1980 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand

The 1980 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played seven matches on tour, including a two test series against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 1 June and finished on 17 June.[1]

Leadership edit

As he had been since 1978, Frank Stanton was the coach of the Australian team. Canterbury-Bankstwon hooker, Greek born George Peponis, was the tour captain.

Touring squad edit

The squad was made up mostly of those playing in the Sydney Premiership. Although not the only Queenslander in the squad, Chris Close was the sole player selected from Queensland, prior to his Man of the Match performance in the experimental 1980 State of Origin game.

Player Club Position(s) Games Tests Tries Goals F/Goals Points
Chris Anderson   Canterbury-Bankstown Wing 2
Kerry Boustead   Eastern Suburbs Wing, Centre 1
Les Boyd   Manly-Warringah Second-row, Prop 2
Greg Brentnall   Canterbury-Bankstown Fullback, Wing, Centre 2
Chris Close   Redcliffe Centre, Wing
Michael Cronin   Parramatta Wing 2
Garry Dowling   Parramatta Fullback, Wing 2
Rod Morris   Balmain Prop 2
George Peponis (c)   Canterbury-Bankstown Hooker 2
Ray Price   Parramatta Lock 2
Graham Quinn   St George Centre 1
Tommy Raudonikis   Newtown Halfback 2
Rod Reddy   St George Second-row 2
Alan Thompson   Manly-Warringah Five-eighth 2
Graeme Wynn   St George Second-row
Craig Young   St George Prop 2

Tour edit

The Australian's played seven games on the tour, winning five, losing one with one drawn game.


1st Test edit

Sunday 1 June
New Zealand   6 – 27   Australia
Tries:




Goals:
Michael O'Donnell (3)
[2] [3]
Tries:
Alan Thompson
Kerry Boustead
Rod Reddy
Craig Young
Goals:
Michael Cronin (6/8)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 12,321
Referee: Kevin Steele  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New Zealand
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Australia
FB 1   Michael O'Donnell
RW 2   Kevin Fisher
RC 3   Olsen Filipaina
LC 4   James Leuluai
LW 5   Dane O'Hara
FE 6   Gordon Smith
HB 7   Shane Varley
LK 8   Mark Graham (c)
SR 9   Barry Edkins
SR 10   Kevin Tamati
PR 11   Paul Te Ariki
HK 12   Howie Tamati
PR 13   Mark Broadhurst
Substitutions:
IC 14   Graeme West
IC 15
Coach:
  Ces Mountford
FB 1   Garry Dowling
RW 2   Chris Anderson
RC 3   Michael Cronin
LC 4   Greg Brentnall
LW 5   Kerry Boustead
FE 6   Alan Thompson
HB 7   Tommy Raudonikis
LF 8   Ray Price
SR 9   Les Boyd
SR 12   Rod Reddy
PR 11   Rod Morris
HK 12   George Peponis (c)
PR 13   Craig Young
Substitutions:
IC 14
IC 15
Coach:
  Frank Stanton

Wednesday 4 June
Māori   10 – 10   Australia
Tries:
James Leuluai
Kevin Tamati
Goals:
Dennis Williams (2)
[4] [5] [6]
Tries:
Graham Quinn
Chris Close
Goals:
Graeme Wynn (2)
Sent Off:
Chris Close
Hastings
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: John Percival  

Friday 6 June
Central Districts   0 – 23   Australia
Tries:

Goals:
[7] [8]
Tries:
Graham Quinn (2)
Rohan Hancock
Greg Brentnall
Graeme Wynn
Goals:
Mick Cronin (4)
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Attendance: 4,000

Sunday 8 June
New Zealand XIII   7 – 51   Australia
Tries:

Goals:
[9]
Tries:

Goals:

Wednesday 11 June
South Island   12 – 11   Australia
Tries:

Goals:
[10] [11] [12]
Tries:

Goals:

2nd Test edit

Sunday 15 June
New Zealand   6 – 15   Australia
Tries:



Goals:
Michael O'Donnell (3)
[13][14][15]
Tries:
Les Boyd
Michael Cronin
Rod Reddy
Goals:
Michael Cronin (3)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 9,706
Referee: John Percival  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New Zealand
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Australia
FB 1   Michael O'Donnell
RW 2   Kevin Fisher
RC 3   Olsen Filipaina
LC 4   James Leuluai
LW 5   Dane O'Hara
FE 6   Dennis Williams
HB 7   Gordon Smith
LK 8   Mark Graham (c)
SR 9   Barry Edkins
SR 10   Tony Coll
PR 11   Kevin Tamati
HK 12   Howie Tamati
PR 13   Mark Broadhurst
Substitutions:
IC 14
IC 15
Coach:
  Ces Mountford
FB 1   Garry Dowling
RW 2   Chris Anderson
RC 3   Michael Cronin
LC 4   Greg Brentnall
LW 5   Graham Quinn
FE 6   Alan Thompson
HB 7   Tommy Raudonikis
LF 8   Ray Price
SR 9   Les Boyd
SR 12   Rod Reddy
PR 11   Rod Morris
HK 12   George Peponis (c)
PR 13   Craig Young
Substitutions:
IC 14
IC 15
Coach:
  Frank Stanton

Tuesday 17 July
Auckland   7 – 21   Australia
Tries:

Goals:
[16] [17]
Tries:

Goals:
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 14,000
Player of the Match: Ray Price

Statistics edit

Largest Test Attendance

Largest non-test Attendance

References edit

  1. ^ 1980 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand @ Rugby League Project
  2. ^ 1st Test - New Zealand vs Australia
  3. ^ "Rugby league Kangaroos take Kiwi Test in first half". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 2 Jun 1980. p. 14. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  4. ^ New Zealand Māori vs Australia
  5. ^ "Kangaroo changes against the Maoris". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 3 Jun 1980. p. 18. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  6. ^ "Rugby League Maoris get that old feeling — force draw". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 5 Jun 1980. p. 24. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  7. ^ Central Districts vs Australia
  8. ^ "Tourists savage district side". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 7 Jun 1980. p. 38. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  9. ^ New Zealand XIII vs Australia
  10. ^ South Island vs Australia
  11. ^ "Rugby league: Stanton sees wounded". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 11 Jun 1980. p. 38. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  12. ^ "Late News Kangaroos down 12-11". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 12 Jun 1980. p. 1. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  13. ^ 2nd Test - New Zealand vs Australia
  14. ^ "Kangaroos, Kiwis to Change Test Tactics". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 15 Jun 1980. p. 22. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  15. ^ "Rugby League: Kangaroos scrape in". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 16 Jun 1980. p. 10. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  16. ^ Auckland vs Australia
  17. ^ "Down to last fit man, but Kangaroos win". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 18 Jun 1980. p. 34. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.