The 1959 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the nineteenth tour of by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the fourteen tour to visit Australia. The team lost the first two Test Matches of a three match series, but won every other match.
Touring squad The following players were listed in the program, Rugby League News, for the match against New South Wales. Player Age Weight Province TestsonTour Occupation Ron Ackland 24 14 st. 8 lb. (93 kg) Auckland 3 Contractor Ean Anderson 26 12 st. 7 lb. (79 kg) Canterbury 0 Plumber Jock Butterfield 27 14 st. 8 lb. (93 kg) West Coast 3 Contractor Brian Campbell 22 11 st. 7 lb. (73 kg) Auckland 1 Fitter and Turner Melville Cooke 24 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) Canterbury 1 Carpenter Neville Denton 24 12 st. 6 lb. (79 kg) Auckland 3 Freezing Worker Cyril Eastlake Utility Back 28 11 st. 12 lb. (75 kg) Auckland 3 Contractor Reese Griffiths 21 13 st. 4 lb. (84 kg) West Coast 3 Miner Tom Hadfield 24 12 st. 7 lb. (79 kg) Auckland 0 Transport Director Don Hammond 22 12 st. 12 lb. (82 kg) Auckland 0 Aero Technician Bill Hattaway 28 13 st. 7 lb. (86 kg) Auckland 0 Welder Cliff Johnson 30 15 st. 7 lb. (98 kg) Auckland 3 Plumber Graham Kennedy 20 12 st. 10 lb. (81 kg) West Coast 0 Teacher Trevor Kilkelly 28 13 st. 11 lb. (88 kg) West Coast 3 Miner Henry Maxwell 27 17 st. 7 lb. (111 kg) Auckland 1 Longshoreman George Menzies 27 11 st. 4 lb. (72 kg) West Coast 3 Rope splicer Murray Paterson 25 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) Auckland 0 Teacher Rex Percy 25 13 st. 7 lb. (86 kg) Auckland 2 Wharf foreman Gary Phillips 21 12 st. 3 lb. (78 kg) Auckland 3 Hosiery Technician Joe Rātima 33 16 st. 0 lb. (102 kg) Auckland 2 Laborer Brian Reidy 20 11 st. 0 lb. (70 kg) Auckland 0 Clerk Keith Roberts 27 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) Canterbury 3 Freezing Worker William Schultz 20 12 st. 1 lb. (77 kg) Auckland 0 Diesel Mechanic Bill Snowden 22 11 st. 5 lb. (72 kg) Auckland 0 Upholsterer George Turner 27 11 st. 6 lb. (73 kg) Auckland 2 Contractor Peter Turner 23 13 st. 3 lb. (84 kg) Wellington 0 Roofer
Matches
Team list:New South Wales FB: Brian Graham (22) ( St George), WG: Ian Moir (27) ( Wests), CE: Harry Wells (26) ( Wests), CE: Reg Gasnier (20) ( St George), WG: Don Parish (21) (Dubbo), FE: Brian Clay (25) ( St George), HB: Bobby Bugden (23) ( Wests), LK: John Raper (20) ( Wests), SR: Norm Provan (27) ( St George), SR: Bill Owens (23) (Newcastle ), PR: Rex Mossop (31) ( Manly), HK: Ian Walsh (25) ( Eugowra), PR: Billy Wilson (30) ( St George). Brian Carlson (26) ( Norths) was selected but withdrew. Barry Harris (21) ( Newtown) was selected as a reserve but did not play. New Zealand FB: Gary Phillips, WG: Reese Griffiths, CE: Cyril Eastlake, CE: George Turner, WG: Neville Denton, FE: George Menzies, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Ron Ackland, SR: Trevor Kilkelly, PR: Cliff Johnson, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Henry Maxwell.
1st Test
2nd Test
Team list:Ipswich FB: Bill Cameron ( West End), WG: Don Lowry ( Booval Swifts), CE: Brian Walsh ( Brothers), CE: Mick Mulgrew ( Brothers), WG: Merv Cobb ( West End), FE: Don Barrett ( Booval Swifts), HB: Gerry O'Sullivan ( Brothers), LK: Thornton Jones ( West End), SR: Mick Scully ( West End), SR: Jim Foreman ( Booval Swifts), PR: Gary Parcell ( Brothers), HK: Bob Christison ( Railways), PR: Dan O'Dempsey ( Brothers), Coach Les Heidke. New Zealand FB: Brian Reidy, WG: Murray Paterson, CE: George Turner, CE: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Tom Hadfield, FE: George Menzies, HB: Bill Snowdon, LK: Melville Cooke, SR: Don Hammond, SR: Peter Turner, PR: Joe Rātima, HK: William Schultz, PR: Jock Butterfield.
3rd Test
Sources Item Availability Online Via Rugby League Project database (RLP db) Yes Rugby League Project website Rugby League News Yes Rugby League News (Sydney : 1920 - 1973) at Trove The Canberra Times Yes The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) at Trove E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League 1960 Yearbook No SLNSW Ipswich versus International Teams No NLA, SLQ
References