# Super League Tri-series

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) | | 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) | | 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) | | Tries: Ruben Wiki (2) Goals: Stacey Jones (3/4) Field Goals: Gene Ngamu (1) |
* Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 13,836 Referee: Steve Clark
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.

### 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) | | Tries: Steve Renouf (2) Tonie Carroll Michael Hancock Goals: Mat Rogers (2/3) Darren Lockyer (1/2) |
* ANZ Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 35,570 Referee: Bill Harrigan

## Squads
### New South Wales

Coach:Tim Sheens Assistant Coach: Craig Bellamy
| Position | Game 1 (versus Qld) | Game 1 (versus Qld) | Game 2 (versus NZ) | Game 2 (versus NZ) | Game 3 (versus Qld) | Game 3 (versus Qld) |
| Fullback | David Peachey | David Peachey | David Peachey | David Peachey | David Peachey | David Peachey |
| Wing | Ken Nagas | Ken Nagas | Ken Nagas | Ken Nagas | Ken Nagas | Ken Nagas |
| Centre | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen | Andrew Ettingshausen |
| Centre | Ryan Girdler | Ryan Girdler | Ryan Girdler | Ryan Girdler | Matthew Ryan | Matthew Ryan |
| Wing | Matthew Ryan | Matthew Ryan | Brett Mullins | Brett Mullins | Brett Mullins | Brett Mullins |
| Five-Eighth | Laurie Daley (c) | Laurie Daley (c) | Laurie Daley (c) | Laurie Daley (c) | Laurie Daley (c) | Laurie Daley (c) |
| Halfback | Greg Alexander | Greg Alexander | Noel Goldthorpe | Noel Goldthorpe | Noel Goldthorpe | Noel Goldthorpe |
| Prop | Glenn Lazarus | Glenn Lazarus | Glenn Lazarus | Glenn Lazarus | Glenn Lazarus | Glenn Lazarus |
| Hooker | Craig Gower | Craig Gower | Luke Priddis | Luke Priddis | Craig Gower | Craig Gower |
| Prop | Rodney Howe | Rodney Howe | Ian Roberts | Ian Roberts | Ian Roberts | Ian Roberts |
| Second Row | Sean Ryan | Sean Ryan | David Furner | David Furner | David Furner | David Furner |
| Second Row | Simon Gillies | Simon Gillies | Simon Gillies | Simon Gillies | Simon Gillies | Simon Gillies |
| Lock | David Furner | David Furner | Bradley Clyde | Bradley Clyde | Bradley Clyde | Bradley Clyde |
| Interchange | Matt Adamson | Matt Adamson | Danny Lee | Danny Lee | Robbie Kearns | Robbie Kearns |
| Interchange | Solomon Haumono | Solomon Haumono | Solomon Haumono | Solomon Haumono | Solomon Haumono | Solomon Haumono |
| Interchange | Robbie Ross | Robbie Ross | Scott Wilson | Scott Wilson | Robbie Ross | Robbie Ross |
| Interchange | Noel Goldthorpe | Noel Goldthorpe | Matthew Ryan | Matthew Ryan | Luke Priddis | 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 1 (versus Qld) | Game 2 (versus NSW) | Game 2 (versus NSW) |
| Fullback | Anthony Swann | Anthony Swann | Anthony Swann | Anthony Swann |
| Wing | Sean Hoppe | Sean Hoppe | Sean Hoppe | Sean Hoppe |
| Centre | Tea Ropati | Tea Ropati | Tea Ropati | Tea Ropati |
| Centre | Ruben Wiki | Ruben Wiki | Ruben Wiki | Ruben Wiki |
| Wing | Richie Barnett | Richie Barnett | Richie Barnett | Richie Barnett |
| Five-Eighth | Gene Ngamu | Gene Ngamu | Gene Ngamu | Gene Ngamu |
| Halfback | Stacey Jones | Stacey Jones | Stacey Jones | Stacey Jones |
| Prop | Quentin Pongia | Quentin Pongia | Quentin Pongia | Quentin Pongia |
| Hooker | Syd Eru | Syd Eru | Syd Eru | Syd Eru |
| Prop | Joe Vagana | Joe Vagana | Joe Vagana | Joe Vagana |
| Second Row | Tony Iro | Tony Iro | Stephen Kearney | Stephen Kearney |
| Second Row | Stephen Kearney | Stephen Kearney | Tyran Smith | Tyran Smith |
| Lock | Tawera Nikau | Tawera Nikau | Tawera Nikau | Tawera Nikau |
| Interchange | John Timu | John Timu | John Timu | John Timu |
| Interchange | Brady Malam | Brady Malam | Marc Ellis | Marc Ellis |
| Interchange | Tyran Smith | Tyran Smith | Brady Malam | Brady Malam |
| Interchange | Marc Ellis | Marc Ellis | Tony Iro | Tony Iro |

### Queensland

Queensland were coached by Wayne Bennett.
| Position | Game 1 (versus NSW) | Game 1 (versus NSW) | Game 2 (versus NZ) | Game 2 (versus NZ) | Game 3 (versus NSW) | Game 3 (versus NSW) |
| Fullback | Julian O'Neill | Julian O'Neill | Darren Lockyer | Darren Lockyer | Darren Lockyer | Darren Lockyer |
| Wing | Mat Rogers | Mat Rogers | Mat Rogers | Mat Rogers | Mat Rogers | Mat Rogers |
| Centre | Steve Renouf | Steve Renouf | Darren Smith | Darren Smith | Steve Renouf | Steve Renouf |
| Centre | Geoff Bell | Geoff Bell | Tonie Carroll | Tonie Carroll | Tonie Carroll | Tonie Carroll |
| Wing | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor | Wendell Sailor |
| Five-Eighth | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters | Kevin Walters |
| Halfback | Allan Langer (c) | Allan Langer (c) | Allan Langer (c) | Allan Langer (c) | Allan Langer (c) | Allan Langer (c) |
| Prop | Brad Thorn | Brad Thorn | Brad Thorn | Brad Thorn | Brad Thorn | Brad Thorn |
| Hooker | Steve Walters | Steve Walters | Steve Walters | Steve Walters | Steve Walters | Steve Walters |
| Prop | Andrew Gee | Andrew Gee | Craig Greenhill | Craig Greenhill | Owen Cunningham | Owen Cunningham |
| Second Row | Owen Cunningham | Owen Cunningham | Owen Cunningham | Owen Cunningham | Peter Ryan | Peter Ryan |
| Second Row | Gorden Tallis | Gorden Tallis | Gorden Tallis | Gorden Tallis | Gorden Tallis | Gorden Tallis |
| Lock | Darren Smith | Darren Smith | Peter Ryan | Peter Ryan | Darren Smith | Darren Smith |
| Interchange | Peter Ryan | Peter Ryan | Michael Hancock | Michael Hancock | Michael Hancock | Michael Hancock |
| Interchange | Chris McKenna | Chris McKenna | Kevin Campion | Kevin Campion | Kevin Campion | Kevin Campion |
| Interchange | Paul Green | Paul Green | Paul Green | Paul Green | Paul Green | Paul Green |
| Interchange | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke | Shane Webcke | 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) |