The 1980 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played seven matches on tour, including a two test series against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 1 June and finished on 17 June.1980 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand @ Rugby League Project
The Test matches against the Kiwis were broadcast back to New South Wales and Queensland by 0–Ten with Ray Warren in commentary. Warren was joined in the first Test call by St George centre Graham Quinn while he was joined by Kerry Boustead for the second Test. Boustead missed the second Test due to a shoulder injury picked up in the first Test and was ironically replaced on the wing by Quinn.
Leadership As he had been since 1978, Frank Stanton, in 1980 coaching at Redcliffe in the Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) competition, was the coach of the Australian team while Greek born Canterbury-Bankstwon hooker George Peponis was in his second year as Australian captain. Unfortunately due to persistent neck injuries, the second Test against New Zealand would not only be his last test as Australian captain but his last game of representative football. Peponis, a fully qualified Physician, ended his tenure as Australian Test captain with a 5–0 win–loss record.
Touring squad The 18 man squad was made up mostly of those playing in the Sydney Premiership. Although not the only Queenslander in the squad (there was also Kerry Boustead, Rod Morris and Rod Reddy), Chris Close was the sole player selected from Queensland, prior to his Man of the Match performance in the experimental 1980 State of Origin game. In his first game against the NZ Māori, Close was sent-off.
* Tests and (as sub) not included in Games total. Player Club Position(s) Games(as sub) Tests(as sub) Tries Goals F/Goals Points Chris Anderson Canterbury-Bankstown 4 2 2 0 0 6 Kerry Boustead Eastern Suburbs (1) 1 1 0 0 3 Les Boyd Manly-Warringah 3 (1) 2 2 0 0 6 Greg Brentnall Canterbury-Bankstown 5 2 3 0 0 9 Chris Close Redcliffe 3 (1) – 3 0 0 9 Michael Cronin Parramatta 3 2 2 22 0 50 Garry Dowling Parramatta 3 2 2 0 0 6 Jim Leis Western Suburbs 2 – 0 0 0 0 Steve Martin Manly-Warringah 3 (1) – 1 0 0 3 Rod Morris Balmain 3 2 0 0 0 0 George Peponis (c) Canterbury-Bankstown 1 2 1 0 0 3 Ray Price Parramatta 4 2 0 0 0 0 Graham Quinn St George 5 1 4 6 0 24 Tommy Raudonikis Newtown 4 2 1 0 0 3 Rod Reddy St George 4 2 4 0 0 12 Alan Thompson Manly-Warringah 2 (1) 2 0 0 0 0 Graeme Wynn St George 3 (1) – 1 3 0 9 Craig Young St George 3 (1) 2 1 0 0 3
Tour The Australian's played seven games on the tour, winning five, losing one with one drawn game.
1st Test
FB 1 Michael O'DonnellRW 2 Kevin FisherCE 3 Olsen FilipainaCE 4 James LeuluaiLW 5 Dane O'HaraFE 6 Gordon SmithHB 7 Shane VarleyPR 8 Mark BroadhurstHK 9 Howie TamatiPR 10 Paul Te ArikiSR 11 Kevin TamatiSR 12 Barry EdkinsLK 13 Mark Graham (c)Substitutions:IC 14 Lewis HudsonIC 15 Graeme WestCoach: Ces Mountford FB 1 Garry DowlingLW 2 Kerry BousteadCE 3 Michael CroninCE 4 Greg BrentnallRW 5 Chris AndersonFE 6 Alan ThompsonHB 7 Tommy RaudonikisPR 8 Craig YoungHK 9 George Peponis (c)PR 12 Rod MorrisSR 11 Rod ReddySR 12 Les BoydLK 13 Ray PriceSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach: Frank Stanton
Māori: James Leuluai, Lou Kapa, John Smith, Dennis Williams (c), Ron Siulepa, Ray Harris, Dennis Key, Rick Muru, Howie Tamati, Warren Rangi, Pat Poasa, Kevin Tamati, Ian Bell. Reserves – Bart Herangi. Coach – Tom Newton
Australia: Garry Dowling, Chris Anderson, Graham Quinn, Chris Close, Greg Brentnall, Steve Martin, Tommy Raudonikis (c), Rohan Hancock, John Lang, Rod Morris, Rod Reddy, Graeme Wynn, Jim Leis. Reserves – Kerry Boustead, Craig Young
Central Districts: Paul Christensen, Lou Kapa, John Whittaker (c), Gary Butler, Nolan Tupaea, Lance Pupuke, Monty Henry, Paul Te Ariki, Howie Tamati, Whetu Henry, Eddie Allbright, Bruce Gall, Victor Bracken. Reserves – John Knuckey, Mike Butler. Coach –
Australia: Garry Dowling, Chris Anderson, Greg Brentnall, Michael Cronin, Graham Quinn, Alan Thompson (c), Steve Martin, Rohan Hancock, John Lang, Craig Young, Les Boyd, Rod Reddy, Ray Price. Reserves – Chris Close, Graeme Wynn
New Zealand XIII: Gary Kemble, Dick Uluave, Lewis Hudson, Ron O'Regan, Mark Petersen, Chris Menzies, Daryl Morrison, Danny Campbell, Paul Ravlich, Alan Rushton, Tony Coll (c), Graeme West, Gary Prohm. Reserves – Billy Kells, Owen Wright. Coach – Neville Denton
Australia: Greg Brentnall, Chris Anderson, Chris Close, Michael Cronin, Graham Quinn, Alan Thompson, Tommy Raudonikis, Rod Morris, George Peponis (c), Craig Young, Les Boyd, Rod Reddy, Ray Price. Reserves – Steve Martin, Graeme Wynn
South Island: Michael O'Donnell, Michael Williams, Bruce Dickinson, Bernard Green, Paul McCone, Chris Menzies, Gordon Smith, Mark Broadhurst, Paul Truscott, Alan Rushton, Kevin Franklin, Tony Coll (c), Barry Edkins. Reserves – David Field, Wayne Dwyer. Coach – Cecil Clark
Australia: Garry Dowling, Graham Quinn, Chris Close, Greg Brentnall, Chris Anderson, Steve Martin, Tommy Raudonikis (c), Rod Morris, John Lang, Rohan Hancock, Jim Leis, Graeme Wynn, Ray Price. Reserves – Alan Thompson, Les Boyd
2nd Test
FB 1 Michael O'DonnellRW 2 Kevin FisherCE 3 Olsen FilipainaCE 4 James LeuluaiLW 5 Dane O'HaraFE 6 Dennis WilliamsHB 7 Gordon SmithPR 8 Mark BroadhurstHK 9 Howie TamatiPR 10 Kevin TamatiSR 11 Tony CollSR 12 Barry EdkinsLK 13 Mark Graham (c)Substitutions:IC 14IC 15 Graeme WestCoach: Ces Mountford FB 1 Garry DowlingLW 2 Graham QuinnCE 3 Michael CroninCE 4 Greg BrentnallRW 5 Chris AndersonFE 6 Alan ThompsonHB 7 Tommy RaudonikisPR 8 Craig YoungHK 9 George Peponis (c)PR 10 Rod MorrisSR 11 Rod ReddySR 12 Les BoydLK 13 Ray PriceSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach: Frank Stanton
Australian winger Kerry Boustead suffered a shoulder injury in the first test that kept him out of the second test. St George centre Graham Quinn came in onto the wing for his only Test match. Boustead spent the game in the 0–Ten commentary booth calling the game for Australian television next to chief commentator Ray Warren.
Auckland: Gary Kemble, Chris Jordan, James Leuluai, Dennis Williams (c), Dane O'Hara, Ron O'Regan, John Smith, Doug Gailey, John Gordon, Pat Poasa, Tom Conroy, Alan McCarthy, Gary Prohm. Reserves – Ian Bell, Dave Lepper. Coach – Don Hammond
Australia: Greg Brentnall, Graham Quinn, Michael Cronin, Jim Leis, Les Boyd, Steve Martin, Tommy Raudonikis, John Lang, Craig Young, Rod Reddy, Graeme Wynn, Ray Price (c). Reserves –
Statistics Leading Try Scorer 4 by Rod Reddy and Graham Quinn
Leading Point Scorer 50 by Michael Cronin (2 tries, 22 goals)
Largest Test Attendance 12,321 – First test vs New Zealand at Carlaw Park
Largest non-test Attendance 14,000 – Australia vs Auckland at Carlaw Park
References