The 1982 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea was a four match tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The New Zealand national rugby league team lost a series 0-2 against Australia, but defeated Papua New Guinea in a one-off test match. Their only other game was a match against Queensland.

Background New Zealand last toured Australia in 1978 while this would be their second trip to Papua New Guinea having played a test against the Kumuls in Port Moresby in 1978.

Squad The New Zealand squad was chosen from those playing in the NZ, Australia and English competitions. The coach was Cecil Mountford with the captain being Hawera's giant back row forward Graeme West, although North Sydney's Mark Graham would captain the team in the tests against Australia.

The Kiwis were without the services of fiery Cronulla-Sutherland brothers Dane and Kurt Sorensen after the cash strapped Sharks refused to release them for test duty.

Name Games Tests Tries Goals FGs Points ClubFred Ah Kuoi 2 2 0 0 0 0 North Sydney BearsMark Broadhurst 3 3 0 0 0 0 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesTony Coll 2 1 0 1 0 2 Marist Saints (NZ)Wayne Dwyer 0 0 0 0 0 0 Marist Saints (NZ)David Field 0 0 0 0 0 0 Olsen Filipaina 2 2 0 0 0 0 Balmain TigersKevin Fisher 2 1 2 0 0 6 Huntly South (NZ)Clayton Friend 2 1 1 0 0 3 Carlisle RLFCBruce Gall 4 3 1 0 0 3 Taranaki Wildcats (NZ)Mark Gillespie 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mark Graham (vc) 2 2 0 0 0 0 North Sydney BearsJohn Griffin 0 0 0 0 0 0 South Island (NZ)Lewis Hudson 0 0 0 0 0 0 Linwood Keas (NZ)Gary Kemble 3 2 1 0 0 3 Hull F.C.James Leuluai 4 3 3 0 0 9 Mount Wellington (NZ)Hugh McGahan 2 1 2 0 0 6 Otahuhu Leopards (NZ)Peter Mellars 1 0 0 0 0 0 Wellington (NZ)Dane O'Hara 4 3 1 0 0 3 Hull F.C.Gary Prohm 4 3 1 0 0 3 Hull Kingston RoversGordon Smith 4 3 1 16 0 35 Hull Kingston RoversGerard Stokes 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eastern Suburbs (NZ)Howie Tamati 4 3 1 0 0 3 Waitara Bears (NZ)Kevin Tamati 4 3 1 0 0 3 Randwick (NZ)Shane Varley 0 0 0 0 0 0 Workington TownGraeme West (c) 3 2 1 0 0 3 Hawera Hawks (NZ)John Whittaker 1 0 0 0 0 0 Randwick (NZ)Owen Wright 1 1 0 0 0 0 Otahuhu Leopards (NZ)

Australia

Queensland: Tony Currie, Brad Backer, Gene Miles, Mal Meninga, Wayne Challis, Wally Lewis (c), Mark Murray, Rod Morris, Greg Conescu, Paul Khan, Rohan Hancock, Bryan Neibling, Norm Carr. Res - Cavill Heugh, Greg Holben. Coach - Arthur Beetson

New Zealand: Gary Kemble, Gary Prohm, John Whittaker, James Leuluai, Dane O'Hara, Gordon Smith, Clayton Friend, Bruce Gall, Howie Tamati, Kevin Tamati, Graeme West (c), Tony Coll, Hugh McGahan. Res - Kevin Fisher, Peter Mellars

In the first game on the Australian leg of the tour, the Kiwis faced an almost test strength Queensland side, losing 31–16 at Lang Park.

First Test The Australian's escaped with an 11-8 win over New Zealand at Lang Park in Brisbane. The forced retirement due to a chronic knee injury of Canterbury-Bankstown's George Peponis saw Manly-Warringah's Max Krilich named as both Australian hooker and new team captain. Red headed Manly-Warringah and Queensland back rower Paul Vautin made his test debut at lock forward in place of an injured Ray Price. Queensland's Warwick Wattles forward Rohan Hancock made his debut in the second row while both of Australia's reserves, Parramatta Eels back rower John Muggleton and Brisbane Souths heavyweight centre Mal Meninga (who would not get on the field during the game) were also on their test debuts. For New Zealand, Taranaki back rower Bruce Gall was also making his test match debut as was Otahuhu Leopards forward and future New Zealand test captain Hugh McGahan who, like future Australian test captain Meninga, would not get on the field during the game.

FB 1 Greg BrentnallLW 2 John RibotCE 3 Michael CroninCE 4 Steve RogersRW 5 Kerry BousteadFE 6 Wally LewisHB 7 Steve MortimerLK 8 Paul VautinSR 9 Les BoydSR 10 Rohan HancockPR 11 Rod MorrisHK 12 Max Krilich (c)PR 13 Craig YoungSubstitutions:IC 14 John MuggletonIC 15 Mal MeningaCoach: Frank Stanton FB 1 Gary KembleLW 2 Gary ProhmCE 3 Olsen FilipainaCE 4 James LeuluaiRW 5 Dane O'HaraFE 6 Fred Ah KuoiHB 7 Gordon SmithLK 8 Mark Graham (c)SR 9 Bruce GallSR 10 Graeme WestPR 11 Kevin TamatiHK 12 Howie TamatiPR 13 Mark BroadhurstSubstitutions:IC 14 Hugh McGahanIC 15 John WhittakerCoach: Cecil Mountford

English referee Fred Lindop had what the press termed a "Love affair with his whistle" and blew 44 penalties during the game. New Zealand led for most of the game through the boot of Gordon Smith, though with the number of penalties gave Michael Cronin ample opportunity to tie the game at 8-all late in the second half. Only a late John Muggleton try gave the Aussies their win. Of Lindop's 44 penalties, New Zealand won the count 25-19. There were only 7 decisive scrums in the game with Lindop blowing a penalty to end most of them.

Australian debutant second rower Rohan Hancock 's first touch of the ball saw him knocked senseless in a crunching full body tackle by Kiwi hardman prop Kevin Tamati.

Second Test Australia wrapped up the Trans-Tasman series 2-0 with a 20-2 win over the Kiwis at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

FB 1 Greg BrentnallLW 2 John RibotCE 3 Michael CroninCE 4 Mal MeningaRW 5 Kerry BousteadFE 6 Wally LewisHB 7 Steve MortimerLK 8 Ray PriceSR 9 Les BoydSR 10 John MuggletonPR 11 Craig YoungHK 12 Max Krilich (c)PR 13 Rohan HancockSubstitutions:IC 14 Steve RogersIC 15 Rod MorrisCoach: Frank Stanton FB 1 Gary KembleLW 2 Gary ProhmCE 3 Olsen FilipainaCE 4 James LeuluaiRW 5 Dane O'HaraFE 6 Fred Ah KuoiHB 7 Gordon SmithLK 8 Mark Graham (c)SR 9 Bruce GallSR 10 Graeme WestPR 11 Kevin TamatiHK 12 Howie TamatiPR 13 Mark BroadhurstSubstitutions:IC 14 John WhittakerIC 15 Hugh McGahanCoach: Cecil Mountford

Although Ray Price was named as the Man of the Match, the game was a personal triumph for Australian halfback Steve Mortimer who controlled the play and led the Aussies to a 20-2 win.Kangaroos vs Kiwis 2nd Test 1982

Giant Queensland centre Mal Meninga, after not being used off the bench in the first test, made his official test debut in this game in place of Steve Rogers who moved to the bench. Meninga had an unhappy game though, dislocating his elbow in the 28th minute after a crunching blindside tackle from Kiwi winger Dane O'Hara, while at the same time attempting to break a tackle from Kiwi fullback Gary Kemble. The other major change for the Australians was Ray Price returning to the side at lock for Paul Vautin.

Papua New Guinea

FB 1Kungas KuveuRW 2Alan ReroCE 3Y. PilkokosCE 4Jimmy PeterLW 5Samu SasamaFE 6Jon JosephHB 7Poka KilaLK 8John Wagambie (c)SR 9Jack WaninaraSR 10Arebo TaumakuPR 11Philip RaldaHK 12J. TenakanaiPR 13Tara GauSubstitutions:IC 14Joe TepIC 15Joe KatsirCoach: Uve Sabumei FB 1 James LeuluaiLW 2 Kevin FisherCE 3 Gary ProhmCE 4 John WhittakerRW 5 Dane O'HaraFE 6 Gordon SmithHB 7 Clayton FriendLK 8 Hugh McGahanSR 9 Bruce GallSR 10 Graeme West (c)PR 11 Kevin TamatiHK 12 Howie TamatiPR 13 Mark BroadhurstSubstitutions:IC 14 Owen WrightIC 15 Tony CollCoach: Cecil Mountford

References