries: Tonie Carroll Allan Langer Mat Rogers Kevin Walters Shane Webcke Goals: Mat Rogers (3/5) |
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Graham Annesley Player of the Match: Allan Langer |
Game 3
Wednesday 14 May |
| New South Wales |
20 – 15 | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Simon Gillies (2) Ken Nagas (2) Goals: Ryan Girdler (2/4) Laurie Daley (0/1) |
[3] |
Tries: Ruben Wiki (2) Goals: Stacey Jones (3/4) Field Goals: Gene Ngamu (1) |
After New South Wales defeated Queensland on 11 April 1997 it was possible for New Zealand to make the final if they defeated New South Wales. This commercially disastrous final looked like becoming a reality when New Zealand winger Sean Hoppe scored a try in the dying minutes of the 14 May match against New South Wales, but the try was controversially disallowed.[4]
Table
| Team | Played | Wins | Losses | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New South Wales | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | Queensland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Final
The Tri-series final was held on 19 May 1997, and won by New South Wales, who defeated Queensland 23–22 at ANZ Stadium in the longest-ever game of first class rugby league. After 80 minutes, the scores were locked at 18–18, and a further 20 minutes were played. At the end of this time, the scores were 22–22, and Queensland captain Allan Langer is said to have asked the referee, "Should we toss a coin to see who wins?" The game then moved into golden point extra time, and after 104 minutes, Noel Goldthorpe kicked a field goal for New South Wales, and won the match.
Despite the game being played in Brisbane, NSW were the home team as it was the Final of the series.
Monday 19 May |
| New South Wales |
23 – 22 (gp) | Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Brett Mullins (3) Matthew Ryan Goals: David Furner (3/4) Field Goals: Noel Goldthorpe (1) |
[5] |
Tries: Steve Renouf (2) Tonie Carroll Michael Hancock Goals: Mat Rogers (2/3) Darren Lockyer (1/2) |
Squads
New South Wales
Coach:Tim Sheens Assistant Coach: Craig Bellamy
| Position | Game 1 (versus Qld) |
Game 2 (versus NZ) |
Game 3 (versus Qld) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  David Peachey | |||||
| Wing |  Ken Nagas | |||||
| Centre | Andrew Ettingshausen | |||||
| Centre |  Ryan Girdler |
 Matthew Ryan | ||||
| Wing | Matthew Ryan |
Brett Mullins | ||||
| Five-Eighth | Laurie Daley (c) | |||||
| Halfback | Greg Alexander |
 Noel Goldthorpe | ||||
| Prop |  Glenn Lazarus | |||||
| Hooker | Craig Gower |
Luke Priddis |
Craig Gower | |||
| Prop |  Rodney Howe |
 Ian Roberts | ||||
| Second Row | Sean Ryan |
David Furner | ||||
| Second Row | Simon Gillies | |||||
| Lock | David Furner |
Bradley Clyde | ||||
| Interchange | Matt Adamson |
Danny Lee |
Robbie Kearns | |||
| Interchange | Solomon Haumono | |||||
| Interchange | Robbie Ross |
Scott Wilson |
Robbie Ross | |||
| Interchange | Noel Goldthorpe |
Matthew Ryan |
Luke Priddis | |||
New Zealand
The side was coached by Graeme Norton and he served as a selector alongside Frank Endacott and Gary Kemble.
| Position | Game 1 (versus Qld) |
Game 2 (versus NSW) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback |  Anthony Swann | |||
| Wing | Sean Hoppe | |||
| Centre | Tea Ropati | |||
| Centre | Ruben Wiki | |||
| Wing | Richie Barnett | |||
| Five-Eighth | Gene Ngamu | |||
| Halfback | Stacey Jones | |||
| Prop | Quentin Pongia | |||
| Hooker | Syd Eru | |||
| Prop | Joe Vagana | |||
| Second Row | Tony Iro |
Stephen Kearney | ||
| Second Row | Stephen Kearney |
Tyran Smith | ||
| Lock | Tawera Nikau | |||
| Interchange | John Timu | |||
| Interchange | Brady Malam |
Marc Ellis | ||
| Interchange | Tyran Smith |
Brady Malam | ||
| Interchange | Marc Ellis |
Tony Iro | ||
Queensland
Queensland were coached by Wayne Bennett.
| Position | Game 1 (versus NSW) |
Game 2 (versus NZ) |
Game 3 (versus NSW) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullback | Julian O'Neill |
Darren Lockyer | ||||
| Wing | Mat Rogers | |||||
| Centre | Steve Renouf |
Darren Smith |
Steve Renouf | |||
| Centre | Geoff Bell |
Tonie Carroll | ||||
| Wing | Wendell Sailor | |||||
| Five-Eighth | Kevin Walters | |||||
| Halfback | Allan Langer (c) | |||||
| Prop | Brad Thorn | |||||
| Hooker | Steve Walters | |||||
| Prop | Andrew Gee |
Craig Greenhill |
Owen Cunningham | |||
| Second Row | Owen Cunningham |
Peter Ryan | ||||
| Second Row | Gorden Tallis | |||||
| Lock | Darren Smith |
Peter Ryan |
Darren Smith | |||
| Interchange | Peter Ryan |
Michael Hancock | ||||
| Interchange | Chris McKenna |
 Kevin Campion | ||||
| Interchange | Paul Green | |||||
| Interchange | Shane Webcke | |||||
Statistics
Try scorers
| Tries Scored | Player |
|---|---|
| 4 | Ken Nagas (NSW) |
| 3 | Andrew Ettingshausen (NSW), Brett Mullins (NSW), Tonie Carroll (Qld) |
| 2 | David Peachey (NSW), Simon Gillies (NSW), Ruben Wiki (NZ), Steve Renouf (Qld) |
| 1 | Shane Webcke (Qld), Greg Alexander (NSW), Kevin Walters (Qld), Allan Langer (Qld), Mat Rogers (Qld), Stacey Jones (NZ), Wendell Sailor (Qld), Gene Ngamu (NZ), Peter Ryan (Qld), Michael Hancock (Qld), Matthew Ryan (NSW), John Timu (NZ) |