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 Kiwis 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.

Australia

Sunday, 27 June

Queensland	31 – 16	New Zealand
Tries: Wayne Challis, Brad Backer, Tony Currie, Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga Goals: Mal Meninga (5)	[1]	Tries: Gary Kemble, James Leuluai, Dane O'Hara, Gordon Smith Goals: Gordon Smith (2)

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 12,000 Referee/s: 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

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.

Saturday, 3 July

Australia	11 – 8	New Zealand
Tries: John Muggleton Goals: Michael Cronin (4)	[2]	Tries: Goals: Gordon Smith (4)

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 11,400 Referee/s: Fred Lindop Man of the Match: Wally Lewis

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 amount 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.

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)	[3]	Tries: Goals: Gordon Smith (1)

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 16,775 Referee/s: Fred Lindop Man of the Match: Ray Price

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.^[4]

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. 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.

Papua New Guinea

Sunday, 25 July

Papua New Guinea	5 – 56	New Zealand
Tries: Alan Rero Goals: Poka Kila (1)	[5]	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/s: John Gocher

References