The 2010 Rugby League Four Nations tournament was played in Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2010. The tournament was the second time the Four Nations had been held, following on from the 2009 edition held in England and France.
The series was contested between Australia, England, New Zealand and the winners of the 2009 Pacific Cup, Papua New Guinea.
Teams TeamMascotCoachCaptainRLIF RankContinent AustraliaThe KangaroosTim SheensDarren Lockyer 1Oceania EnglandThe LionsSteve McNamaraJames Graham 3Europe New ZealandThe KiwisStephen KearneyBenji Marshall 2Oceania Papua New GuineaThe KumulsStanley GenePaul Aiton 6Oceania
Australia Coach: Tim Sheens
Of the twenty five players, twenty three were Australian born while two were Fijian born.
Club Team Players Brisbane Broncos Darren Lockyer (capt.), Sam Thaiday Canberra Raiders Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, David Shillington Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Paul Gallen Gold Coast Titans Greg Bird Manly Sea Eagles Anthony Watmough Melbourne Storm Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith Newcastle Knights Kurt Gidley New Zealand Warriors Brent Tate North Queensland Cowboys Matthew Scott, Willie Tonga South Sydney Rabbitohs Greg Inglis Penrith Panthers Petero Civoniceva, Luke Lewis St. George Illawarra Dragons Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Dean Young Sydney Roosters Todd Carney, Nate Myles Wests Tigers Chris Lawrence, Robbie Farah, Lote Tuqiri* * Replaced originally selected Jarryd Hayne after he withdrew due to injury.Hayne out of Australia team The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 October 2010
England Coach: Steve McNamara
All twenty four players were English born.
Club Team Players Castleford Tigers Michael Shenton1 Harlequins RL Tony Clubb Huddersfield Giants Kevin Brown, Leroy Cudjoe, Luke Robinson, Eorl Crabtree, Darrell Griffin, Shaun Lunt Hull F.C. Tom Briscoe Leeds Rhinos Ryan Hall Melbourne Storm Gareth Widdop South Sydney Rabbitohs Sam Burgess St Helens James Graham (capt.), James Roby Warrington Wolves Ryan Atkins, Ben Harrison, Ben Westwood, Garreth Carvell2 Wests Tigers Gareth Ellis Wigan Warriors Darrell Goulding, Sam Tomkins, Joel Tomkins, Stuart Fielden, Sean O'Loughlin 1 Ruled out of the rest of the tournament after round one due to injury.England tour over for injured Shenton The Independent, 28 October 2010
2 Replaced originally selected Adrian Morley who was originally selected to captain the squad, but withdrew due to an injury suffered in the pre-tournament match against the New Zealand Māori.;Carvell called up by EnglandSydney Morning Herald, 18 October 2010 while James Graham was named the team captain.
New Zealand Coach: Stephen Kearney
Of the twenty two players, seventeen were New Zealand born while five were Australian born. Club Team Players Canberra Raiders Bronson Harrison Leeds Rhinos Greg Eastwood Melbourne Storm Adam Blair, Sika Manu Newcastle Knights Junior Sa'u Penrith Panthers Frank Pritchard, Sam McKendry1 St George Illawarra Dragons Nathan Fien, Jason Nightingale, Jeremy Smith South Sydney Rabbitohs Issac Luke Sydney Roosters Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sam Perrett, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves New Zealand Warriors Lewis Brown, Lance Hohaia, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Manu Vatuvei2 Wests Tigers Benji Marshall (capt.) Wigan Warriors Thomas Leuluai 1 Replaced originally selected Fuifui Moimoi who withdrew due to injury.McKendry called into Kiwis for injured Moimoi NZRL, 11 October 2010
2 Ruled out of the rest of the tournament after round one due to injury.Vatuvei looks ahead after breaking arm rleague.com, 24 October 2010
Antonio Winterstein and Lewis Brown were included in the squad but not selected to play in any of the tournament's matches.
Papua New Guinea Coach: Stanley Gene
Of the twenty four players, fourteen were Papua New Guinea born while one was Australian born. Club Team Players Agmark Rabaul Gurias Dion Aiye, Larsen Marabe, George Moni, Rodney Pora, Pidi Tongap Haswell Hornets Joseph Pombo Cronulla Sharks Paul Aiton (capt.) Enga Mioks David Loko Featherstone Rovers Jessie Joe Parker Gold Coast Titans Ryan Tongia Goroka Bintangor Lahanis Glen Nami Halifax Makali Aizue Hunslet Hawks Michael Mark, Charlie Wabo Ipswich Jets Desmond Mok Masta Mak Rangers Nickson Kolo, Johnson Kuike Mendi Muruks Elizah Riyong Newtown Jets Richard Kambo Northern Pride Rod Griffin North Sydney Bears James Nightingale* Parkes Spacemen Benjamin John Sheffield Eagles Menzie Yere QRL Alex Haija * Replaced originally selected Sigfred Gande who withdrew due to injury just hours before the tournament started.PNG's Gande out of Four Nations YahooXtra News, 25 October 2010
Venues The games were played at venues in Australia and New Zealand. The tournament final was played in Brisbane.
Brisbane Wellington Sydney Suncorp Stadium Westpac Stadium Parramatta Stadium Capacity: 52,500 Capacity: 34,500 Capacity: 21,500 Rotorua Melbourne Auckland International Stadium AAMI Park Eden Park Capacity: 26,000 Capacity: 30,050 Capacity: 50,000
Officiating Three referees were initially appointed to control matches in the Four Nations: Tony Archer (3 matches) Shane Rehm (2 matches) Richard Silverwood (1 match) Richard Silverwood suffered a leg injury and missed round two. He was replaced for this round by Australian referee Ben Cummins.Aussie boys must quit whingeing The Daily Telegraph, 29 October 2010
Pre-tournament matches Before the series, New Zealand played an additional Test against Samoa. It was the first time the two nations have clashed. England played Cumbria on 3 October as a memorial match for Gary Purdham.England to play Garry Purdham memorial game against Cumbria The Guardian, 17 June 2010 England also faced the New Zealand Māori rugby league team in a curtain raiser to the New Zealand-Samoa test.
Papua New Guinea vs Prime Ministers XIII
Cumbria vs England
Ipswich Centennial XIII v Papua New Guinea
New Zealand Māori v England
New Zealand vs Samoa
Results Standings
Round one New Zealand vs England In the curtain raiser match the Junior Kangaroos defeated the Junior Kiwis 24–16.
FB 1 Lance HohaiaRW 2 Jason NightingaleRC 3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall LC 4 Junior Sa'uLW 5 Manu VatuveiFE 6 Benji Marshall (c)HB 7 Nathan FienPR 8 Greg EastwoodHK 9 Thomas LeuluaiPR 10 Adam BlairSR 11 Simon ManneringSR 12 Bronson HarrisonLK 13 Jeremy SmithSubstitutions:BE 14 Issac LukeBE 15 Ben Matulino BE 16 Frank-Paul NuuausalaBE 17 Frank PritchardCoach: Stephen Kearney FB 1 Gareth WiddopRW 2 Darrell GouldingRC 3 Michael ShentonLC 4 Ryan AtkinsLW 5 Tom BriscoeSO 6 Kevin Brown SH 7 Sam TomkinsPR 8 James Graham (c)HK 9 James RobyPR 10 Stuart FieldenSR 11 Gareth EllisSR 12 Sam BurgessLF 13 Sean O'LoughlinSubstitutions:BE 14 Luke RobinsonBE 15 Joel TomkinsBE 16 Ben WestwoodBE 17 Darrell GriffinCoach: Steve McNamara
Australia vs Papua New Guinea In the curtain raiser match Samoa defeated Tonga 22–6.
FB 1 Kurt GidleyRW 2 Brett MorrisRC 3 Brent TateLC 4 Willie TongaLW 5 David Williams SO 6 Darren Lockyer (c)SH 7 Johnathan ThurstonPR 8 Nate MylesHK 9 Matt Ballin PR 10 Petero CivonicevaSR 11 Luke Lewis SR 12 Sam ThaidayLF 13 Anthony Watmough Substitutions:BE 14 Jamal IdrisBE 15 Tom Learoyd-LahrsBE 16 Neville CostiganBE 17 Brett WhiteCoach: Tim Sheens FB 1 Ryan TongiaRW 2 Michael MarkRC 3 Jessie Joe ParkerLC 4 Emmanuel YereLW 5 Elizah RiyongFE 6 Glen NamiHB 7 Dion AiyePR 8 Makali AizueHK 9 Charlie WaboPR 10 George MoniSR 11 Rod GriffinSR 12 David LokoLK 13 Paul Aiton (c)Substitutions:BE 14 Benjamin JohnBE 15 Nickson KoloBE 16 Larsen MarabeBE 17 Joseph PomboCoach: Stanley Gene
Round two New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea In the curtain raiser match the Junior Kiwis defeated the Junior Kangaroos 32–20 to square the series 1-all. The Junior Kangaroos were ahead 20–0 at half time.
With the victory, New Zealand retained the Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Trophy.
FB 1 Lance HohaiaRW 2 Jason NightingaleRC 3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall LC 4 Junior Sa'uLW 5 Sam PerrettFE 6 Benji Marshall (c)HB 7 Nathan FienPR 8 Sam McKendryHK 9 Thomas LeuluaiPR 10 Frank-Paul NuuausalaSR 11 Sika ManuSR 12 Simon ManneringLK 13 Jeremy SmithSubstitutions:BE 14 Issac LukeBE 15 Jared Waerea-HargreavesBE 16 Bronson HarrisonBE 17 Greg EastwoodCoach: Stephen Kearney FB 1 Ryan TongiaRW 2 Michael MarkRC 3 Jessie Joe ParkerLC 4 Emmanuel YereLW 5 Elizah RiyongFE 6 Glen NamiHB 7 Dion AiyePR 8 Makali AizueHK 9 Charlie WaboPR 10 James NightingaleSR 11 Rod GriffinSR 12 Johnson KuikeLK 13 Paul Aiton (c)Substitutions:BE 14 Benjamin JohnBE 15 Nickson KoloBE 16 Pidi TongapBE 17 Alex HaijaCoach: Stanley Gene
Australia vs England
FB 1 Billy SlaterRW 2 Brett MorrisRC 3 Brent TateLC 4 Willie TongaLW 5 Lote Tuqiri SO 6 Darren Lockyer (c)SH 7 Cooper CronkPR 8 Nate MylesHK 9 Cameron Smith PR 10 Petero CivonicevaSR 11 Luke Lewis SR 12 Sam ThaidayLF 13 Paul Gallen Substitutions:BE 14 Kurt GidleyBE 15 Tom Learoyd-LahrsBE 16 Anthony WatmoughBE 17 Luke O'DonnellCoach: Tim Sheens FB 1 Sam TomkinsRW 2 Darrell GouldingRC 3 Leroy CudjoeLC 4 Ryan AtkinsLW 5 Tom BriscoeSO 6 Sean O'LoughlinSH 7 Luke RobinsonPR 8 Sam BurgessHK 9 James Roby PR 10 James Graham (c) SR 11 Gareth EllisSR 12 Joel TomkinsLF 13 Ben WestwoodSubstitutions:BE 14 Stuart Fielden BE 15 Eorl CrabtreeBE 16 Ben HarrisonBE 17 Shaun LuntCoach: Steve McNamara
Round three England vs Papua New Guinea
FB 1 Sam TomkinsRW 2 Ryan HallRC 3 Leroy CudjoeLC 4 Tony ClubbLW 5 Tom BriscoeSO 6 Kevin BrownSH 7 Luke RobinsonPR 8 James Graham (c) HK 9 James Roby PR 10 Sam Burgess SR 11 Gareth EllisSR 12 Ben WestwoodLF 13 Sean O'LoughlinSubstitutions:BE 14 Darrell GriffinBE 15 Garreth CarvellBE 16 Ben HarrisonBE 17 Gareth WiddopCoach: Steve McNamara FB 1 Jessie Joe ParkerRW 2 Michael MarkRC 3 Elizah RiyongLC 4 Emmanuel YereLW 5 Richard Kembo FE 6 Glen NamiHB 7 Dion AiyePR 8 Makali AizueHK 9 Charlie WaboPR 10 Nickson KoloSR 11 Rod GriffinSR 12 David LokoLK 13 Paul Aiton (c)Substitutions:BE 14 Benjamin JohnBE 15 George MoniBE 16 Joseph PomboBE 17 Johnson KuikeCoach: Stanley Gene
New Zealand vs Australia
FB 1 Lance HohaiaRW 2 Jason NightingaleRC 3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall LC 4 Junior Sa'uLW 5 Sam PerrettFE 6 Benji Marshall (c)HB 7 Nathan FienPR 8 Frank-Paul NuuausalaHK 9 Thomas LeuluaiPR 10 Adam Blair SR 11 Sika ManuSR 12 Simon ManneringLK 13 Jeremy SmithSubstitutions:BE 14 Issac LukeBE 15 Greg EastwoodBE 16 Frank PritchardBE 17 Ben MatulinoCoach: Stephen Kearney FB 1 Darius BoydRW 2 Brett MorrisRC 3 Brent TateLC 4 Chris LawrenceLW 5 Lote Tuqiri SO 6 Todd Carney SH 7 Cooper CronkPR 8 Matthew ScottHK 9 Cameron Smith (c)PR 10 David ShillingtonSR 11 Greg Bird SR 12 Sam ThaidayLF 13 Paul Gallen Substitutions:BE 14 Dean YoungBE 15 Petero CivonicevaBE 16 Tom Learoyd-Lahrs BE 17 Robbie Farah Coach: Tim Sheens
Final
AustraliaPositionNew ZealandBilly SlaterFBLance HohaiaDarius BoydWGJason NightingaleMark GasnierCEShaun Kenny-DowallWillie TongaCESimon ManneringLote TuqiriWGSam PerrettDarren Lockyer (c)FEBenji Marshall (c)Cooper CronkHBNathan FienMatthew ScottPRAdam BlairCameron SmithHKThomas LeuluaiDavid ShillingtonPRSam McKendryLuke LewisSRBronson HarrisonSam ThaidaySRBen MatulinoGreg BirdLKJeremy SmithKurt GidleyIntGreg EastwoodTom Learoyd-LahrsIntIsaac LukeNate MylesIntFrank-Paul NuuausalaAnthony WatmoughIntSika Manu
Broadcasting details The Four Nations was broadcast to over 60 countries worldwide. Australia: Nine Network – All Kangaroos matches live (except New Zealand vs Australia) plus the final, others delayed Fox Sports – Some live and some delayed Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia: Astro – All Matches Live Fiji, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Palau, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, Tokelau, Marianas, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia and Guam: FijiTV – All Matches Live New Zealand: Sky Sport – All Matches Live Prime – All New Zealand matches delayed Niue: Broadcasting Corporation of Niue – All Matches Live Papua New Guinea: EMTV – All Matches Live Samoa: