The Invincibles (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
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 (and in recent years all Australian representative sides) are known as the Kangaroos. The 1982 Kangaroos coached by Frank Stanton
were the first such side to go through the tour unbeaten in twenty-two games and have become known as "The Invincibles" .
The twenty-eight player squad were captained by Max Krilich
, with Wally Lewis
his deputy. 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 Kumuls
.
Once on English soil controversy surfaced when the incumbent 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 KR and set about locking up their positions for the First Test.
While Australia's side for the opening Test was built around the new breed of young players such as team Grothe
, Pearce
, Meninga
, Kenny and Sterling, the Brits chose five players who were 30 plus.
Still the homeside 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 (Australia 40 - Britain 4).
Despite ten changes to the Lions' side the 2nd Test was hardly an improvement as the Kangaroos won by 27-6. A measure of the Kangaroos' ability was the fact that they played with only 12 men for over half the match after Boyd was sent off.
With the Ashes decided, the 3rd Test turned out to be a contest - well 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.
The tourists found the French Tests more of a challenge than the British, but in the end the Kangaroos prevailed and finished their tour unbeaten.
and 11 Queensland
ers (Q).
Frank 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...
were the first such side to go through the tour unbeaten in twenty-two games and have become known as "The Invincibles" .
The twenty-eight player squad were captained by 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...
, with 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...
his deputy. 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 Kumuls
Papua 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 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 KR and set about locking up their positions for the First Test.
While Australia's side for the opening Test was built around the new breed of young players such as team Grothe
Eric 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, the Brits chose five players who were 30 plus.
Still the homeside 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 (Australia 40 - Britain 4).
Despite ten changes to the Lions' side the 2nd Test was hardly an improvement as the Kangaroos won by 27-6. A measure of the Kangaroos' ability was the fact that they played with only 12 men for over half the match after Boyd was sent off.
With the Ashes decided, the 3rd Test turned out to be a contest - well 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.
The tourists found the French Tests more of a challenge than the British, but in the end the Kangaroos prevailed and finished their tour unbeaten.
Club Representatives
The touring side was represented by 17 New South WelshmanNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and 11 Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
ers (Q).
- Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesManly-Warringah Sea EaglesThe 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...
: Max Krilich (captain), Kerry Boustead (Q), John Ribot (Q), Les Boyd, Paul McCabe (Q), Ian Schubert, Ray Brown - Parramatta EelsParramatta EelsThe Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
: Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Steve Ella, Eric Grothe, Ray Price, John Muggleton - Wynnum-Manly SeagullsWynnum-Manly SeagullsThe Wynnum-Manly Seagulls are an Australian rugby league football club based at Kougari Oval, which is in the Eastern Brisbane suburb of Manly West. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1951 to 1997. Since 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is red, green and white...
: - Wally Lewis (vice-captain) (Q), Gene Miles (Q), Rod Morris (Q) - Canterbury BulldogsCanterbury BulldogsThe Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
: Greg Brentnall, Chris Anderson, Steve Mortimer - Norths DevilsNorths DevilsThe Northern Suburbs Devils, Norths for short, are a rugby league club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup, and, through their predecessors, are one of the oldest clubs in...
: Greg Conescu (Q), Mark Murray (Q) - St George Dragons: Rod Reddy (Q), Craig Young
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: Steve Rogers
- North Sydney BearsNorth Sydney BearsThe North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
: Don McKinnon - Balmain TigersBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
: Wayne Pearce - Souths Magpies: Mal Meninga (Q)
- WarwickWarwick, QueenslandWarwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
: Rohan Hancock (Q)