# 1982 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea

The 1982 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea was a four match tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The New Zealand national rugby league team lost a series 0-2 against Australia, but defeated Papua New Guinea in a one-off test match. Their only other game was a match against Queensland.

## Background

New Zealand last toured Australia in 1978 while this would be their second trip to Papua New Guinea having played a test against the Kumuls in Port Moresby in 1978.

## Squad

The New Zealand squad was chosen from those playing in the NZ, Australia and English competitions. The coach was Cecil Mountford with the captain being Hawera's giant back row forward Graeme West, although North Sydney's Mark Graham would captain the team in the tests against Australia.
The Kiwis were without the services of fiery Cronulla-Sutherland brothers Dane and Kurt Sorensen after the cash strapped Sharks refused to release them for test duty.
| Name | Games | Tests | Tries | Goals | FGs | Points | Club |
| Fred Ah Kuoi | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | North Sydney Bears |
| Mark Broadhurst | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Tony Coll | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Marist Saints (NZ) |
| Wayne Dwyer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Marist Saints (NZ) |
| David Field | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Olsen Filipaina | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Balmain Tigers |
| Kevin Fisher | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | Huntly South (NZ) |
| Clayton Friend | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Carlisle RLFC |
| Bruce Gall | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Taranaki Wildcats (NZ) |
| Mark Gillespie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mark Graham (vc) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | North Sydney Bears |
| John Griffin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | South Island (NZ) |
| Lewis Hudson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Linwood Keas (NZ) |
| Gary Kemble | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Hull F.C. |
| James Leuluai | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | Mount Wellington (NZ) |
| Hugh McGahan | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | Otahuhu Leopards (NZ) |
| Peter Mellars | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Wellington (NZ) |
| Dane O'Hara | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Hull F.C. |
| Gary Prohm | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| Gordon Smith | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 35 | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| Gerard Stokes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Eastern Suburbs (NZ) |
| Howie Tamati | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Waitara Bears (NZ) |
| Kevin Tamati | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Randwick (NZ) |
| Shane Varley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Workington Town |
| Graeme West (c) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Hawera Hawks (NZ) |
| John Whittaker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Randwick (NZ) |
| Owen Wright | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Otahuhu Leopards (NZ) |

## Australia

* Sunday, 27 June
| Queensland | 31 – 16 | New Zealand |
| Tries: Wayne Challis, Brad Backer, Tony Currie, Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga Goals: Mal Meninga (5) | | Tries: Gary Kemble, James Leuluai, Dane O'Hara, Gordon Smith Goals: Gordon Smith (2) |
* Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Eddie Ward
Queensland: Tony Currie, Brad Backer, Gene Miles, Mal Meninga, Wayne Challis, Wally Lewis (c), Mark Murray, Rod Morris, Greg Conescu, Paul Khan, Rohan Hancock, Bryan Neibling, Norm Carr. Res - Cavill Heugh, Greg Holben. Coach - Arthur Beetson
New Zealand: Gary Kemble, Gary Prohm, John Whittaker, James Leuluai, Dane O'Hara, Gordon Smith, Clayton Friend, Bruce Gall, Howie Tamati, Kevin Tamati, Graeme West (c), Tony Coll, Hugh McGahan. Res - Kevin Fisher, Peter Mellars
In the first game on the Australian leg of the tour, the Kiwis faced an almost test strength Queensland side, losing 31–16 at Lang Park.

### First Test

The Australian's escaped with an 11-8 win over New Zealand at Lang Park in Brisbane. The forced retirement due to a chronic knee injury of Canterbury-Bankstown's George Peponis saw Manly-Warringah's Max Krilich named as both Australian hooker and new team captain. Red headed Manly-Warringah and Queensland back rower Paul Vautin made his test debut at lock forward in place of an injured Ray Price. Queensland's Warwick Wattles forward Rohan Hancock made his debut in the second row while both of Australia's reserves, Parramatta Eels back rower John Muggleton and Brisbane Souths heavyweight centre Mal Meninga (who would not get on the field during the game) were also on their test debuts. For New Zealand, Taranaki back rower Bruce Gall was also making his test match debut as was Otahuhu Leopards forward and future New Zealand test captain Hugh McGahan who, like future Australian test captain Meninga, would not get on the field during the game.
* Saturday 3 July
| Australia | 11 – 8 | New Zealand |
| Tries: John Muggleton Goals: Michael Cronin (4) | | Tries: Goals: Gordon Smith (4) |
* Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 11,400 Referee: Fred Lindop Player of the Match: Wally Lewis
| Australia | New Zealand |
| FB | 1 | Greg Brentnall |
| LW | 2 | John Ribot |
| CE | 3 | Michael Cronin |
| CE | 4 | Steve Rogers |
| RW | 5 | Kerry Boustead |
| FE | 6 | Wally Lewis |
| HB | 7 | Steve Mortimer |
| LK | 8 | Paul Vautin |
| SR | 9 | Les Boyd |
| SR | 10 | Rohan Hancock |
| PR | 11 | Rod Morris |
| HK | 12 | Max Krilich (c) |
| PR | 13 | Craig Young |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | John Muggleton |
| IC | 15 | Mal Meninga |
| Coach: ||
| Frank Stanton ||
| FB | 1 | Gary Kemble |
| LW | 2 | Gary Prohm |
| CE | 3 | Olsen Filipaina |
| CE | 4 | James Leuluai |
| RW | 5 | Dane O'Hara |
| FE | 6 | Fred Ah Kuoi |
| HB | 7 | Gordon Smith |
| LK | 8 | Mark Graham (c) |
| SR | 9 | Bruce Gall |
| SR | 10 | Graeme West |
| PR | 11 | Kevin Tamati |
| HK | 12 | Howie Tamati |
| PR | 13 | Mark Broadhurst |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Hugh McGahan |
| IC | 15 | John Whittaker |
| Coach: ||
| Cecil Mountford ||
English referee Fred Lindop had what the press termed a "Love affair with his whistle" and blew 44 penalties during the game. New Zealand led for most of the game through the boot of Gordon Smith, though with the number of penalties gave Michael Cronin ample opportunity to tie the game at 8-all late in the second half. Only a late John Muggleton try gave the Aussies their win. Of Lindop's 44 penalties, New Zealand won the count 25-19. There were only 7 decisive scrums in the game with Lindop blowing a penalty to end most of them.
Australian debutant second rower Rohan Hancock 's first touch of the ball saw him knocked senseless in a crunching full body tackle by Kiwi hardman prop Kevin Tamati.

### Second Test

Australia wrapped up the Trans-Tasman series 2-0 with a 20-2 win over the Kiwis at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
* Saturday 17 July
| Australia | 20 – 2 | New Zealand |
| Tries: Greg Brentnall Ray Price Kerry Boustead Wally Lewis Goals: Michael Cronin (4) | | Tries: Goals: Gordon Smith (1) |
* Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 16,775 Referee: Fred Lindop Player of the Match: Ray Price
| Australia | New Zealand |
| FB | 1 | Greg Brentnall |
| LW | 2 | John Ribot |
| CE | 3 | Michael Cronin |
| CE | 4 | Mal Meninga |
| RW | 5 | Kerry Boustead |
| FE | 6 | Wally Lewis |
| HB | 7 | Steve Mortimer |
| LK | 8 | Ray Price |
| SR | 9 | Les Boyd |
| SR | 10 | John Muggleton |
| PR | 11 | Craig Young |
| HK | 12 | Max Krilich (c) |
| PR | 13 | Rohan Hancock |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Steve Rogers |
| IC | 15 | Rod Morris |
| Coach: ||
| Frank Stanton ||
| FB | 1 | Gary Kemble |
| LW | 2 | Gary Prohm |
| CE | 3 | Olsen Filipaina |
| CE | 4 | James Leuluai |
| RW | 5 | Dane O'Hara |
| FE | 6 | Fred Ah Kuoi |
| HB | 7 | Gordon Smith |
| LK | 8 | Mark Graham (c) |
| SR | 9 | Bruce Gall |
| SR | 10 | Graeme West |
| PR | 11 | Kevin Tamati |
| HK | 12 | Howie Tamati |
| PR | 13 | Mark Broadhurst |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | John Whittaker |
| IC | 15 | Hugh McGahan |
| Coach: ||
| Cecil Mountford ||
Although Ray Price was named as the Man of the Match, the game was a personal triumph for Australian halfback Steve Mortimer who controlled the play and led the Aussies to a 20-2 win.
Giant Queensland centre Mal Meninga, after not being used off the bench in the first test, made his official test debut in this game in place of Steve Rogers who moved to the bench. Meninga had an unhappy game though, dislocating his elbow in the 28th minute after a crunching blindside tackle from Kiwi winger Dane O'Hara, while at the same time attempting to break a tackle from Kiwi fullback Gary Kemble. The other major change for the Australians was Ray Price returning to the side at lock for Paul Vautin.

## Papua New Guinea

* Sunday 25 July
| Papua New Guinea | 5 – 56 | New Zealand |
| Tries: Alan Rero Goals: Poka Kila (1) | | Tries: Kevin Fisher (2) James Leuluai (2) Hugh McGahan (2) Clayton Friend Bruce Gall Gary Prohm Howie Tamati Kevin Tamati Graeme West Goals: Gordon Smith (9) Tony Coll (1) |
* Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 13,000 Referee: John Gocher
| Papua New Guinea | New Zealand |
| FB | 1 | Kungas Kuveu |
| RW | 2 | Alan Rero |
| CE | 3 | Y. Pilkokos |
| CE | 4 | Jimmy Peter |
| LW | 5 | Samu Sasama |
| FE | 6 | Jon Joseph |
| HB | 7 | Poka Kila |
| LK | 8 | John Wagambie (c) |
| SR | 9 | Jack Waninara |
| SR | 10 | Arebo Taumaku |
| PR | 11 | Philip Ralda |
| HK | 12 | J. Tenakanai |
| PR | 13 | Tara Gau |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Joe Tep |
| IC | 15 | Joe Katsir |
| Coach: ||
| Uve Sabumei ||
| FB | 1 | James Leuluai |
| LW | 2 | Kevin Fisher |
| CE | 3 | Gary Prohm |
| CE | 4 | John Whittaker |
| RW | 5 | Dane O'Hara |
| FE | 6 | Gordon Smith |
| HB | 7 | Clayton Friend |
| LK | 8 | Hugh McGahan |
| SR | 9 | Bruce Gall |
| SR | 10 | Graeme West (c) |
| PR | 11 | Kevin Tamati |
| HK | 12 | Howie Tamati |
| PR | 13 | Mark Broadhurst |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Owen Wright |
| IC | 15 | Tony Coll |
| Coach: ||
| Cecil Mountford ||