The 1991 Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea was a two-week, end of season tour of Papua New Guinea by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played five matches on the tour, including two Test matches against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls. The tour began on 29 September and finished on 13 October.1991 Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea @ Rugby League Project
As of 2025 this remains the only full Kangaroo Tour of Papua New Guinea.
Leadership As he had been since 1989, Bob Fulton was the coach of the Kangaroos. As he had been since 1990, Mal Meninga was the Kangaroos team captain.
Touring squad Eleven of the 23 man squad had played for Australia in their 2-1 Trans-Tasman Test series win over New Zealand earlier in the year. Among those selected to tour but who were ultimately ruled out with injury was Penrith's incumbent Test back rower and 1991 premiership winner Mark Geyer who also missed playing in the World Club Challenge (WCC) game against English champions Wigan due to an ankle injury that required surgery (the WCC was played 4 days before the first Test in Goroka). Also missing were Canberra Raiders halves Laurie Daley and Ricky Stuart as well as Brisbane Broncos Test half Allan Langer, with Manly-Warringah 5/8 Cliff Lyons earning a Test recall while his Sea Eagles halves partner Geoff Toovey was called up for his first taste of international football.
Player Club Position(s) Games Tests Tries Goals F/Goals Points Gary Belcher Canberra Raiders 5 2 3 10 – 32 Martin Bella Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 5 2 – – – – Willie Carne Brisbane Broncos 5 2 8 – – 32 Bradley Clyde Canberra Raiders 4 2 3 – – 12 Gary Coyne Canberra Raiders 4 2 – – – – Andrew Ettingshausen Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 4 2 3 – – 12 Brad Fittler Penrith Panthers 5 2 4 – – 16 Andrew Gee Brisbane Broncos 1 0 – – – – Scott Gourley St George Dragons 4 1 3 – – 12 Peter Jackson North Sydney Bears 4 1 3 – – 12 Chris Johns Brisbane Broncos 5 2 2 – – 8 Glenn Lazarus Canberra Raiders 5 2 1 – – 4 Cliff Lyons Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 5 2 3 – – 12 Mark McGaw Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 1 0 – – – – Bruce McGuire Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 1 0 – – – – Mal Meninga (c) Canberra Raiders 3 2 2 6 – 20 Steve Roach Balmain Tigers 1 0 – – – – Ian Roberts Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 4 1 – – – 4 Craig Salvatori Eastern Suburbs Roosters 1 – – – – – Geoff Toovey Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 5 2 1 – – 4 Kerrod Walters Brisbane Broncos 4 2 – – – – Kevin Walters Brisbane Broncos 5 2 1 – – 4 Rod Wishart Illawarra Steelers 4 2 4 4 – 24
Tour The Australian's played five games on the tour, winning all five.
Northern Zone: David Buko, Tweedy Malagian, Charlie Vee, John Markham, Lance Tirava, Elison Ketauwo, David Gilpu, Mathias Kin, Michael Matmillo, Patrick Kiap, Nande Yer, John Piel (c), Goro Arigae. Res - Joe Tonar, Chris Sari, Jacob Danny, Dick Moiga.
Australia: Gary Belcher, Willie Carne, Mal Meninga (c), Andrew Ettingshausen, Rod Wishart, Peter Jackson, Geoff Toovey, Martin Bella, Kevin Walters, Glenn Lazarus, Craig Salvatori, Ian Roberts, Bradley Clyde. Res - Cliff Lyons, Brad Fittler, Chris Johns, Scott Gourley.
Australian forward Craig Salvatori suffered an ankle injury during the game and did not play again on tour.
Island Zone: Normyle Eremas, Arnold Tivelit, Henry Hairoi, August Joseph, James Kapia, Willie Langer, Billy Kennedy, Pisai Maevo, Bernard Bate, David Gaius, Jimmy Peter, Ben Lakur, Apelis Walia. Res - Phillip Nagatia, Ken Oki, Cliff Rich, Albert Levy.
Australia: Gary Belcher (c), Willie Carne, Peter Jackson, Brad Fittler, Chris Johns, Cliff Lyons, Kevin Walters, Steve Roach, Kerrod Walters, Glenn Lazarus, Gary Coyne, Andrew Gee, Scott Gourley. Res - Geoff Toovey, Martin Bella, Ian Roberts, Andrew Ettingshausen.
1st Test Reserve forward Scott Gourley who had made 5 rugby union test appearances for Australia in 1988 before switching to rugby league with St. George, became Australia's 41st dual-rugby international.
FB 1Ipisa WanegaRW 2Liprin PalangatCE 3Chris ItamCE 4Richard WagambiLW 5Korul SinemauFE 6Stanley Haru (c)HB 7Sam KararaPR 8John UnagiHK 9Danny MoiPR 10Daroa Ben-MoideSR 11Max TiriSR 12Thomas DakiLK 13Joe GispeSubstitutions:IC 14Joshua KouoruIC 15Ngala LapanIC 16James NaipaoIC 17Kes PaglipariCoach: Skerry Palanga FB 1 Gary BelcherLW 2 Rod WishartCE 3 Mal Meninga (c)CE 4 Andrew EttingshausenRW 5 Willie CarneFE 6 Cliff LyonsHB 7 Geoff TooveyPR 8 Martin BellaHK 9 Kerrod WaltersPR 10 Glenn LazarusSR 11 Bradley ClydeSR 12 Ian RobertsLF 13 Brad FittlerSubstitutions:IC 14 Chris JohnsIC 15 Kevin WaltersIC 16 Gary CoyneIC 17 Scott GourleyCoach: Bob Fulton
Highlands Zone: John Okul, Francis Abba, David Gomia, Thomas Tumbo, Joe Rema, Dimbi Ongugo, Gigmai Ongugo, Leslie Hoffman, Maima Kawage, Yami Kamisive, Joe Paraka (c), Philip Humar, John Yawing. Res - Michael Angra, Mek Kepo, John Passigan, Michael Kiap.
Australia: Gary Belcher, Willie Carne, Chris Johns, Mark McGaw, Rod Wishart, Cliff Lyons, Geoff Toovey, Glenn Lazarus, Kevin Walters, Gary Coyne, Bruce McGuire, Scott Gourley, Bradley Clyde (c). Res - Kerrod Walters, Martin Bella, Brad Fittler, Peter Jackson.
Australia won a bruising encounter 28–3 over Highlands Zone in Mount Hagan.1991 Highlands Zone vs Australia highlights
2nd Test This test match also doubled as a Group Stage game for the 1989-92 Rugby League World Cup. Gary Belcher, Martin Bella, Cliff Lyons and Gary Coyne all played their last tests for Australia.
FB 1Phillip BogeRW 2Liprin PalangatCE 3Korul SinemauCE 4Richard WagambiLW 5Gideon KouoruFE 6Stanley Haru (c)HB 7Sam KararaPR 8John UnagiHK 9Danny MoiPR 10James NaipaoSR 11Thomas DakiSR 12Kes PaglipariLK 13Joe GispeSubstitutions:IC 14Leslie HoffmanIC 15Ngala LapanIC 16Kera NgaffinIC 17Jack UradokCoach: Skerry Palanga FB 1 Gary BelcherLW 2 Rod WishartCE 3 Mal Meninga (c)CE 4 Andrew EttingshausenRW 5 Willie CarneFE 6 Peter JacksonHB 7 Geoff TooveyPR 8 Martin BellaHK 9 Kerrod WaltersPR 10 Glenn LazarusSR 11 Bradley ClydeSR 12 Ian RobertsLF 13 Brad FittlerSubstitutions:IC 14 Cliff LyonsIC 15 Kevin WaltersIC 16 Chris JohnsIC 17 Gary CoyneCoach: Bob Fulton
Statistics Leading Try Scorer 8 by Willie Carne
Leading Point Scorer 32 by Gary Belcher (3 tries, 10 goals) and Willie Carne (8 tries)
Largest Attendance 14,500 - Second test vs Papua New Guinea at Lloyd Robson Oval
Largest non-test Attendance 10,300 - Australia vs Northern Zone
References
External links