1982 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France
Encyclopedia
The 1982 Kangaroo Tour
was the fifteenth Kangaroo Tour where the Australian national rugby league team
plays a number of matches against British and French rugby league teams, in additions to the Test matches. The next Kangaroo Tour was staged in 1986.
Australia dominated, winning both Test series against Great Britain
and France
, going through the entire tour undefeated and earning the nickname The Invincibles
. This was the first ever Kangaroo touring side to win every game of the tour.
who demanded great discipline and focus from his sides and who was making his third tour - the second as coach. Manly-Warringah
's Max Krilich
was captain and carried out his duties coolly and with great application. Wally Lewis
deputised as vice-captain.
Interviewed by 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: "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."
Open Rugby magazine claimed the Australians had brought "a new dimension of excitement and adventure" to the game and former England great Alex Murphy
called then "Men from another planet."
This was the first Kangaroo tour since the introduction of State of Origin
allowed Queensland to reverse New South Wales' dominance in interstate football. A record-equalling eleven Queenslanders were selected for the tour.
.
Once on English soil controversy surfaced when the incumbent Australian Test halves Steve Mortimer
and Wally Lewis
were not chosen for the opening match. Instead, Peter Sterling
and Brett Kenny
took the field against Hull Kingston Rovers
and set about locking up their positions for the first Test.
, Pearce
, Meninga
, Kenny and Sterling, Britain chose five players aged over 30.
Great Britain did well in the first half and were down by 10-4 at the break. In the 2nd half the Kangaroos unleashed their skills - pace, guile, teamwork and fitness - and blazed six stunning tries to leave the British game stunned.
Despite ten changes to the Lions' side, the 2nd Test was scarcely a contest and the Kangaroos won by 27-6. Australia's fiery forward Les Boyd
was sent off late in the first half and the Kangaroos played out 46mins with twelve men.
The third Test was well contested until the final ten minutes. At that point the Aussies were holding-off Britain by 14-8 and an intense finish loomed. It seemed Britain had not been so far behind Australia's standard after all. However, Lee Crooks was sent off for fighting and the Kangaroos ripped the home side apart with 4 tries to win by 32-8
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
was the fifteenth Kangaroo Tour where the Australian national rugby league team
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
plays a number of matches against British and French rugby league teams, in additions to the Test matches. The next Kangaroo Tour was staged in 1986.
Australia dominated, winning both Test series against Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
and France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
, going through the entire tour undefeated and earning the nickname The Invincibles
The Invincibles (rugby league)
The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 barring wartime, toured Great Britain every four years often capping the tour with games and Tests in France. This regular touring side are known as the Kangaroos...
. This was the first ever Kangaroo touring side to win every game of the tour.
Touring party
The team was coached by the tough and single-minded Frank StantonFrank Stanton (rugby league)
Frank "Biscuits" Stanton is an Australian former rugby league player and a successful club and national representative coach. His playing and club coaching career was with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles...
who demanded great discipline and focus from his sides and who was making his third tour - the second as coach. Manly-Warringah
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
's Max Krilich
Max Krilich
Max Krilich is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a hooker for the Australia national team, playing in 13 Tests from 1978 to 1983 and as captain on 10 consecutive occasions in 1982 and 1983...
was captain and carried out his duties coolly and with great application. Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
deputised as vice-captain.
Interviewed by 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: "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."
Open Rugby magazine claimed the Australians had brought "a new dimension of excitement and adventure" to the game and former England great Alex Murphy
Alex Murphy
Alex Murphy or Alexander Murphy may refer to:* Alex Murphy one of the top basketball recruits in the class of 2012.* Alex Murphy or Alex J. Murphy, the human name of RoboCop...
called then "Men from another planet."
This was the first Kangaroo tour since the introduction of State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
allowed Queensland to reverse New South Wales' dominance in interstate football. A record-equalling eleven Queenslanders were selected for the tour.
Itinerary
Before flying to England, half the squad went to Perth to play Western Australia, while the other half travelled to Papua New Guinea for a match against the KumulsPapua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
.
Once on English soil controversy surfaced when the incumbent Australian Test halves Steve Mortimer
Steve Mortimer
Steve Mortimer OAM, , nicknamed Turvey after Turvey Park in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, where he hailed from, is an Australian former rugby league halfback. Mortimer played a Canterbury-Bankstown club record 272 first grade games between 1976–88. Mortimer's two younger brothers Peter and Chris...
and Wally Lewis
Wally Lewis
Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. Currently a commentator of the sport, he is widely regarded as the greatest rugby league player of all time...
were not chosen for the opening match. Instead, Peter Sterling
Peter Sterling
Peter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM is an Australian rugby league commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for...
and Brett Kenny
Brett Kenny
Brett Kenny is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He was a five-eighth for the Australian national team, the New South Wales Blues representative side and the Parramatta Eels. He played in 17 Tests, made 17 State of Origin appearances and won 4...
took the field against Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
and set about locking up their positions for the first Test.
The Ashes series
While Australia's side for the opening Test was built around the new breed of young players such as team GrotheEric Grothe, Sr.
Eric "Guru" Grothe is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 1980s. A New South Wales and Australian representative winger, he played club football for the Parramatta Eels with whom he won four NSWRL premierships...
, Pearce
Wayne Pearce
Wayne John Pearce OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. An athletic Lock Forward for the Balmain Tigers, he was affectionately known as 'Junior'...
, Meninga
Mal Meninga
Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
, Kenny and Sterling, Britain chose five players aged over 30.
Great Britain did well in the first half and were down by 10-4 at the break. In the 2nd half the Kangaroos unleashed their skills - pace, guile, teamwork and fitness - and blazed six stunning tries to leave the British game stunned.
Despite ten changes to the Lions' side, the 2nd Test was scarcely a contest and the Kangaroos won by 27-6. Australia's fiery forward Les Boyd
Les Boyd
Les Boyd is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He played representative football for the Australian national side in international matches as well as the New South Wales side in the State of Origin...
was sent off late in the first half and the Kangaroos played out 46mins with twelve men.
The third Test was well contested until the final ten minutes. At that point the Aussies were holding-off Britain by 14-8 and an intense finish loomed. It seemed Britain had not been so far behind Australia's standard after all. However, Lee Crooks was sent off for fighting and the Kangaroos ripped the home side apart with 4 tries to win by 32-8