The 1994 Kangaroo Tour was the 18th and last Kangaroo Tour played in the conventional format, where the Australia national rugby league team (known as the XXXX Kangaroos due to sponsorship reasons) played a number of matches against British and French clubs or provincial outfits, in additions to the Test matches. The outbreak of the Super League war in early 1995 meant that the next Kangaroo tour, set for 1998, never eventuated, although shortened, test only tours were staged in 2001 and 2003.
Australia continued its dominance, winning both Test series against Great Britain and France, suffering only one loss (against Great Britain in the First Test at Wembley, just as they had done in 1990), and remained undefeated against British club outfits in a streak stretching back to the 1978 tour.
The team was coached by Bob Fulton who was making his fourth Kangaroo tour (1973 and 1978 as a player, the latter as captain, and 1990 as coach). Team captain Mal Meninga created history by becoming the first and so far only player to make four tours as a player. He also became the first player to captain consecutive tours. His four tours included being a member of two undefeated teams, first as a member of "The Invincibles" in 1982, and the second with "The Unbeatables" in 1986. Meninga also had the remarkable record of playing in every test match during each of his 4 tours meaning that 21 of his eventual 46 tests for Australia were playing on a Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France. Fulton and Meninga also became the first pair to be the coach and captain on consecutive Kangaroo tours. Laurie Daley, the New South Wales State of Origin captain who had captained the Australian team to a 14–all draw with New Zealand in Auckland in 1993 with Meninga missing due to suspension, was named as the tour's vice-captain.
Balmain Tigers er Paul Sironen became just the fourth forward to be selected for three Kangaroo tours, having previously toured in 1986 and 1990.
This was the last full strength Australian side to take the field until after the resolution of the Super League war (1998) with all Australian teams from 1995–1997 being made up exclusively of either Australian Rugby League (ARL) loyal or Super League (SL) aligned players.
The Kangaroo tour was televised back to Australia on the Nine Network with commentary provided by Nine's rugby league commentary team of Ray Warren (making a rare appearance overseas due to a fear of flying), 1982 and 1986 Kangaroo tourist Peter Sterling, and 13 test veteran for Australia Paul Vautin. Following the second test Vautin was forced to return to Australia for medical reasons. He was replaced in the commentary box by former Great Britain halfback Alex Murphy who had provided sideline comments for Nine during the first two tests.
Touring squad * Sub total included in games totals. Player Club Position(s) Games (sub) Tests (sub) Tries Goals/attempts F/goals Points Tim Brasher Balmain Tigers 13 (4) 2 (2) 6 11/12 - 46 Bradley Clyde Canberra Raiders 7 3 5 - - 20 Laurie Daley (vc) Canberra Raiders 9 4 5 1/2 - 22 Andrew Ettingshausen Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10 (1) 4 15 - - 60 David Fairleigh North Sydney Bears 13 (7) 2 (2) 5 - - 20 Brad Fittler Penrith Panthers 12 (1) 4 2 - - 8 Greg Florimo North Sydney Bears 12 (5) 2 (2) 8 0/1 - 32 David Furner Canberra Raiders 10 (3) 2 (1) 2 24/31 - 56 Michael Hancock Brisbane Broncos 7 (1) 0 2 - - 8 Paul Harragon Newcastle Knights 7 (2) 2 (1) 3 - - 12 Terry Hill Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8 0 7 - - 28 Allan Langer Brisbane Broncos 12 (4) 4 (3) 5 - - 20 Glenn Lazarus Brisbane Broncos 11 (1) 3 - - - - Paul McGregor Illawarra Steelers 3 0 2 - - 8 Mal Meninga (c) Canberra Raiders 10 4 4 4/8 - 24 Steven Menzies Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10 (4) 0 9 - - 36 Brett Mullins Canberra Raiders 11 4 11 - - 44 Dean Pay Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 11 (3) 3 (1) 4 - - 16 Steve Renouf Brisbane Broncos 9 4 12 - - 48 Ian Roberts Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 9 (2) 4 1 - - 4 Wendell Sailor Brisbane Broncos 12 (3) 1 9 - - 36 Jim Serdaris Western Suburbs Magpies 8 0 3 - - 12 Paul Sironen Balmain Tigers 9 (1) 3 (1) - - - - Jason Smith Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 9 0 4 - - 12 Ricky Stuart Canberra Raiders 12 (4) 4 (1) 1 - 1 5 Kevin Walters Brisbane Broncos 9 (3) 0 2 - - 8 Steve Walters Canberra Raiders 11 (3) 4 3 - - 12 Rod Wishart Illawarra Steelers 11 (1) 3 8 71/88 - 174
By club The touring side was represented by 20 New South Welshmen (N) and 8 Queenslanders (Q).
With captain Mal Meninga and vice-captain Laurie Daley both coming from the Canberra Raiders, this was the first time the Kangaroos captain and vice-captain had come from the same club since Reg Gasnier had captain-coached the 1967–68 Kangaroo tour with his St George teammate Johnny Raper as the nominated vice-captain.
During the tour in games where neither Meninga or Daley played (or they were on the bench), Bob Fulton handed the team captaincy to Paul Sironen (x1), Allan Langer (x3), Ricky Stuart (x1), Kevin Walters (x1) and Glenn Lazarus (x1). Tour vice-captain Daley never actually got to captain a run-on side during the tour.
Canberra Raiders (7): Mal Meninga (captain) (Q), Laurie Daley (N) (vice-captain), Bradley Clyde (N), David Furner (N), Brett Mullins (N), Ricky Stuart (N), Steve Walters (Q) Brisbane Broncos (6): Michael Hancock (Q), Allan Langer (Q), Glenn Lazarus (N), Steve Renouf, (Q), Wendell Sailor (Q), Kevin Walters (Q) Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (3): Terry Hill (N), Steven Menzies (N), Ian Roberts (N) Balmain Tigers (2): Tim Brasher (N), Paul Sironen (N) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2): Dean Pay (N) Jason Smith (Q) Illawarra Steelers (2): Paul McGregor (N), Rod Wishart (N) North Sydney Bears (2): David Fairleigh (N), Greg Florimo (N) Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (1): Andrew Ettingshausen (N) Newcastle Knights (1): Paul Harragon (N) Penrith Panthers (1): Brad Fittler (N) Western Suburbs Magpies (1): Jim Serdaris (N)
Great Britain The first match against Great Britain at London's Wembley Stadium featured pre-match entertainment by Cliff Richard.
The 1994 Ashes series again broke the record aggregate crowd for the series in Great Britain with 140,430 attending the three Tests, beating the record of 133,684 set on the 1990 Kangaroo Tour. As with the 1982, 1986 and 1990 tours, the game against Wigan at Central Park drew the biggest club game attendance of the Kangaroo Tour attracting 20,057 fans. The larger test attendances had been made possible by the use of England's 82,000 capacity national stadium (Wembley) as well as the use of larger capacity soccer stadiums Old Trafford and Elland Road rather than the traditional use of the larger club grounds such as Central Park, Headingley (Leeds) and Odsal Stadium (Bradford).
The Kangaroos played an international tour match against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff on 30 October wearing their non-Test Australian jumpers for the game (for the first time in Kangaroo Tour history, the Kangaroos non-Test jumpers included yellow hoops around the waist leaving the traditional jumper to be used only in the Tests). In the first meeting of the two nations since the 1982 Kangaroo tour, the Australians ran in eight tries to one in a 46–4 win, played on a heavy ground and in driving rain before 8,729 fans. The match proved to be spiteful and produced two dark spots. Welsh dual international John Devereux suffered a badly broken jaw after he accidentally collided with Mal Meninga's left shoulder when attempting to tackle the Australian captain. Later an all-in-brawl erupted after Kangaroos second-rower Paul Sironen reacted to a high tackle from Welsh halfback Kevin Ellis on Kangaroo halfback Allan Langer.
The 1994 Kangaroos scored 535 points on the British leg of the tour (96 tries, 75 goals, 1 field goal), while conceding only 108 points (17 tries, 20 goals).
Test venues The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.
London Manchester Leeds Wembley Stadium Old Trafford Elland Road Capacity: 82,000 Capacity: 44,000 Capacity: 40,000
FB 1 John RoutledgeRW 2 David SeedsRC 3 Kevin Pape (c)LC 4 Paul BurnsLW 5 Jon RoperSO 6 Martin BirkettSH 7 Dean MarwoodPR 8 Jon NeillHK 9 Steve McCurriePR 10 Russ WalkerSR 11 David ElliotSR 12 Colin ArmstrongLF 13 Simon KnoxSubstitutions:IC 14 Lee AndersonIC 15 Stephen HolgateIC 16 Neil ShawIC 17 Leigh SmithCoach: FB 1 Tim BrasherRW 2 Wendell SailorRC 3 Paul McGregorLC 4 Terry HillLW 5 Rod WishartFE 6 Greg FlorimoHB 7 Kevin WaltersPR 8 Ian RobertsHK 9 Jim SerdarisPR 10 Glenn LazarusSR 11 Paul Sironen (c)SR 12 Steve MenziesLK 13 Brad FittlerSubstitutions:IC 14 David FairleighIC 15 Allan LangerIC 16 Jason SmithIC 17 Bradley ClydeCoach: Bob Fulton
With the NSWRL Grand Final having been played only a week earlier, Kangaroos coach Bob Fulton rested the Canberra and Canterbury-Bankstown players for what would be Australia's only tour match against a full English county side (though both Jason Smith (Bulldogs) and Bradley Clyde (Canberra) were selected on the bench, but like Allan Langer, wasn't used by coach Fulton). Making their debuts in Australian colours were Wendell Sailor, Terry Hill, Greg Florimo, Jim Serdaris and Steve Menzies who was awarded the Man of the Match. Second rower Paul Sironen and making his 3rd Kangaroo Tour as a player (the record for a forward), captained the Kangaroos in the absence of Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley. Workington Town centre Kevin Pape was given the honour of captaining Cumbria in front of his home crowd in what was his Testimonial year.
FB 1Alan TaitRW 2Jim FallonRC 3Kevin IroLC 4Craig InnesLW 5Francis CumminsSO 6Garry Schofield (c)SH 7Patrick EntatPR 8Neil HarmonHK 9James LowesPR 10Esene FaimaloSR 11George MannSR 12Richie EyresLF 13Gary MercerSubstitutions:IC 14Graham HolroydIC 15Nick FozzardIC 16Marcus VassilakopoulosIC 17Coach: Doug Laughton FB 1 Brett MullinsRW 2 Andrew EttingshausenRC 3 Mal Meninga (c)LC 4 Steve RenoufLW 5 Michael HancockFE 6 Laurie DaleyHB 7 Allan LangerPR 8 Dean PayHK 9 Jim SerdarisPR 10 Paul SironenSR 11 David FurnerSR 12 Jason SmithLK 13 Brad FittlerSubstitutions:IC 14 Kevin WaltersIC 15 Wendell SailorIC 16 David FairleighIC 17 Steve MenziesCoach: Bob Fulton
The Kangaroos produced a powerhouse performance against Leeds with a 48–6 win at Headingley. As he had done during his first game on the 1990 Kangaroo tour, former Leeds player Andrew Ettingshausen crossed for a hat trick of tries, as did Allan Langer. Dean Pay, David Furner and Jason Smith made their green and gold debuts.Australia vs Leeds, Kangaroo Tour 1994
FB 1Gary ConnollyRW 2Jason RobinsonRC 3Henry PaulLC 4Va'aiga TuigamalaLW 5Martin OffiahSO 6Frano BoticaSH 7Shaun Edwards (c)PR 8Kelvin SkerrettHK 9Martin HallPR 10Neil CowieSR 11Denis BettsSR 12Andy FarrellLF 13Phil ClarkeSubstitutions:IC 14Paul AtchesonIC 15Barrie McDermottIC 16Mick CassidyIC 17Terry O'ConnorCoach: Graeme West FB 1 Brett MullinsRW 2 Wendell SailorRC 3 Mal Meninga (c)LC 4 Steve RenoufLW 5 Michael HancockFE 6 Laurie DaleyHB 7 Ricky StuartPR 8 Dean PayHK 9 Steve WaltersPR 10 Ian RobertsSR 11 Paul SironenSR 12 Bradley ClydeLK 13 Brad FittlerSubstitutions:IC 14 Kevin WaltersIC 15 Tim BrasherIC 16 David FairleighIC 17 Steve MenziesCoach: Bob Fulton