# 2015 New Zealand rugby league tour of England

The 2015 New Zealand rugby league tour of England was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The New Zealand national rugby league team played a match against the Leeds Rhinos and competed in a three match test series against England for the Baskerville Shield, losing 2-1.

## Background

New Zealand had originally intended to host a tour against France, while Australia was speculated to host a Great Britain Lions tour. However the Australian Rugby League Commission declined to host a tour and as an alternative the Rugby Football League invited the New Zealand Rugby League to tour Great Britain for a three match series.
New Zealand was last in the United Kingdom for the World Cup in 2013.
On 25 February 2015, the three test match venues were confirmed with Hull's KC Stadium hosting game one on 1 November, the London Olympic Stadium hosting the second test on 7 November and the final test match being held at Wigan's DW Stadium on 14 November.
The match against Leeds was the first time a Super League side had played a touring side since 2002, when the Kiwis played matches against Hull F.C. and St. Helens. It was the first time that Leeds played New Zealand since 1992. The match celebrated the 125th anniversary of Headingley. Leeds has defeated New Zealand once in eleven matches between the two teams.

## Squad
### Training squad

An initial training squad was named on 8 September 2015 and added to as teams were eliminated from the NRL finals. Kieran Foran was among those initially named but he later withdrew due to injury, joining Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai, Manu Vatuvei, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Jared Warea-Hargreaves as being unavailable for the tour. Skipper Simon Mannering was also later made unavailable for the test series due to injury.
| Club Team | Players |
| Squad named on 8 September ||
| Manly Sea Eagles | Kieran Foran, Peta Hiku |
| New Zealand Warriors | Solomone Kata, Tui Lolohea, Simon Mannering (c), Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson |
| Parramatta Eels | Manu Mau |
| Penrith Panthers | Lewis Brown, Sam McKendry, Elijah Taylor, Dean Whare |
| Wests Tigers | Manaia Cherrington, Tim Simona, Martin Taupau |
| Added on 18 September ||
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | Bryson Goodwin, Issac Luke |
| St George Illawarra Dragons | Jason Nightingale |
| Added on 24 September ||
| Canterbury Bulldogs | Curtis Rona, Greg Eastwood |
| Cronulla Sharks | Gerard Beale, Sosaia Feki |
| Wests Tigers | Te Maire Martin |
| Added on 1 October ||
| Melbourne Storm | Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor |
| Sydney Roosters | Matt McIlwrick, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Isaac Liu, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Moa |

### Final squad

The final touring squad of 23 players was named on 8 October.
On 10 October, Jason Taumalolo withdrew from the touring 23-man squad due to a knee injury. He was replaced by Manaia Cherrington. Curtis Rona left the tour after the second test match, returning to Australia to be present for the birth of his daughter.
| Name | Club | Position(s) | Games | Tries | Goals | FGs | Points |
| Gerard Beale | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adam Blair (c) | Brisbane Broncos | Prop, Second-row | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jesse Bromwich | Melbourne Storm | Prop | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Lewis Brown | Penrith Panthers | Second-row | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manaia Cherrington | Wests Tigers | Hooker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Glenn | Brisbane Broncos | Second-row | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tohu Harris | Melbourne Storm | Second-row | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Peta Hiku | Manly Sea Eagles | Fullback | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Kahu | Brisbane Broncos | Fullback, Wing, Centre | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| Shaun Kenny-Dowall | Sydney Roosters | Wing, Centre | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Isaac Liu | Sydney Roosters | Lock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tuimoala Lolohea | New Zealand Warriors | Fullback, Wing, Five-eighth | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Issac Luke (c) | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Hooker | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| Ben Matulino | New Zealand Warriors | Prop | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam Moa | Sydney Roosters | Prop | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Jason Nightingale | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Wing | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Kodi Nikorima | Brisbane Broncos | Fullback, Halfback, Hooker | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Kevin Proctor | Melbourne Storm | Second-row | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Curtis Rona | Canterbury Bulldogs | Wing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sio Siua Taukeiaho | Sydney Roosters | Second-row | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Taupau | Wests Tigers | Lock | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | Sydney Roosters | Fullback | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Dean Whare | Penrith Panthers | Centre | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |

## Venues

The four matches were played at the following venues in England.
| Leeds | Hull | London | Wigan |
| Headingley | KC Stadium | Olympic Stadium | DW Stadium |
| Capacity: 21,062 | Capacity: 25,400 | Capacity: 66,000 | Capacity: 25,138 |

## Fixtures

New Zealand played four matches on tour, including three test matches against England. England also played a test match against France on 24 October.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Attendance |
| 23 October | Leeds Rhinos | Headingley, Leeds | Won | 34–16 | 20,158 |
| 1 November | England | KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull | Lost | 12–26 | 23,526 |
| 7 November | England | Olympic Stadium, London | Won | 9–2 | 44,393 |
| 14 November | England | DW Stadium, Wigan | Lost | 14–20 | 24,741 |

### Game 1

Gerard Beale was originally named to play but was replaced by Lewis Brown.
* 23 October 2015
| Leeds Rhinos | 16–34 | New Zealand |
| Tries: Moon (2) 28' c, 55' c Briscoe 73' Goal: Lilley (2/3) 29', 56' | | Tries: Nightingale 37' c Kahu 40' Bromwich 63' c Whare 66' Tuivasa-Sheck (2) 69', 80' Nikorima 78' c Goal: Luke (1/2) 38' Lolohea (2/5) 63', 78' |
| FB | 1 | Ashton Golding |
| RW | 2 | Tom Briscoe |
| RC | 3 | Jimmy Keinhorst |
| LC | 4 | Joel Moon |
| LW | 5 | Ash Handley |
| SO | 6 | Danny McGuire |
| SH | 7 | Jordan Lilley |
| PR | 8 | Kylie Leuluai |
| HK | 9 | Robbie Ward |
| PR | 10 | Mitch Garbutt |
| SR | 11 | Adrian Morley |
| SR | 12 | Josh Walters |
| LF | 13 | Adam Cuthbertson |
| Substitutions: ||
| BE | 14 | Ali Lauitiiti |
| BE | 15 | Anthony Mullally |
| BE | 16 | Mitch Achurch |
| BE | 17 | Jordan Baldwinson |
| BE | 18 | Rob Mulhern |
| BE | 19 | Brad Singleton |
| Coach: ||
| Brian McDermott ||
| FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck |
| RW | 2 | Jason Nightingale |
| RC | 3 | Jordan Kahu |
| LC | 4 | Dean Whare |
| LW | 5 | Shaun Kenny-Dowall |
| FE | 6 | Peta Hiku |
| HB | 7 | Tuimoala Lolohea |
| PR | 8 | Jesse Bromwich |
| HK | 9 | Issac Luke (Captain) |
| PR | 10 | Ben Matulino |
| SR | 11 | Kevin Proctor |
| SR | 12 | Tohu Harris |
| LK | 13 | Martin Taupau |
| Substitutions: ||
| BE | 14 | Kodi Nikorima |
| BE | 15 | Adam Blair (Captain) |
| BE | 16 | Sam Moa |
| BE | 17 | Sio Siua Taukeiaho |
| BE | 18 | Alex Glenn |
| BE | 20 | Lewis Brown |
| Coach: ||
| Stephen Kearney ||

### Test 1

Alex Glenn and Lewis Brown were named as 18th and 19th man respectively for the Kiwis.
* 1 November 2015
| England | 26–12 | New Zealand |
| Try: Hodgson 21' c Ferres (2) 36' c, 59' c O'Loughlin 77' c Goal: Widdop (5/5) 21', 36', 46', 59', 77' | | Try: Harris 7' Moa 17' c Goal: Luke (2/3) 17', 27' |
| FB | 1 | Zak Hardaker |
| RW | 2 | Joe Burgess |
| RC | 3 | Kallum Watkins |
| LC | 4 | John Bateman |
| LW | 5 | Ryan Hall |
| SO | 6 | Gareth Widdop |
| SH | 7 | George Williams |
| PR | 8 | James Graham |
| HK | 9 | Josh Hodgson |
| PR | 10 | Chris Hill |
| SR | 11 | Elliott Whitehead |
| SR | 12 | Liam Farrell |
| LF | 13 | Sean O'Loughlin (Captain) |
| Substitutions: ||
| BE | 14 | James Roby |
| BE | 15 | Tom Burgess |
| BE | 16 | Michael Cooper |
| BE | 17 | Brett Ferres |
| Coach: ||
| Steve McNamara ||
| FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck |
| RW | 2 | Jason Nightingale |
| RC | 3 | Jordan Kahu |
| LC | 4 | Dean Whare |
| LW | 5 | Shaun Kenny-Dowall |
| FE | 6 | Peta Hiku |
| HB | 7 | Tuimoala Lolohea |
| PR | 8 | Jesse Bromwich |
| HK | 9 | Issac Luke (Captain) |
| PR | 10 | Sam Moa |
| SR | 11 | Kevin Proctor |
| SR | 12 | Tohu Harris |
| LK | 13 | Adam Blair (Captain) |
| Substitutions: ||
| BE | 14 | Kodi Nikorima |
| BE | 15 | Martin Taupau |
| BE | 16 | Ben Matulino |
| BE | 17 | Sio Siua Taukeiaho |
| Coach: ||
| Stephen Kearney ||

### Test 2

Stephen Kearney originally named Tuimoala Lolohea at halfback before selecting Kodi Nikorima to start the match.
* 7 November 2015
| England | 2–9 | New Zealand |
| Goal: Widdop (1/1) 8' | | Try: Kenny-Dowall 43' c Goal: Luke (1/2) 14' Kahu (1/1) 43' Drop Goal: Kahu (1/1) 77' |
| FB | 1 | Zak Hardaker |
| RW | 2 | Joe Burgess |
| RC | 3 | Kallum Watkins |
| LC | 4 | John Bateman |
| LW | 5 | Ryan Hall |
| SO | 6 | Gareth Widdop |
| SH | 7 | George Williams |
| PR | 8 | James Graham |
| HK | 9 | Josh Hodgson |
| PR | 10 | Chris Hill |
| SR | 11 | Elliott Whitehead |
| SR | 12 | Liam Farrell |
| LF | 13 | Sean O'Loughlin (Captain) |
| Substitutions: ||
| BE | 14 | James Roby |
| BE | 15 | Tom Burgess |
| BE | 16 | Michael Cooper |
| BE | 17 | Brett Ferres |
| Coach: ||
| Steve McNamara ||
| FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck |
| RW | 2 | Jason Nightingale |
| RC | 3 | Jordan Kahu |
| LC | 4 | Dean Whare |
| LW | 5 | Shaun Kenny-Dowall |
| FE | 6 | Peta Hiku |
| HB | 19 | Kodi Nikorima |
| PR | 8 | Jesse Bromwich |
| HK | 9 | Issac Luke (Captain) |
| PR | 10 | Sam Moa |
| SR | 11 | Kevin Proctor |
| SR | 12 | Tohu Harris |
| LK | 13 | Adam Blair (Captain) |
| Substitutions: ||
| BE | 14 | Lewis Brown |
| BE | 15 | Martin Taupau |
| BE | 16 | Ben Matulino |
| BE | 17 | Alex Glenn |
| Coach: ||
| Stephen Kearney ||

### Test 3

With the win, England retained the Baskerville Shield. Isaac Liu and Gerard Beale were 18th and 19th man respectively for New Zealand.
* 14 November 2015
| England | 20–14 | New Zealand |
| Try: Whitehead (2) 27' c, 63' c O'Loughlin 72' c Goal: Widdop (4/4) 5', 27', 63', 72' | | Try: Nightingale 36' c Tuivasa-Sheck 75' Kahu 79' Goal: Luke (1/3) 36' |
| FB | 1 | Zak Hardaker |
| RW | 2 | Jermaine McGillvary |
| RC | 3 | Kallum Watkins |
| LC | 4 | John Bateman |
| LW | 5 | Ryan Hall |
| SO | 6 | Gareth Widdop |
| SH | 7 | Matty Smith |
| PR | 8 | James Graham |
| HK | 9 | Josh Hodgson |
| PR | 10 | Chris Hill |
| SR | 11 | Elliott Whitehead |
| SR | 12 | Liam Farrell |
| LF | 13 | Sean O'Loughlin (Captain) |
| Substitutions: ||
| BE | 14 | James Roby |
| BE | 15 | Tom Burgess |
| BE | 16 | Michael Cooper |
| BE | 17 | Brett Ferres |
| Coach: ||
| Steve McNamara ||
| FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck |
| RW | 2 | Jason Nightingale |
| RC | 3 | Jordan Kahu |
| LC | 4 | Dean Whare |
| LW | 5 | Shaun Kenny-Dowall |
| FE | 6 | Peta Hiku |
| HB | 7 | Kodi Nikorima |
| PR | 8 | Jesse Bromwich |
| HK | 9 | Issac Luke (Captain) |
| PR | 10 | Sam Moa |
| SR | 11 | Kevin Proctor |
| SR | 12 | Tohu Harris |
| LK | 13 | Adam Blair (Captain) |
| Substitutions: ||
| BE | 14 | Lewis Brown |
| BE | 15 | Martin Taupau |
| BE | 16 | Ben Matulino |
| BE | 17 | Alex Glenn |
| Coach: ||
| Stephen Kearney ||

## Aftermath

England's captain, Sean O'Loughlin was awarded the George Smith Medal as player of the series. This was England's first major series win in 8 years with their last win coming in the previous Kiwis tour of Great Britain.