1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

The 1986 Kangaroo tour was the sixteenth Kangaroo tour where the Australian side plays a number of tour matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to the Test matches. The next Kangaroo tour was staged in 1990.

Australia continued its dominance, winning both Test series against Great Britain and France, going through the entire tour undefeated in a repeat of the 1982 Invincibles' tour. The 1986 team became known as "The Unbeatables". In twenty matches they scored 136 tries and conceded only 16, posting 738 points for and 126 against.[1] Terry Lamb became the first player to appear in every match on a Kangaroo Tour.

The team was coached by 1956/57 Kangaroo tourist Don Furner, who also coached the Canberra Raiders in the NSWRL that year. The squad was captained by Queensland captain Wally Lewis, the first time a Queensland based player had captained a Kangaroo tour since Tom Gorman led the 1929/30 tour. Peter Sterling was named as the tours vice-captain, while the tour managers were Gordon Treichel and John Fleming.

Squad

Of the 28 players selected to go on the tour 23 were from clubs of the New South Wales Rugby League and 5 were from clubs of the Brisbane Rugby League. This was the last time players from the Queensland based competition were selected for a Kangaroo tour.

There were a couple of notable omissions from the touring team. Parramatta Eels test winger Eric Grothe had originally been selected in the side and even had pre-tour publicity photos taken with the rest of the team. However he was ruled out late with the recurrence of a knee injury and his place was taken by young Penrith halfback Greg Alexander. The other was regular Australian vice-captain Wayne Pearce who had ruptured his Anterior cruciate ligament during the third test against New Zealand in July. Despite an intense rehabilitation program, and being passed as fit by his surgeon, Dr Merv Cross, Pearce was ruled out of the tour by team medico Dr Bill Monoghan after a pre-tour team physical conducted at Redfern Oval in Sydney.

Surprisingly, the 1986 NSWRL Winfield Cup premiers Parramatta only supplied two players to the Kangaroos squad (vice-captain Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny). Conversely, the 1986 Brisbane premiers Wynnum-Manly supplied four players to the squad (captain Wally Lewis, Greg Dowling, Bob Lindner and Gene Miles).

NOTE: Statistics only show games in Great Britain and France and do not include the test against Papua New Guinea

Player Club Position(s) Games (sub) Tests (sub) Tries Goals Points
New South Wales Greg Alexander Penrith Panthers halfback 9 (1) - 10 5 50
Queensland Gary Belcher Canberra Raiders fullback 10 - 6 0 24
Queensland Martin Bella North Sydney Bears prop 8 (2) - 1 0 4
New South Wales Noel Cleal Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles second-row 7 2 3 0 12
New South Wales Phil Daley Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles prop 7 - 0 0 0
New South Wales Les Davidson South Sydney Rabbitohs prop, second-row 14 3 (2) 0 0 0
Queensland Greg Dowling Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (Qld) prop 11 5 1 0 4
New South Wales Paul Dunn Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs prop, second-row 11 4 0 0 0
New South Wales Ben Elias Balmain Tigers hooker 10 - 3 0 12
New South Wales Steve Folkes Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs second-row 6 1 1 0 4
New South Wales Des Hasler Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles halfback, lock 8 - 4 0 16
New South Wales Garry Jack Balmain Tigers fullback 12 5 12 0 48
New South Wales Brett Kenny Parramatta Eels five-eighth, centre 14 5 8 0 32
Queensland Les Kiss North Sydney Bears wing 4 1 1 0 4
New South Wales Terry Lamb Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs five-eighth 20 5 (5) 19 20 116
New South Wales Paul Langmack Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs lock 10 - 3 0 12
Queensland Wally Lewis (c) Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (Qld) five-eighth 11 5 6 0 24
Queensland Bob Lindner Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (Qld) lock, second-row 10 5 6 0 24
Queensland Mal Meninga Canberra Raiders centre, second-row 13 3 (2) 9 7 50
Queensland Gene Miles Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (Qld) centre 13 5 8 0 32
New South Wales Chris Mortimer Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs centre, wing 9 - 4 0 32
Queensland Bryan Niebling Redcliffe Dolphins (Qld) second-row, prop 10 5 2 0 8
New South Wales Michael O'Connor St George Dragons centre, wing 14 5 13 59 170
New South Wales Steve Roach Balmain Tigers prop 8 1 3 0 12
Queensland Dale Shearer Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles wing, centre, fullback 13 4 12 0 48
New South Wales Royce Simmons Penrith Panthers hooker 10 5 1 0 4
New South Wales Paul Sironen Balmain Tigers second-row 10 1 0 0 0
New South Wales Peter Sterling (vc) Parramatta Eels halfback 10 5 3 0 12

By Club

The touring side was represented by 18 New South Welshmen (N) and 10 Queenslanders (Q).

Papua New Guinea

Before flying to England, the Kangaroos played their second ever Test against Papua New Guinea at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby on 4 October. In front of 17,000 fans (still the record attendance for the venue as of 2015), the Kangaroos led by Wally Lewis defeated the Kumuls 62–12.

4 October 1986
Papua New Guinea  12 – 62  Australia
Tries:
Bal Numapo (2)








Goals:
Dairi Kovae (2/2)
Tries:
Noel Cleal (2)
Les Kiss (2)
Michael O'Connor (2)
Garry Jack
Des Hasler
Wally Lewis
Bob Lindner
Chris Mortimer
Steve Roach
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (7/12)
Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby
Attendance: 17,000
Referee/s: Neville Kesha Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea Position Australia
Dairi KovaeFBGarry Jack
Joe KatsirWGMichael O'Connor
Lauta AtoiCEGene Miles
Bal NumapoCEChris Mortimer
Mafu KerekereWGLes Kiss
Daruis HailiSOWally Lewis (c)
Tony Kila (c)SHDes Hasler
Joe TepPRSteve Roach
Roy HeniHKRoyce Simmons
Ati LomutopaPRBryan Niebling
Bobby AkoSRPaul Dunn
Bernard WaketsiSRNoel Cleal
Arebo TaumakuLFBob Lindner
Kepi SaeaInt.Mal Meninga
Noah AndyInt.Paul Sironen
Barry WilsonCoachDon Furner


Great Britain

The Kangaroos played 13 games in England, including the three Ashes tests against Great Britain. Australia kept alive its streak of not having lost to an English club or provincial team since 1978. The English leg of the tour drew a total of 212,068 fans to the 13 games (including the three tests).


Wigan: Steve Hampson, Dean Bell, David Stephenson, Joe Lydon, Henderson Gill, Shaun Edwards, Mike Ford, Graeme West (c), Martin Dermott, Brian Case, Ian Roberts, Ian Potter, Andy Goodway. Res – Nicholas Du Toit, Rob Louw. Coach – Graham Lowe

Australia: Garry Jack, Les Kiss, Gene Miles, Brett Kenny, Michael O'Connor, Wally Lewis (c), Peter Sterling, Steve Roach, Royce Simmons, Bryan Niebling, Paul Sironen, Noel Cleal, Bob Lindner. Res – Terry Lamb, Les Davidson

The Kangaroos led 16-2 at half time in front of over 30,000 fans in the tour opener at Wigan (more than 10,000 than would attend the dead rubber 3rd test at the same ground some 6 weeks later). A fightback in the second half by the home side saw them close the game to just 8 points at full time.

The attendance at this game (30,622) was the largest crowd the Kangaroos had played in front of in England since 30,604 attended the 3rd Ashes Test at Headingley on the 1978 Kangaroo tour.


Hull Kingston Rovers: George Fairbairn, Garry Clark, John Dorahy, Kerry Boustead, David Laws, Mike Smith, Wayne Parker, Mark Broadhurst, Chris Rudd, Asuquo Ema, Andy Kelly, Des Harrison, Paul Speckman. Res – Ray Stead, Dave Busby. Coach – Roger Millward

Australia: Gary Belcher, Chris Mortimer, Gene Miles, Mal Meninga, Dale Shearer, Terry Lamb, Des Hasler, Greg Dowling, Ben Elias (c), Martin Bella, Steve Folkes, Paul Dunn, Paul Langmack. Res – Greg Alexander, Les Davidson

All of Hull KR's points were scored by Australian's. Former Wests, Manly and Illawarra back John Dorahy kicked 3 goals for the Robins while 1978 and 1982 Kangaroo tourist and 25 test veteran Kerry Boustead scored the only try for the home team with all 10 points coming in the first half. For the Kangaroos, Terry Lamb crossed for 5 of the teams 9 tries.


Leeds: Paul Gill, David Creasser, Andrew Ettingshausen, Mark McGaw, Norman Francis, John Holmes, Andy Gascoigne, Jeff Grayshon, Bob Morris, Peter Smith, Phil Owen, Gary Price, David Heron (c). Res – Paul Medley, Trevor Skerrett. Coach – Peter Fox

Australia: Garry Jack, Les Kiss, Brett Kenny, Gene Miles, Michael O'Connor, Wally Lewis (c), Peter Sterling, Steve Roach, Royce Simmons, Bryan Niebling, Paul Sironen, Noel Cleal, Bob Lindner. Res – Terry Lamb, Greg Dowling

Leeds were unlucky not to be awarded a try midway through the second half after it appeared that replacement forward Trevor Skerrett had managed to get the ball down after good lead up work by Jeff Greyshon. However an un-sighted referee Whitfield ruled that Skerrett had been held up in-goal. Leeds only other scoring opportunity came in the first half but young winger David Creasser missed a relatively simple penalty kick from in front of the posts.[2]


Cumbria: Gary Smith, Michael James, Kevin Pape, Tony Kay, David Beck, Graeme Cameron, David Cairns, David Kendall, Colin Falcon, Jeff Simpson, Stephen Mossop, Les Holliday, Milton Huddart. Res – Norman Lofthouse, Bill Pattison

Australia: Gary Belcher, Dale Shearer, Chris Mortimer, Mal Meninga, Michael O'Connor, Terry Lamb, Greg Alexander, Phil Daley, Ben Elias (c), Martin Bella, Paul Dunn, Les Davidson, Paul Langmack. Res – Paul Sironen


The Ashes series

The crowd of 50,583 for the first Test at the Old Trafford ground in Manchester, set a record for an international match on British soil, beating the previous record of 42,685 for an England vs New Zealand test at the Odsal Stadium in Bradford in 1947.[3][4] The Ashes series against Great Britain saw an aggregate Ashes series crowd of 101,560 attending the three Tests, though this fell short of the record aggregate attendance of 114,883 set during the 1948–49 Kangaroo tour.[5][6]

First Test

25 October 1986
Great Britain  16 – 38  Australia
Tries:
Joe Lydon
Tony Marchant
Garry Schofield
Goals:
Lee Crooks (1/3)
Henderson Gill (1/1)
[7] Tries:
Gene Miles (3)
Michael O'Connor (3)
Garry Jack
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (5/9)
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 50,583
Referee/s: Julien Rascagneres France
Man of the Match: Wally Lewis
Great Britain Position Australia
Joe LydonFBGarry Jack
Tony MarchantWGMichael O'Connor
Garry SchofieldCEBrett Kenny
Ellery HanleyCEGene Miles
Henderson GillWGLes Kiss
Tony MylerSOWally Lewis (c)
Deryck FoxSHPeter Sterling
Kevin WardPRGreg Dowling
David Watkinson (c)HKRoyce Simmons
John FieldhousePRSteve Roach
Lee CrooksSRNoel Cleal
Ian PotterSRBryan Niebling
Andy GoodwayLFBob Lindner
Int.Mal Meninga
Int.Terry Lamb
Maurice BamfordCoachDon Furner

The Kangaroos began their Ashes defence in a blaze of glory. Wet and windy conditions were the order of the day at Old Trafford as Gene Miles (who completely out-played Ellery Hanley) and Michael O'Connor crossed for 3 tries each. O'Connor also contributed 5 goals in the tricky conditions for a personal haul of 22 points as the Australian's took a 1-0 series lead with a convincing 38-16 win. Although soundly beaten, the Lions gave their fans something to cheer in the second half by providing something of a fightback, culminating in Joe Lydon sprinting 60 metres and out-pacing Garry Jack to score in the corner.


Halifax: Graham Eadie, Scott Wilson, Colin Whitfield, Chris Anderson (c), Steve Smith, Neil Hague, Gary Stephens, Keith Neller, Chris Preece, Brian Juliff, Peter Bell, Paul Dixon, Grant Rix. Res – Eddie Riddlesden. Coach – Chris Anderson

Australia: Gary Belcher, Brett Kenny, Mal Meninga, Chris Mortimer, Noel Cleal, Terry Lamb, Greg Alexander, Paul Dunn, Ben Elias (c), Martin Bella, Paul Sironen, Les Davidson, Paul Langmack. Res – Michael O'Connor


St Helens: Phil Veivers, Barry Ledger, Paul Loughlin, Steve Halliwell, Kevin McCormack, Brett Clark, Neil Holding (c), Tony Burke, Graham Liptrot, Paul Forber, Roy Heggerty, Andy Platt, Chris Arkwright. Res – Shaun Allen, Paul Round. Coach – Alex Murphy

Australia: Garry Jack, Dale Shearer, Brett Kenny, Gene Miles, Mal Meninga, Wally Lewis (c), Peter Sterling, Greg Dowling, Royce Simmons, Steve Roach, Noel Cleal, Bryan Neibling, Bob Lindner. Res – Terry Lamb, Paul Dunn


Oldham: Jeff Edwards, Paul Sherman, Des Foy, Gary Warnecke, Hussein M'Barki, David Topliss (c), Ray Ashton, Bruce Clark, Terry Flanagan, Neil Clawson, David Hobbs, Mick Worrall, Stuart Raper. Res – Tony Nadiole, Colin Hawkyard. Coach – Frank Myler

Australia: Gary Belcher, Dale Shearer, Mal Meninga, Chris Mortimer, Michael O'Connor, Terry Lamb, Greg Alexander, Phil Daley, Ben Elias (c), Martin Bella, Steve Folkes, Les Davidson, Paul Langmack. Res – Paul Sironen


Second Test

Great Britain coach Maurice Bamford surprisingly made only one change to the team that had lost heavily in Manchester. Centre Ellery Hanley was ruled out through injury and replaced by St Helens winger Barry Ledger, with Tony Marchant moving from the wing to partner Garry Schofield in the centres. Bamford came in for heavy criticism from former Great Britain and England internationals for his selections. For the Kangaroos, Dale Shearer made his return to the Test team replacing the injured Les Kiss on the wing, while Canterbury-Bankstown forward Paul Dunn returned to the team in the front row replacing Steve Roach who had dislocated his elbow in the win over St Helens.

8 November 1986
Great Britain  4 – 34  Australia
Tries:
Garry Schofield




Goals:
Lee Crooks (0/1)
[8] Tries:
Garry Jack (2)
Brett Kenny
Wally Lewis
Bob Lindner
Michael O'Connor
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (5/8)
Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 30,808
Referee/s: Julien Rascagneres France
Man of the Match: Noel Cleal
Great Britain Position Australia
Joe LydonFBGarry Jack
Barry LedgerWGMichael O'Connor
Garry SchofieldCEBrett Kenny
Tony MarchantCEGene Miles
Henderson GillWGDale Shearer
Tony MylerSOWally Lewis (c)
Deryck FoxSHPeter Sterling
Kevin WardPRGreg Dowling
David Watkinson (c)HKRoyce Simmons
John FieldhousePRPaul Dunn
Lee CrooksSRNoel Cleal
Ian PotterSRBryan Niebling
Andy GoodwayLFBob Lindner
Shaun EdwardsInt.Terry Lamb
Andy PlattInt.Mal Meninga
Maurice BamfordCoachDon Furner

The Kangaroos ran riot in the second Test, wrapping up The Ashes with a six tries to one, 34-4 win in front of 30,808 at Elland Road. The Lions only try came late in the game. Australia led 34-0 when Kangaroos fullback Garry Jack, who had scored two tries, pushed a pass 10 metres from his line to Michael O'Connor. The Aussie winger dropped the ball (which was bullet like and at his knees) and it was pounced upon by Schofield who scored only 15 metres wide of the posts. Lee Crooks missed the relatively easy conversion of his teams only try, summing up the Lions day. Such was the Kangaroos dominance that this was the only kick at goal the Lions managed throughout the match.

In his television commentary of the game, former Australian dual-rugby international and 1959-60 Kangaroo tour vice-captain Rex Mossop summed up the game when calling Brett Kenny's try, stating that "Australia carved them up. They've decimated, dissected and absolutely diabolically destroyed this Great Britain side today"'.


Widnes: Mick Burke, Dave Moran, Darren Wright, Barry Dowd, John Basnett, Tony Myler, David Hulme, Steve O'Neill, Phil McKenzie, Mike O'Neill, Richie Eyres, Paul Hulme, Harry Pinner. Coach – Doug Laughton

Australia: Gary Belcher, Dale Shearer, Mal Meninga, Chris Mortimer, Les Kiss, Terry Lamb, Greg Alexander, Les Davidson, Ben Elias (c), Martin Bella, Paul Sironen, Steve Folkes, Paul Langmack. Res – Brett Kenny, Phil Daley


Hull: Gary Kemble, Paul Eastwood, Dane O'Hara, Stewart Vass, Carl McRoid, Fred Ah Kuoi, Phil Windley, Dave Brown, Steve Crooks, Andy Dannatt, Steve Norton, Lee Crooks, Tracy Lazenby. Res – Gary Pearce, Jon Sharp. Coach – Len Casey

Australia: Garry Jack, Dale Shearer, Gene Miles, Mal Meninga, Michael O'Connor, Terry Lamb, Peter Sterling (c), Greg Dowling, Royce Simmons, Phil Daley, Noel Cleal, Bryan Neibling, Paul Langmack. Res – Des Hasler, Les Davidson

Kangaroos second rower Noel Cleal broke his arm in the game against Hull which ended his tour.


Bradford Northern: Keith Mumby, Phil Ford, Steve Donlan, Phil Hellewell, Roger Simpson, John Woods, Terry Holmes, Ian Howcroft, Gary Brentley, Mario Fenech, Dick Jasiewicz, Karl Fairbank, Mal Graham. Res - Brian Noble, Ian Sherratt. Coach - Barry Seabourne

Australia: Gary Belcher, Dale Shearer, Brett Kenny, Chris Mortimer, Greg Alexander, Wally Lewis (c), Des Hasler, Paull Dunn, Ben Elias, Martin Bella, Les Davidson, Paul Sironen, Bob Lindner. Res - Mal Meninga, Terry Lamb

This match was played in heavy rain and fog.


Third Test

This match also counted as part of the 1985–88 Rugby League World Cup and was the only match of the series played at a regular rugby league ground, the first two Tests having been played in soccer stadiums to take advantage of the greater spectator capacity. It was also the last Ashes Test in England played at a club home ground until the 2001 Kangaroo tour.

The only Australian team change from the second Test win was Mal Meninga coming off the bench into the second row to replace the injured Noel Cleal (broken arm) with South Sydney forward Les Davidson named on the bench in his Test debut. With the loss of Cleal, Australian coach Don Furner was mulling over who to replace him with when team captain Wally Lewis suggested moving Meninga to the back row, reasoning that there would be little disruption to the team as both Mal and "Crusher" Cleal were roughly the same size and were fast, skilled players who played a similar style of game. After heavy criticism of his selections for the first two tests from a number of former Great Britain internationals, Maurice Bamford made five changes to the Lions with the recall of halfback Andy Gregory, centre David Stephenson, winger John Basnett and back rowers Chris Burton and Harry Pinner.

22 November 1986
Great Britain  15 – 24  Australia
Tries:
Garry Schofield (2)



Goals:
Joe Lydon (2/3)
Henderson Gill (1/1)
Field Goals:
Garry Schofield
[9] Tries:
Gene Miles
Bob Lindner
Wally Lewis
Dale Shearer
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (4/5)
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 20,169
Referee/s: Julien Rascagneres France
Man of the Match: Paul Dunn
Great Britain Position Australia
Joe LydonFBGarry Jack
Henderson GillWGMichael O'Connor
Garry SchofieldCEBrett Kenny
David StephensonCEGene Miles
John BasnettWGDale Shearer
Tony MylerSOWally Lewis (c)
Andy GregorySHPeter Sterling
Kevin WardPRGreg Dowling
David Watkinson (c)HKRoyce Simmons
Lee CrooksPRPaul Dunn
Chris BurtonSRMal Meninga
Andy GoodwaySRBryan Niebling
Harry PinnerLFBob Lindner
Ian PotterInt.Terry Lamb
Int.Les Davidson
Maurice BamfordCoachDon Furner

As with the 1982 Ashes series, the third Test was the most genuinely contested of the Tests played, with the Lions putting in a much improved performance. Centre Gene Miles opened the scoring in the early minutes of the game, with lock forward Bob Lindner also scoring soon after. Successful conversions by Michael O'Connor saw the Kangaroos lead 12-0 after just 15 minutes and another rout looked on the cards. However, the Lions dug deep and tries to Garry Schofield either side of half time saw the game tied at 12-all with the Lions looking like winners for the first time in the series. The game was in the balance until French referee Julien Rascagneres awarded a penalty try to Australian winger Dale Shearer after he was illegally tackled by his opposite John Basnett when both were chasing the ball which Shearer had kicked downfield. A penalty goal to Joe Lydon and a field goal by Schofield reduced the deficit to 18-15, but Wally Lewis then put the result beyond doubt with a try after bamboozling the Lions defence with two dummies near the sideline before racing around to score beside the posts.

France

Australia's win over France in the final match of the tour, which counted as part of the ongoing 1985-88 World Cup tournament, was a record margin for a Test match.[10][11]


French Tests

First Test

Sunday, 30 November
France  2 – 44  Australia
Tries:




Goals:
Gilles Dumas (1/2)
Tries:
Michael O'Connor (3)
Bob Lindner (2)
Gene Miles (2)
Garry Jack
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (4/9)
Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
Attendance: 5,000
Referee/s: Fred Lindrop England
France Position Australia
Gilles DumasFBGarry Jack
Didier CoustonWGDale Shearer
Guy DelaunayCEBrett Kenny
Alain MauryCEGene Miles
Hugues RatierWGMichael O'Connor
Dominique EspugnaSOWally Lewis (c)
Patrick EntatSHPeter Sterling
Max ChantalPRGreg Dowling
Thierry BernabeHKRoyce Simmons
Jean-Luc RabotPRPaul Dunn
Guy Laforgue (c)SRLes Davidson
Serge TiteuxSRBryan Niebling
Daniel VerdesLFBob Lindner
Serge BretInt.Terry Lamb
Francis LaforgueInt.Paul Sironen
CoachDon Furner







Second Test

Sunday, 13 December
France  0 – 52  Australia
Tries:





Goals:
Tries:
Dale Shearer (4)
Garry Jack (3)
Steve Folkes
Bryan Niebling
Michael O'Connor
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (6/12)
Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 5,000
Referee/s: Fred Lindrop England
France Position Australia
Patrick WosniakFBGarry Jack
Sebastian RodriguezWGDale Shearer
Philippe FourquetCEBrett Kenny
Francis LaforgueCEGene Miles
Hugues RatierWGMichael O'Connor
Roger PalissesSOWally Lewis (c)
Christian ScicchitanoSHPeter Sterling
Max ChantalPRGreg Dowling
Thierry BernabeHKRoyce Simmons
Serge TiteuxPRPaul Dunn
Guy Laforgue (c)SRSteve Folkes
Daniel VerdesSRBryan Niebling
Philippe GestasLFBob Lindner
Gilles DumasInt.Terry Lamb
Yves StorerInt.Les Davidson
CoachDon Furner


Statistics

Leading Try Scorer

Leading Point Scorer

Largest Attendance

Largest Club Game Attendance

References

External links

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