The 1982 Kangaroo tour was the fifteenth Kangaroo tour where the Australian national rugby league team played a number of matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to the Test matches. The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 barring wartime, toured Great Britain every four years often capping the tour with matches and Tests in France. This regular touring side (and in recent years all Australian representative sides) are known as the Kangaroos.
The 1982 Kangaroos, coached by Frank Stanton dominated, winning both Test series against Great Britain (three Tests) and France (two Tests); winning every match of the tour and earning the nickname The Invincibles. This was the first Kangaroo undefeated touring side winning twenty-two matches played and scoring 1,005 points with 120 against at an average of 45.6 points per game while conceding only 5.4 points per game. The twenty-eight player squad was captained by Max Krilich, with Wally Lewis his deputy. The next Kangaroo Tour was staged in 1986.
The team was coached by the tough and single-minded Balmain Tigers coach Frank Stanton who demanded great discipline and focus from his sides and who was making his third tour. Stanton's first tour came as a player in 1963–64, while this was his second consecutive as coach after also coaching the 1978 Kangaroo tour. Manly-Warringah's Max Krilich was making his second Kangaroo tour and was named captain and carried out his duties coolly and with great application.[1]Queensland captain Wally Lewis was named as tour vice-captain.
Interviewed by journalist/author Ian Whiticker in 2004 Krilich said about the talented squad; "The players in that squad were yet to reach their full potential. We were criticised as a weak side, but nobody knew how great a player Wayne Pearce was going to be on the tour. Wally Lewis was still in his early 20s, and many of the Queenslanders were in the early stages of their careers". He also spoke of Stanton (who was his Manly-Warringah club coach when he had won the 1976 and 1978NSWRFL premierships, the second of which Krilich was captain of the Sea Eagles): "Frank was a mentally tough coach who totally believed in what he told his players. Great credit must go to Stanton who played down the accomplishment and kept our heads straight."[2]
While the pair did not enjoy an easy relationship, mostly due to Stanton not being impressed with his attitude to training or habits on tour which actually caused him to put on weight, Wally Lewis also found respect for Stanton he had not previously experienced after making his test debut under him against France in 1981. After missing selection for the first Test in Hull in favour of Parramatta's 1982 premiership winning Five-eighthBrett Kenny, Stanton challenged Lewis to get back into shape and win his way back into the Test team, something he achieved with selection on the bench for the second Test in Wigan and the third Test in Leeds. Lewis later admitted that early on in the tour his poor attitude did not sit well with Stanton and that it had led to his missing first test selection. Although this was his first Kangaroo Tour, it was not the first tour of Great Britain and France for Lewis who had been a member of the 1977 Australian Schoolboysrugby union tour of Japan, Great Britain and France, a team that included future dual-rugby international Michael O'Connor as well as the Ella brothers Mark, Gary and Glen, cousins of 1982 tourist Steve Ella.
Six players from the 1982 NSWRL premiership winning Parramatta Eels were selected in the squad, a new Kangaroo tour record for the club with all six players playing in at least one test each on the tour. Manly, the team they defeated in the inaugural Winfield Cup Grand Final, also had six players selected. One Manly player considered unlucky not to tour was their Queensland back rower Paul Vautin who had made his test debut earlier in the year against New Zealand and was one of Manly's best in their run to the Grand Final. His non-selection came as a shock to many and rumours started that he had missed out due to the NSW vs Qld selection room politics which prevailed at the time and that he had been a trade-off for a NSW player to be selected (ironically Vautin would be back into the test team for the first test against New Zealand in 1983). 1982 Brisbane premiers Wynnum-Manly had two players selected (Gene Miles and Rod Morris), while the team they defeated in the BRL Grand Final Souths Magpies were represented by Mal Meninga.
Tour managers were the Newtown administrator Frank Farrington and Queenslands, Tom Drysdale. Open Rugby magazine claimed the Australians had brought "a new dimension of excitement and adventure" to the game and former England great Alex Murphy, who called each test for the BBC alongside Ray French, called then "men from another planet."[1]
This was the first Kangaroo tour since the introduction of State of Origin and it allowed Queensland to counter New South Wales' long dominance in representative selection with a record-equalling eleven Queenslanders selected for the tour.[4] This was a considerable increase on the Queensland representation in the 1978 Kangaroos when only three players were selected. Two of those players, Kerry Boustead and Rod Morris, were also members of the 1982 Kangaroos.
Despite there being a record number, the selection of only 11 Queenslander's in the 28 man touring squad was controversial. Queensland had won the 1982 State of Origin series despite being comparatively under prepared due to the NSWRFL clubs refusing to release their Queensland players for pre-series training. Among the Queensland Origin representatives to miss selection were Manly-Warringah's Paul Vautin and Chris Close (who had been the Man of the Match in both Origin games in 1980 and 1981), Wynnum-Manly fullback Colin Scott and South Sydney outside back Mitch Brennan.
Future Kangaroos captain Mal Meninga, making the first of his record four consecutive Kangaroo Tours, was the leading point scorer on tour with 166 from 10 tries and 68 goals, including 48 points in the three Tests against Great Britain (2 tries, 21 goals), and 17 points in the two Tests against France (1 try, 7 goals). John Ribot was the leading try scorer on tour with 25 from just 14 games, including a try in the 3rd test against Great Britain. Ribot added 20 goals to his points tally to join Meninga as the only players on tour to score over 100 points.
Before flying to England, half the squad, led by Kangaroos vice-captain Wally Lewis, went to Perth to play Western Australia, while the other half, along with coach Stanton, travelled to Papua New Guinea for Australia's first ever Test match against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls, won 38–2 by the Kangaroos. Nine of the players who travelled to PNG with Stanton would go on to play in the first Test against Great Britain. Winger John Ribot crossed for four tries (though he would be overlooked for the first two Ashes Tests in favour of Eric Grothe), while fullback Greg Brentnall scored twice. Other try scorers for the Kangaroos were Kerry Boustead, Brett Kenny, Mal Meninga and Steve Rogers, while Meninga kicked 4 goals. Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny, Mark Murray and Ray Brown made their test debuts in the match.
In Perth, the Kangaroos crossed for 13 tries (with Eric Grothe bagging four) and predictably defeated WA 57–5.
Great Britainedit
Once on English soil controversy surfaced when the incumbent Australian Test halves from the mid-year tests against New Zealand, Steve Mortimer and Wally Lewis (both had played the game against WA in Perth), were incomprehensibly not chosen for the opening match. Instead, Stanton chose to go with the halves from the test against Papua New Guinea, Parramatta'sGrand Final winning duo Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny. The Eels pair took the field against Hull Kingston Rovers and, playing alongside nine of the eventual first Test team, set about locking up their positions for the first Test on 30 October.
Leading up to the first Test at the Boothferry Park ground in Hull, the Kangaroos also played a tour international match against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff on 24 October. The match was played in heavy rain in front of 5,617 fans and Australia, captained by Wally Lewis, ran in nine tries to one in a 37–7 rout. The game marked the first time Lewis, who would take over the Test captaincy in 1984, captained Australia in an international match.
Fiery forward Les Boyd enhanced his reputation for the rough play when he was sent off twice on tour. He was sent off in the first game of the tour against Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven Park, and in the second Test against the Lions at Central Park in Wigan. He was also sin-binned in the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds.
Test Venuesedit
The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.
Hull KR led the Kangaroos 8–5 at half time but that was as good as it got for Roger Millward's men as the Kangaroos piled on 25 points to just 2 in the second half to run out easy 30–10 winners. Man of the Match Mal Meninga lit up Craven Park on his first taste of football on English soil, scoring a try and kicking 6 goals in the win.
The Kangaroos played an international against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff. This was the first time Wally Lewis (playing in the unfamiliar position of centre) would captain Australia against an international team.
Playing fullback, Steve Ella pressed for test selection by scoring 4 tries in the game. Only two players from the team, second row forward Rod Reddy and reserve winger Kerry Boustead, were considered certainties for selection in the upcoming 1st Ashes test.
The Ashes seriesedit
Due to sponsorship reasons, the 1982 Ashes was known as the "Dominion Insurance Test series".
First Testedit
While Australia's side for the opening Test was built around the new breed of young players such as Eric Grothe, Wayne Pearce, Mal Meninga, Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling mixing with veterans Craig Young, Les Boyd, Ray Price, Rod Reddy, Kerry Boustead, Steve Rogers and captain Max Krilich, Great Britain chose five players aged over 30. The only player over the age of 30 for the Kangaroos first test team was Krilich who had turned 33 only five days prior to the test. Great Britain were captained by veteran Leeds hooker David Ward. Making his debut for the Lions was Hull F.C. teenager Lee Crooks who was also handed the goal kicking duties in preference to George Fairbairn. Wayne Pearce was awarded the Man of the Match award after throwing the last pass for four tries and scoring a try himself.
Great Britain did well in the first half to trail by only 10–4 at half time, but the two penalty goals by debutante second rower Lee Crooks was as good as it got for the home side. In the second half the Kangaroos unleashed their skills and fitness, and blazed six tries to leave the British game, and most of the 26,771 strong crowd packed into Hull'sBoothferry Park stunned. The game was Australia's 5th straight win over Great Britain, dating back to the final Test of the 1978 Kangaroo Tour and including the 3–0 whitewash of the Lions on their lacklustre 1979 Australasian tour.
In his test debut for Australia, back row forward Wayne Pearce was judged as the Man of the Match thanks to his defensive work and having a hand in a number of tries as well as backing up a break by Max Krilich and Craig Young to race away and score a 45-metre try with only French referee Julien Rascagneres anywhere near him. Centre Mal Meninga, playing his 4th test and the first of what would eventually be a record 17 Ashes tests against Great Britain, scored the opening try of the game after good lead up work by Peter Sterling and Pearce, then easily palming off Les Dyl and outpacing fullback George Fairbairn to score in the corner. Meninga also kicked 8 of 10 goals for a personal haul of 19 points. His 8 goals also broke the record number of goals for an Australian in a test in England, the old record of 7 had been set by Graeme Langlands in the second test of the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour (the famous "Swinton Massacre" test). It also equaled the most goals for an Australian in an Ashes test, the record was previously the sole property of Noel Pidding who kicked 8 in the first test of the 1954 series at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
In commentary for the BBC, former Great Britain and England dual-rugby international forward Ray French stated after the final siren "Well, I've got to eat a little humble pie. I thought Great Britain could do something, but with only those two penalty goals from Lee Crooks its back to the drawing board for the Great Britain selectors I'm afraid", while his commentary partner, Wigan coach, former Lions halfback and Kangaroos tormentor Alex Murphy said during the first half "We need something to combat this lot."
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The 1982 Kangaroo tour was the fifteenth Kangaroo tour where the Australian national rugby league team played a number of matches against British and French rugby league teams in addition to the Test matches The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 barring wartime toured Great Britain every four years often capping the tour with matches and Tests in France This regular touring side and in recent years all Australian representative sides are known as the Kangaroos The 1982 Kangaroos coached by Frank Stanton dominated winning both Test series against Great Britain three Tests and France two Tests winning every match of the tour and earning the nickname The Invincibles This was the first Kangaroo undefeated touring side winning twenty two matches played and scoring 1 005 points with 120 against at an average of 45 6 points per game while conceding only 5 4 points per game The twenty eight player squad was captained by Max Krilich with Wally Lewis his deputy The next Kangaroo Tour was staged in 1986 Contents 1 Touring party 1 1 By club 2 Papua New Guinea and Western Australia 3 Great Britain 3 1 Test Venues 3 2 Wales 3 3 The Ashes series 3 3 1 First Test 3 3 2 Second Test 3 3 3 Third Test 4 France 4 1 First Test 4 2 Second Test 5 Statistics 6 Aftermath 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksTouring party editThe team was coached by the tough and single minded Balmain Tigers coach Frank Stanton who demanded great discipline and focus from his sides and who was making his third tour Stanton s first tour came as a player in 1963 64 while this was his second consecutive as coach after also coaching the 1978 Kangaroo tour Manly Warringah s Max Krilich was making his second Kangaroo tour and was named captain and carried out his duties coolly and with great application 1 Queensland captain Wally Lewis was named as tour vice captain Interviewed by journalist author Ian Whiticker in 2004 Krilich said about the talented squad The players in that squad were yet to reach their full potential We were criticised as a weak side but nobody knew how great a player Wayne Pearce was going to be on the tour Wally Lewis was still in his early 20s and many of the Queenslanders were in the early stages of their careers He also spoke of Stanton who was his Manly Warringah club coach when he had won the 1976 and 1978 NSWRFL premierships the second of which Krilich was captain of the Sea Eagles Frank was a mentally tough coach who totally believed in what he told his players Great credit must go to Stanton who played down the accomplishment and kept our heads straight 2 While the pair did not enjoy an easy relationship mostly due to Stanton not being impressed with his attitude to training or habits on tour which actually caused him to put on weight Wally Lewis also found respect for Stanton he had not previously experienced after making his test debut under him against France in 1981 After missing selection for the first Test in Hull in favour of Parramatta s 1982 premiership winning Five eighth Brett Kenny Stanton challenged Lewis to get back into shape and win his way back into the Test team something he achieved with selection on the bench for the second Test in Wigan and the third Test in Leeds Lewis later admitted that early on in the tour his poor attitude did not sit well with Stanton and that it had led to his missing first test selection Although this was his first Kangaroo Tour it was not the first tour of Great Britain and France for Lewis who had been a member of the 1977 Australian Schoolboys rugby union tour of Japan Great Britain and France a team that included future dual rugby international Michael O Connor as well as the Ella brothers Mark Gary and Glen cousins of 1982 tourist Steve Ella Six players from the 1982 NSWRL premiership winning Parramatta Eels were selected in the squad a new Kangaroo tour record for the club with all six players playing in at least one test each on the tour Manly the team they defeated in the inaugural Winfield Cup Grand Final also had six players selected One Manly player considered unlucky not to tour was their Queensland back rower Paul Vautin who had made his test debut earlier in the year against New Zealand and was one of Manly s best in their run to the Grand Final His non selection came as a shock to many and rumours started that he had missed out due to the NSW vs Qld selection room politics which prevailed at the time and that he had been a trade off for a NSW player to be selected ironically Vautin would be back into the test team for the first test against New Zealand in 1983 1982 Brisbane premiers Wynnum Manly had two players selected Gene Miles and Rod Morris while the team they defeated in the BRL Grand Final Souths Magpies were represented by Mal Meninga One notable absentee was Western Suburbs Five eighth Terry Lamb who had represented NSW in the 1981 State of Origin game Lamb was originally selected to tour but declined to do so due to his upcoming wedding to his fiance Kim 3 Tour managers were the Newtown administrator Frank Farrington and Queenslands Tom Drysdale Open Rugby magazine claimed the Australians had brought a new dimension of excitement and adventure to the game and former England great Alex Murphy who called each test for the BBC alongside Ray French called then men from another planet 1 This was the first Kangaroo tour since the introduction of State of Origin and it allowed Queensland to counter New South Wales long dominance in representative selection with a record equalling eleven Queenslanders selected for the tour 4 This was a considerable increase on the Queensland representation in the 1978 Kangaroos when only three players were selected Two of those players Kerry Boustead and Rod Morris were also members of the 1982 Kangaroos Despite there being a record number the selection of only 11 Queenslander s in the 28 man touring squad was controversial Queensland had won the 1982 State of Origin series despite being comparatively under prepared due to the NSWRFL clubs refusing to release their Queensland players for pre series training Among the Queensland Origin representatives to miss selection were Manly Warringah s Paul Vautin and Chris Close who had been the Man of the Match in both Origin games in 1980 and 1981 Wynnum Manly fullback Colin Scott and South Sydney outside back Mitch Brennan Future Kangaroos captain Mal Meninga making the first of his record four consecutive Kangaroo Tours was the leading point scorer on tour with 166 from 10 tries and 68 goals including 48 points in the three Tests against Great Britain 2 tries 21 goals and 17 points in the two Tests against France 1 try 7 goals John Ribot was the leading try scorer on tour with 25 from just 14 games including a try in the 3rd test against Great Britain Ribot added 20 goals to his points tally to join Meninga as the only players on tour to score over 100 points Player Club Position s Tests Matches Tries Goals F Goals Points nbsp Chris Anderson nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Wing 0 12 8 0 0 24 nbsp Kerry Boustead nbsp Eastern Suburbs Roosters Wing 6 13 9 0 0 27 nbsp Les Boyd nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Second row Prop 3 14 3 0 0 9 nbsp Greg Brentnall nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Fullback 6 13 3 0 0 9 nbsp Ray Brown nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Hooker Second row 0 14 0 0 0 0 nbsp Greg Conescu nbsp Norths Devils Qld Hooker 0 14 2 1 0 8 nbsp Steve Ella nbsp Parramatta Eels Fullback Centre Five eighth 0 13 21 1 0 65 nbsp Eric Grothe nbsp Parramatta Eels Wing 4 14 21 1 0 65 nbsp Rohan Hancock nbsp Wattles Darling Downs Qld Prop 1 10 0 0 0 0 nbsp Brett Kenny nbsp Parramatta Eels Five eighth Centre 6 12 6 0 0 18 nbsp Max Krilich c nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Hooker 6 12 1 0 0 3 nbsp Wally Lewis vc nbsp Fortitude Valley Diehards Qld Five eighth 3 14 3 9 0 27 nbsp Paul McCabe nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Second row 3 13 7 0 0 21 nbsp Don McKinnon nbsp North Sydney Bears Prop 0 10 3 1 0 11 nbsp Mal Meninga nbsp Souths Logan Magpies Qld Centre 6 14 10 68 0 166 nbsp Gene Miles nbsp Wynnum Manly Seagulls Qld Centre 0 11 1 0 0 3 nbsp Rod Morris nbsp Wynnum Manly Seagulls Qld Prop 0 12 0 0 0 0 nbsp Steve Mortimer nbsp Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Halfback 0 9 6 1 0 20 nbsp John Muggleton nbsp Parramatta Eels Second row 1 14 9 0 0 27 nbsp Mark Murray nbsp Fortitude Valley Diehards Qld Halfback 0 10 4 1 0 14 nbsp Wayne Pearce nbsp Balmain Tigers Lock Second row 5 13 5 0 0 15 nbsp Ray Price nbsp Parramatta Eels Lock 3 9 2 0 0 6 nbsp John Ribot nbsp Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Wing Lock 2 14 25 20 0 115 nbsp Rod Reddy nbsp St George Dragons Second row 4 12 2 0 0 6 nbsp Steve Rogers nbsp Cronulla Sutherland Sharks Centre 5 16 10 7 0 44 nbsp Ian Schubert nbsp Eastern Suburbs Roosters Lock Fullback Wing 0 12 3 0 0 9 nbsp Peter Sterling nbsp Parramatta Eels Halfback 5 12 8 0 0 24 nbsp Craig Young nbsp St George Dragons Prop 4 11 1 0 0 3By club edit The touring side was represented by 17 New South Welshmen N and 11 Queenslanders Q Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 5 Max Krilich captain N John Ribot Q Les Boyd N Paul McCabe Q Ray Brown N Parramatta Eels 6 Brett Kenny N Peter Sterling N Steve Ella N Eric Grothe N Ray Price N John Muggleton N Canterbury Bulldogs 3 Greg Brentnall N Chris Anderson N Steve Mortimer N Fortitude Valley Diehards 2 Wally Lewis vice captain Q Mark Murray Q St George Dragons 2 Rod Reddy Q Craig Young N Wynnum Manly Seagulls 2 Gene Miles Q Rod Morris Q Balmain Tigers 1 Wayne Pearce N Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 1 Steve Rogers N Eastern Suburbs Roosters 2 Ian Schubert N Kerry Boustead Q Norths Devils 1 Greg Conescu Q North Sydney Bears 1 Don McKinnon N Souths Magpies 1 Mal Meninga Q Warwick Wattles 1 Rohan Hancock Q Papua New Guinea and Western Australia editBefore flying to England half the squad led by Kangaroos vice captain Wally Lewis went to Perth to play Western Australia while the other half along with coach Stanton travelled to Papua New Guinea for Australia s first ever Test match against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls won 38 2 by the Kangaroos Nine of the players who travelled to PNG with Stanton would go on to play in the first Test against Great Britain Winger John Ribot crossed for four tries though he would be overlooked for the first two Ashes Tests in favour of Eric Grothe while fullback Greg Brentnall scored twice Other try scorers for the Kangaroos were Kerry Boustead Brett Kenny Mal Meninga and Steve Rogers while Meninga kicked 4 goals Peter Sterling Brett Kenny Mark Murray and Ray Brown made their test debuts in the match Those missing from the 2nd test win over New Zealand earlier in the year at the Sydney Cricket Ground were Michael Cronin who did not tour and Wally Lewis Steve Mortimer Les Boyd and Rod Morris who played in Perth on the same day Of the quartet that played in Perth only Boyd would go on to play in the first test against Great Britain Saturday 2 October 1982Papua New Guinea nbsp 2 38 nbsp AustraliaTries Goals Kungas Kuveu 1 2 5 Tries John Ribot 4 Greg Brentnall 2 Kerry Boustead Brett Kenny Mal Meninga Steve Rogers Goals Mal Meninga 4 10 Lloyd Robson Oval Port MoresbyAttendance 15 000Referee Don Wilson nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Papua New Guinea nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 Kungas KuveuRW 2 Alan ReroCE 3 Ifiso SegeyaroCE 4 James YipLW 5 D TimiFE 6 Jon Joseph c HB 7 Alfred KabavasPR 8 Tara GauHK 9 Otti AsotauPR 10 Joe TepSR 11 Arebo TaumakuSR 12 L TeteLK 13 Roy LoitiveSubstitutions IC 14 Francis MatmilloIC 15 Ekon TogiliCoach nbsp Skerry Palanga FB 1 nbsp Greg BrentnallLW 2 nbsp John RibotCE 3 nbsp Mal MeningaCE 4 nbsp Steve RogersRW 5 nbsp Kerry BousteadFE 6 nbsp Brett KennyHB 7 nbsp Peter SterlingPR 8 nbsp Craig YoungHK 9 nbsp Max Krilich c PR 10 nbsp Rohan HancockSR 11 nbsp John MuggletonSR 12 nbsp Rod ReddyLK 13 nbsp Ray PriceSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Mark MurrayIC 15 nbsp Ray BrownCoach nbsp Frank Stanton Saturday 2 OctoberWestern Australia nbsp 5 57 nbsp AustraliaTries Mick Rasmussen Goals P Harrison 1 6 Tries Eric Grothe 4 Ian Schubert 2 Chris Anderson Greg Conescu Steve Ella Gene Miles Rod Morris Paul McCabe Wayne Pearce Goals Wally Lewis 4 Steve Ella 3 Les Boyd 2 Cannington Raceway PerthAttendance 3 000 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Western Australia nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1RW 2CE 3CE 4LW 5FE 6HB 7PR 8HK 9PR 10SR 11SR 12LK 13Substitutions IC 14IC 15Coach FB 1 nbsp Ian SchubertLW 2 nbsp Eric GrotheCE 3 nbsp Steve EllaCE 4 nbsp Gene MilesRW 5 nbsp Chris AndersonFE 6 nbsp Wally Lewis c HB 7 nbsp Steve MortimerPR 8 nbsp Rod MorrisHK 9 nbsp Greg ConescuPR 10 nbsp Don McKinnonSR 11 nbsp Les BoydSR 12 nbsp Paul McCabeLK 13 nbsp Wayne PearceSubstitutions IC 14IC 15Coach In Perth the Kangaroos crossed for 13 tries with Eric Grothe bagging four and predictably defeated WA 57 5 Great Britain editOnce on English soil controversy surfaced when the incumbent Australian Test halves from the mid year tests against New Zealand Steve Mortimer and Wally Lewis both had played the game against WA in Perth were incomprehensibly not chosen for the opening match Instead Stanton chose to go with the halves from the test against Papua New Guinea Parramatta s Grand Final winning duo Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny The Eels pair took the field against Hull Kingston Rovers and playing alongside nine of the eventual first Test team set about locking up their positions for the first Test on 30 October Leading up to the first Test at the Boothferry Park ground in Hull the Kangaroos also played a tour international match against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff on 24 October The match was played in heavy rain in front of 5 617 fans and Australia captained by Wally Lewis ran in nine tries to one in a 37 7 rout The game marked the first time Lewis who would take over the Test captaincy in 1984 captained Australia in an international match Fiery forward Les Boyd enhanced his reputation for the rough play when he was sent off twice on tour He was sent off in the first game of the tour against Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven Park and in the second Test against the Lions at Central Park in Wigan He was also sin binned in the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds Test Venues edit The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues Hull Wigan LeedsBoothferry Park Central Park HeadingleyCapacity 26 800 Capacity 30 000 Capacity 30 000 nbsp nbsp nbsp Sunday 10 OctoberHull Kingston Rovers nbsp 10 30 nbsp AustraliaTries Steve Hartley Gary Prohm Goals George Fairbairn 2 7 Tries Peter Sterling 2 Wally Lewis Mal Meninga Steve Rogers Craig Young Goals Mal Meninga 6 Craven Park HullAttendance 10 742Referee Fred LindopPlayer of the Match Mal Meninga nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Hull Kingston Rovers nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 George Fairbairn c RW 2 Steve HubbardCE 3 Mike SmithCE 4 Ian RobinsonLW 5 Garry ClarkSO 6 Steve HartleySH 7 James WalshPR 8 Roy HoldstockHK 9 David WatkinsonPR 10 Steve CrooksSR 11 Andy KellySR 12 Chris BurtonLF 13 Gary ProhmSubstitutions IC 14 Phil LoweIC 15Coach nbsp Roger Millward FB 1 nbsp Greg BrentnallRW 2 nbsp Eric GrotheCE 3 nbsp Mal MeningaCE 4 nbsp Steve RogersLW 5 nbsp John RibotFE 6 nbsp Brett KennyHB 7 nbsp Peter SterlingPR 8 nbsp Craig YoungHK 9 nbsp Max Krilich c PR 10 nbsp Rod MorrisSR 11 nbsp Les BoydSR 12 nbsp Rod ReddyLF 13 nbsp Ray PriceSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Wally LewisIC 15 nbsp John MuggletonCoach nbsp Frank StantonHull KR led the Kangaroos 8 5 at half time but that was as good as it got for Roger Millward s men as the Kangaroos piled on 25 points to just 2 in the second half to run out easy 30 10 winners Man of the Match Mal Meninga lit up Craven Park on his first taste of football on English soil scoring a try and kicking 6 goals in the win Wednesday 13 OctoberWigan nbsp 9 13 nbsp AustraliaTries Henderson Gill Goals Colin Whitfield 3 8 Tries Kerry Boustead John Muggleton Paul McCabe Goals Steve Ella 2 Central Park WiganAttendance 12 158Referee Gerry Kershaw nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Wigan nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 Barry WilliamsRW 2 Dennis RamsdaleCE 3 David StephensonCE 4 Colin WhitfieldLW 5 Henderson GillSO 6 Martin FoySH 7 Gary Stephens c PR 8 Lee BamberHK 9 Nicky KissPR 10 Glyn ShawSR 11 Brian JuliffSR 12 Mick ScottLF 13 John PendleburySubstitutions IC 14 Jimmy FairhurstIC 15 Danny CampbellCoach nbsp Alex Murphy FB 1 nbsp Ian SchubertRW 2 nbsp Chris AndersonCE 3 nbsp Steve EllaCE 4 nbsp Gene MilesLW 5 nbsp Kerry BousteadFE 6 nbsp Wally Lewis c HB 7 nbsp Steve MortimerPR 8 nbsp Don McKinnonHK 9 nbsp Ray BrownPR 10 nbsp Rohan HancockSR 11 nbsp Paul McCabeSR 12 nbsp John MuggletonLF 13 nbsp Wayne PearceSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Steve RogersIC 15 nbsp Ray PriceCoach nbsp Frank StantonFriday 15 OctoberBarrow nbsp 2 29 nbsp AustraliaTries Goals Steve Tickle 1 9 Tries Ian Schubert 2 Greg Conescu Steve Ella Mark Murray Wayne Pearce Steve Rogers Goals Wally Lewis 3 Steve Rogers 1 Craven Park BarrowAttendance 6 282Referee Derek Fox nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Barrow nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 Steve TickleRW 2 Keith BentleyCE 3 Ron O ReganCE 4 Ralph McConnellLW 5 Michael JamesSO 6 Mel Mason c SH 7 David CairnsPR 8 Malcolm FlynnHK 9 Les WallPR 10 Peter GeeSR 11 Eddie SzymalaSR 12 Mark GillespieLF 13 Derek HadleySubstitutions IC 14 Steve HerbertIC 15Coach nbsp Frank Foster FB 1 nbsp Ian SchubertRW 2 nbsp Chris AndersonCE 3 nbsp Steve EllaCE 4 nbsp Gene MilesLW 5 nbsp John RibotFE 6 nbsp Wally Lewis c HB 7 nbsp Mark MurrayPR 8 nbsp Rohan HancockHK 9 nbsp Greg ConescuPR 10 nbsp Rod MorrisSR 11 nbsp Les BoydSR 12 nbsp Rod ReddyLF 13 nbsp Wayne PearceSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Ray BrownIC 15 nbsp Steve RogersCoach nbsp Frank StantonSunday 17 OctoberSt Helens nbsp 0 32 nbsp AustraliaTries Goals 10 Tries Kerry Boustead 2 Les Boyd 2 Eric Grothe 2 Steve Rogers Peter Sterling Goals Mal Meninga 4 8 Knowsley Road St HelensAttendance 8 190Referee Robin WhitfieldPlayer of the Match Les Boyd nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp St Helens nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 Clive GriffithsRW 2 Barry LedgerCE 3 Chris ArkwrightCE 4 David FaircloughLW 5 Denis LitherlandSO 6 Stephen PetersSH 7 Neil HoldingPR 8 Mel JamesHK 9 Michael GloverPR 10 Brian GellingSR 11 Roy Mathias c SR 12 Paul ForberLF 13 Andy PlattSubstitutions IC 14 John SmithIC 15 Paul BrownbillCoach nbsp Billy Benyon FB 1 nbsp Greg BrentnallRW 2 nbsp Kerry BousteadCE 3 nbsp Mal MeningaCE 4 nbsp Steve RogersLW 5 nbsp Eric GrotheFE 6 nbsp Brett KennyHB 7 nbsp Peter SterlingPR 8 nbsp Craig YoungHK 9 nbsp Max Krilich c PR 10 nbsp Les BoydSR 11 nbsp Wayne PearceSR 12 nbsp John MuggletonLF 13 nbsp Ray PriceSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Wally LewisIC 15 nbsp Rod MorrisCoach nbsp Frank StantonWednesday 20 OctoberLeeds nbsp 4 31 nbsp AustraliaTries Goals Mark Conway 2 11 Tries Steve Ella 2 Mal Meninga 2 Kerry Boustead Eric Grothe Steve Rogers Goals Mal Meninga 5 Headingley LeedsAttendance 11 570Referee Billy ThompsonPlayer of the Match Wayne Pearce nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Leeds nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 Neil HagueRW 2 Alan SmithCE 3 Ian WilkinsonCE 4 Les DylLW 5 Andrew SmithSO 6 John HolmesSH 7 Mark ConwayPR 8 Roy DickinsonHK 9 David Ward c PR 10 Tony BurkeSR 11 Keith RayneSR 12 Wayne HeronLF 13 David HeronSubstitutions IC 14 Mark MassaIC 15 Andrew SykesCoach nbsp Robin Dewhurst FB 1 nbsp Greg BrentnallRW 2 nbsp Kerry BousteadCE 3 nbsp Mal MeningaCE 4 nbsp Steve RogersLW 5 nbsp Eric GrotheFE 6 nbsp Brett KennyHB 7 nbsp Peter SterlingPR 8 nbsp Craig YoungHK 9 nbsp Max Krilich c PR 10 nbsp Les BoydSR 11 nbsp Paul McCabeSR 12 nbsp John MuggletonLF 13 nbsp Wayne PearceSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Steve EllaIC 15 nbsp Rod MorrisCoach nbsp Frank StantonWales edit The Kangaroos played an international against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff This was the first time Wally Lewis playing in the unfamiliar position of centre would captain Australia against an international team Sunday 24 October 1982Wales nbsp 7 37 nbsp AustraliaTries Brynmor Williams Goals Steve Fenwick 1 Lynn Hopkins 1 12 Tries Steve Ella 4 John Ribot 2 Wally Lewis Mark Murray Don McKinnon Goals Wally Lewis 4 Don McKinnon 1 Ninian Park CardiffAttendance 5 617Referee Gerry Kershaw nbsp Player of the Match Steve Ella nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Wales nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 nbsp Lynn HopkinsRW 2 nbsp Chris CamilleriCE 3 nbsp Steve FenwickCE 4 nbsp John Bevan c LW 5 nbsp Paul PrendivilleSO 6 nbsp Lynn HallettSH 7 nbsp Brynmor WilliamsPR 8 nbsp Glyn ShawHK 9 nbsp Donald ParryPR 10 nbsp Tommy DavidSR 11 nbsp Martin HerdmanSR 12 nbsp Brian JuliffLF 13 nbsp Paul RingerSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Mark McJennettIC 15Coach nbsp David Watkins nbsp FB 1 nbsp Steve EllaLW 2 nbsp Chris AndersonCE 3 nbsp Gene MilesCE 4 nbsp Wally Lewis c RW 5 nbsp John RibotFE 6 nbsp Mark MurrayHB 7 nbsp Steve MortimerPR 8 nbsp Rod MorrisHK 9 nbsp Ray BrownPR 10 nbsp Don McKinnonSR 11 nbsp Paul McCabeSR 12 nbsp Rod ReddyLK 13 nbsp Ian SchubertSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Kerry BousteadIC 15 nbsp Greg ConescuCoach nbsp Frank StantonPlaying fullback Steve Ella pressed for test selection by scoring 4 tries in the game Only two players from the team second row forward Rod Reddy and reserve winger Kerry Boustead were considered certainties for selection in the upcoming 1st Ashes test The Ashes series edit Due to sponsorship reasons the 1982 Ashes was known as the Dominion Insurance Test series First Test edit While Australia s side for the opening Test was built around the new breed of young players such as Eric Grothe Wayne Pearce Mal Meninga Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling mixing with veterans Craig Young Les Boyd Ray Price Rod Reddy Kerry Boustead Steve Rogers and captain Max Krilich Great Britain chose five players aged over 30 The only player over the age of 30 for the Kangaroos first test team was Krilich who had turned 33 only five days prior to the test Great Britain were captained by veteran Leeds hooker David Ward Making his debut for the Lions was Hull F C teenager Lee Crooks who was also handed the goal kicking duties in preference to George Fairbairn Wayne Pearce was awarded the Man of the Match award after throwing the last pass for four tries and scoring a try himself Saturday 30 October 1982Great Britain nbsp 4 40 nbsp AustraliaTries Goals Lee Crooks 2 2 13 Tries Mal Meninga Les Boyd Eric Grothe Ray Price Kerry Boustead Brett Kenny Wayne Pearce Rod Reddy Goals Mal Meninga 8 10 Boothferry Park HullAttendance 26 771Referee Julien Rascagneres nbsp Player of the Match Wayne Pearce nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Great Britain nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 nbsp George FairbairnRW 2 nbsp Des DrummondCE 3 nbsp Eric HughesCE 4 nbsp Les DylLW 5 nbsp Steve EvansSO 6 nbsp John WoodsSH 7 nbsp Steve NashPR 8 nbsp Jeff GrayshonHK 9 nbsp David Ward c PR 10 nbsp Trevor SkerrettSR 11 nbsp Lee CrooksSR 12 nbsp Les GorleyLF 13 nbsp Steve NortonSubstitutions IC 14IC 15 nbsp David HeronCoach nbsp Johnny Whiteley FB 1 nbsp Greg BrentnallLW 2 nbsp Eric GrotheCE 3 nbsp Mal MeningaCE 4 nbsp Steve RogersRW 5 nbsp Kerry BousteadFE 6 nbsp Brett KennyHB 7 nbsp Peter SterlingPR 8 nbsp Craig YoungHK 9 nbsp Max Krilich c PR 10 nbsp Les BoydSR 11 nbsp Wayne PearceSR 12 nbsp Rod ReddyLK 13 nbsp Ray PriceSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Ray BrownIC 15Coach nbsp Frank StantonGreat Britain did well in the first half to trail by only 10 4 at half time but the two penalty goals by debutante second rower Lee Crooks was as good as it got for the home side In the second half the Kangaroos unleashed their skills and fitness and blazed six tries to leave the British game and most of the 26 771 strong crowd packed into Hull s Boothferry Park stunned The game was Australia s 5th straight win over Great Britain dating back to the final Test of the 1978 Kangaroo Tour and including the 3 0 whitewash of the Lions on their lacklustre 1979 Australasian tour In his test debut for Australia back row forward Wayne Pearce was judged as the Man of the Match thanks to his defensive work and having a hand in a number of tries as well as backing up a break by Max Krilich and Craig Young to race away and score a 45 metre try with only French referee Julien Rascagneres anywhere near him Centre Mal Meninga playing his 4th test and the first of what would eventually be a record 17 Ashes tests against Great Britain scored the opening try of the game after good lead up work by Peter Sterling and Pearce then easily palming off Les Dyl and outpacing fullback George Fairbairn to score in the corner Meninga also kicked 8 of 10 goals for a personal haul of 19 points His 8 goals also broke the record number of goals for an Australian in a test in England the old record of 7 had been set by Graeme Langlands in the second test of the 1963 64 Kangaroo tour the famous Swinton Massacre test It also equaled the most goals for an Australian in an Ashes test the record was previously the sole property of Noel Pidding who kicked 8 in the first test of the 1954 series at the Sydney Cricket Ground In commentary for the BBC former Great Britain and England dual rugby international forward Ray French stated after the final siren Well I ve got to eat a little humble pie I thought Great Britain could do something but with only those two penalty goals from Lee Crooks its back to the drawing board for the Great Britain selectors I m afraid while his commentary partner Wigan coach former Lions halfback and Kangaroos tormentor Alex Murphy said during the first half We need something to combat this lot Wednesday 3 NovemberLeigh nbsp 4 44 nbsp AustraliaTries Goals John Woods 2 14 Tries Chris Anderson 3 Paul McCabe 3 John Ribot 3 John Muggleton 2 Wally Lewis Goals Mal Meninga 3 11 Wally Lewis 1 2 Hilton Park LeighAttendance 7 680Referee Trevor Court nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Leigh nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 Mick HoganRW 2 Des DrummondCE 3 John HendersonCE 4 Steve DonlanLW 5 Graham WorganSO 6 John Woods c SH 7 Ken GreenPR 8 Alf WilkinsonHK 9 Ray TabernPR 10 Derek PykeSR 11 Eric ChisnallSR 12 Geoff ClarksonLF 13 Ian PotterSubstitutions IC 14 Steve TomlinsonIC 15 Edwin HunterCoach nbsp Colin Clarke FB 1 nbsp Steve EllaRW 2 nbsp Chris AndersonCE 3 nbsp Mal MeningaCE 4 nbsp Gene MilesLW 5 nbsp John RibotFE 6 nbsp Wally Lewis c HB 7 nbsp Steve MortimerPR 8 nbsp Don McKinnonHK 9 nbsp Ray BrownPR 10 nbsp Rod MorrisSR 11 nbsp Paul McCabeSR 12 nbsp John MuggletonLF 13 nbsp Ian SchubertSubstitutions IC 14IC 15Coach nbsp Frank StantonSunday 7 NovemberBradford Northern nbsp 6 13 nbsp AustraliaTries Goals Keith Mumby 3 15 Tries Greg Brentnall Gene Miles Paul McCabe Goals Steve Rogers 2 Odsal BradfordAttendance 10 506Referee Mick BeaumontPlayer of the Match Jeff Grayshon nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Bradford Northern nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 John GreenRW 2 David BarendsCE 3 Keith MumbyCE 4 Richard DaviesLW 5 Steve PullenSO 6 Bill KellsSH 7 Alan RedfearnPR 8 Jeff Grayshon c HK 9 Brian NoblePR 10 Gary Van BellenSR 11 Graham IdleSR 12 Dick JasiewiczLF 13 Alan RathboneSubstitutions IC 14 Dean CarrollIC 15 Chris ParrottCoach nbsp Peter Fox FB 1 nbsp Greg BrentnallRW 2 nbsp Chris AndersonCE 3 nbsp Gene MilesCE 4 nbsp Steve Rogers c LW 5 nbsp Eric GrotheFE 6 nbsp Brett KennyHB 7 nbsp Mark MurrayPR 8 nbsp Craig YoungHK 9 nbsp Greg ConescuPR 10 nbsp Rohan HancockSR 11 nbsp John MuggletonSR 12 nbsp Paul McCabeLF 13 nbsp Ray PriceSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Ray BrownIC 15Coach nbsp Frank StantonTuesday 9 NovemberCumbria nbsp 2 41 nbsp AustraliaTries Goals Lyn Hopkins 1 16 Tries Mal Meninga 2 Kerry Boustead Steve Ella Don McKinnon Wayne Pearce John Ribot Steve Rogers Peter Sterling Goals Mal Meninga 7 Brunton Park CarlisleAttendance 5 748Referee Stan Wall nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Cumbria nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp img, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
