# 1991 Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea

The 1991 Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea was a two-week, end of season tour of Papua New Guinea by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played five matches on the tour, including two Test matches against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls. The tour began on 29 September and finished on 13 October.
As of 2025 this remains the only full Kangaroo Tour of Papua New Guinea.

## Leadership

As he had been since 1989, Bob Fulton was the coach of the Kangaroos. As he had been since 1990, Mal Meninga was the Kangaroos team captain.

## Touring squad

Eleven of the 23 man squad had played for Australia in their 2-1 Trans-Tasman Test series win over New Zealand earlier in the year. Among those selected to tour but who were ultimately ruled out with injury was Penrith's incumbent Test back rower and 1991 premiership winner Mark Geyer who also missed playing in the World Club Challenge (WCC) game against English champions Wigan due to an ankle injury that required surgery (the WCC was played 4 days before the first Test in Goroka). Also missing were Canberra Raiders halves Laurie Daley and Ricky Stuart as well as Brisbane Broncos Test half Allan Langer, with Manly-Warringah 5/8 Cliff Lyons earning a Test recall while his Sea Eagles halves partner Geoff Toovey was called up for his first taste of international football.
| Player | Club | Position(s) | Games | Tests | Tries | Goals | F/Goals | Points |
| Gary Belcher | Canberra Raiders | Fullback | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 | – | 32 |
| Martin Bella | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Prop | 5 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Willie Carne | Brisbane Broncos | Wing | 5 | 2 | 8 | – | – | 32 |
| Bradley Clyde | Canberra Raiders | Lock, Second-row | 4 | 2 | 3 | – | – | 12 |
| Gary Coyne | Canberra Raiders | Second-row, Prop | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Andrew Ettingshausen | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Centre | 4 | 2 | 3 | – | – | 12 |
| Brad Fittler | Penrith Panthers | Lock, Centre | 5 | 2 | 4 | – | – | 16 |
| Andrew Gee | Brisbane Broncos | Second-row | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Scott Gourley | St George Dragons | Second-row, Lock | 4 | 1 | 3 | – | – | 12 |
| Peter Jackson | North Sydney Bears | Five-eighth, Centre | 4 | 1 | 3 | – | – | 12 |
| Chris Johns | Brisbane Broncos | Wing, Centre | 5 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 8 |
| Glenn Lazarus | Canberra Raiders | Prop | 5 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 |
| Cliff Lyons | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Five-eighth | 5 | 2 | 3 | – | – | 12 |
| Mark McGaw | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Centre | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Bruce McGuire | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Second-row | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Mal Meninga (c) | Canberra Raiders | Centre | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | – | 20 |
| Steve Roach | Balmain Tigers | Prop | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ian Roberts | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Second-row | 4 | 1 | – | – | – | 4 |
| Craig Salvatori | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Second-row | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Geoff Toovey | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Halfback | 5 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 |
| Kerrod Walters | Brisbane Broncos | Hooker | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Kevin Walters | Brisbane Broncos | Hooker, Halfback | 5 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 4 |
| Rod Wishart | Illawarra Steelers | Wing | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | – | 24 |

## Tour

The Australian's played five games on the tour, winning all five.
* Sunday, 29 September
| Northern Zone | 6 – 40 | Australia |
| Tries: Goals: David Buko (3) | | Tries: Bradley Clyde (2), Gary Belcher, Scott Gourley, Cliff Lyons, Mal Meninga, Geoff Toovey, Kevin Walters Goals: Mal Meninga (4/8) |
* Attendance: 10,300 Referee: Tom Pelas
Northern Zone: David Buko, Tweedy Malagian, Charlie Vee, John Markham, Lance Tirava, Elison Ketauwo, David Gilpu, Mathias Kin, Michael Matmillo, Patrick Kiap, Nande Yer, John Piel (c), Goro Arigae. Res - Joe Tonar, Chris Sari, Jacob Danny, Dick Moiga.
Australia: Gary Belcher, Willie Carne, Mal Meninga (c), Andrew Ettingshausen, Rod Wishart, Peter Jackson, Geoff Toovey, Martin Bella, Kevin Walters, Glenn Lazarus, Craig Salvatori, Ian Roberts, Bradley Clyde. Res - Cliff Lyons, Brad Fittler, Chris Johns, Scott Gourley.
Australian forward Craig Salvatori suffered an ankle injury during the game and did not play again on tour.
* Wednesday, 2 October
| Island Zone | 25 – 42 | Australia |
| Tries: James Kapia, August Joseph, Jimmy Peter Goals: Normyle Eremas (3) Field Goals: Bernard Bate | | Tries: Brad Fittler (2), Peter Jackson (2), Willie Carne, Scott Gourley, Chris Johns Goals: Gary Belcher (5) |
* Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Graham Ainui
Island Zone: Normyle Eremas, Arnold Tivelit, Henry Hairoi, August Joseph, James Kapia, Willie Langer, Billy Kennedy, Pisai Maevo, Bernard Bate, David Gaius, Jimmy Peter, Ben Lakur, Apelis Walia. Res - Phillip Nagatia, Ken Oki, Cliff Rich, Albert Levy.
Australia: Gary Belcher (c), Willie Carne, Peter Jackson, Brad Fittler, Chris Johns, Cliff Lyons, Kevin Walters, Steve Roach, Kerrod Walters, Glenn Lazarus, Gary Coyne, Andrew Gee, Scott Gourley. Res - Geoff Toovey, Martin Bella, Ian Roberts, Andrew Ettingshausen.

### 1st Test

Reserve forward Scott Gourley who had made 5 rugby union test appearances for Australia in 1988 before switching to rugby league with St. George, became Australia's 41st dual-rugby international.
* Sunday, 6 October
| Papua New Guinea | 2 – 58 | Australia |
| Tries: Goals: Ipisa Wanega (1/1) | | Tries: Willie Carne (3) Rod Wishart (3) Andrew Ettingshausen (2) Brad Fittler (2) Cliff Lyons Ian Roberts Goals: Gary Belcher (5/10) Mal Meninga (0/2) |
* Danny Leahy Oval, Goroka Attendance: 13,000 Referee: Dennis Hale Player of the Match: Willie Carne
| Papua New Guinea | Australia |
| FB | 1 | Ipisa Wanega |
| RW | 2 | Liprin Palangat |
| CE | 3 | Chris Itam |
| CE | 4 | Richard Wagambi |
| LW | 5 | Korul Sinemau |
| FE | 6 | Stanley Haru (c) |
| HB | 7 | Sam Karara |
| PR | 8 | John Unagi |
| HK | 9 | Danny Moi |
| PR | 10 | Daroa Ben-Moide |
| SR | 11 | Max Tiri |
| SR | 12 | Thomas Daki |
| LK | 13 | Joe Gispe |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Joshua Kouoru |
| IC | 15 | Ngala Lapan |
| IC | 16 | James Naipao |
| IC | 17 | Kes Paglipari |
| Coach: ||
| Skerry Palanga ||
| FB | 1 | Gary Belcher |
| LW | 2 | Rod Wishart |
| CE | 3 | Mal Meninga (c) |
| CE | 4 | Andrew Ettingshausen |
| RW | 5 | Willie Carne |
| FE | 6 | Cliff Lyons |
| HB | 7 | Geoff Toovey |
| PR | 8 | Martin Bella |
| HK | 9 | Kerrod Walters |
| PR | 10 | Glenn Lazarus |
| SR | 11 | Bradley Clyde |
| SR | 12 | Ian Roberts |
| LF | 13 | Brad Fittler |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Chris Johns |
| IC | 15 | Kevin Walters |
| IC | 16 | Gary Coyne |
| IC | 17 | Scott Gourley |
| Coach: ||
| Bob Fulton ||
* Wednesday, 9 October
| Highlands Zone | 3 – 28 | Australia |
| Tries: Goals: Gigmai Ongugo (1) Field Goals: Gigmai Ongugo (1) | | Tries: Gary Belcher, Willie Carne, Scott Gourley, Chris Johns, Glenn Lazarus Goals: Rod Wishart (4) |
* Rebiamul Oval, Mount Hagen Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Moses Tolingling
Highlands Zone: John Okul, Francis Abba, David Gomia, Thomas Tumbo, Joe Rema, Dimbi Ongugo, Gigmai Ongugo, Leslie Hoffman, Maima Kawage, Yami Kamisive, Joe Paraka (c), Philip Humar, John Yawing. Res - Michael Angra, Mek Kepo, John Passigan, Michael Kiap.
Australia: Gary Belcher, Willie Carne, Chris Johns, Mark McGaw, Rod Wishart, Cliff Lyons, Geoff Toovey, Glenn Lazarus, Kevin Walters, Gary Coyne, Bruce McGuire, Scott Gourley, Bradley Clyde (c). Res - Kerrod Walters, Martin Bella, Brad Fittler, Peter Jackson.
Australia won a bruising encounter 28–3 over Highlands Zone in Mount Hagan.

### 2nd Test

This test match also doubled as a Group Stage game for the 1989-92 Rugby League World Cup. Gary Belcher, Martin Bella, Cliff Lyons and Gary Coyne all played their last tests for Australia.
* Sunday, 13 October
| Papua New Guinea | 6 – 40 | Australia |
| Tries: Stanley Haru Goals: Phillip Boge (1) | | Tries: Willie Carne (3) Gary Belcher Andrew Ettingshausen Mal Meninga Peter Jackson Rod Wishart Bradley Clyde Goals: Mal Meninga (2/7) Gary Belcher (0/2) |
* Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 14,500 Referee: Dennis Hale Player of the Match: Willie Carne
| Papua New Guinea | Australia |
| FB | 1 | Phillip Boge |
| RW | 2 | Liprin Palangat |
| CE | 3 | Korul Sinemau |
| CE | 4 | Richard Wagambi |
| LW | 5 | Gideon Kouoru |
| FE | 6 | Stanley Haru (c) |
| HB | 7 | Sam Karara |
| PR | 8 | John Unagi |
| HK | 9 | Danny Moi |
| PR | 10 | James Naipao |
| SR | 11 | Thomas Daki |
| SR | 12 | Kes Paglipari |
| LK | 13 | Joe Gispe |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Leslie Hoffman |
| IC | 15 | Ngala Lapan |
| IC | 16 | Kera Ngaffin |
| IC | 17 | Jack Uradok |
| Coach: ||
| Skerry Palanga ||
| FB | 1 | Gary Belcher |
| LW | 2 | Rod Wishart |
| CE | 3 | Mal Meninga (c) |
| CE | 4 | Andrew Ettingshausen |
| RW | 5 | Willie Carne |
| FE | 6 | Peter Jackson |
| HB | 7 | Geoff Toovey |
| PR | 8 | Martin Bella |
| HK | 9 | Kerrod Walters |
| PR | 10 | Glenn Lazarus |
| SR | 11 | Bradley Clyde |
| SR | 12 | Ian Roberts |
| LF | 13 | Brad Fittler |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Cliff Lyons |
| IC | 15 | Kevin Walters |
| IC | 16 | Chris Johns |
| IC | 17 | Gary Coyne |
| Coach: ||
| Bob Fulton ||

## Statistics

Leading Try Scorer
* 8 by Willie Carne
Leading Point Scorer
* 32 by Gary Belcher (3 tries, 10 goals) and Willie Carne (8 tries)
Largest Attendance
* 14,500 - Second test vs Papua New Guinea at Lloyd Robson Oval
Largest non-test Attendance
* 10,300 - Australia vs Northern Zone