1952 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia

The 1952 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the sixteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the twelfth tour to visit Australia. The thirteen-match tour included three Test Matches. Captained by Travers Hardwick and coached by Jim Amos, the Kiwis completed a successful tour, winning ten of the thirteen matches. The team recovered from losing the First Test Match, to win – in the space of five days – the Second and Third Tests and claim the series by a two-one margin.

Squad The team was coached by Les Amos and managed by Bill Swift and Colin Siddle. Travers Hardwick was captain in all three Test Matches and in each of the eight other tour matches in which he appeared. Tommy Baxter captained the side against Newcastle. The Rugby League News published a Team Photo, Player Details (Occupation, Age, Height and Weight) and pen portraits of the tourists: Backs and Forwards which listed their club and provincial team.

Player Age Weight Club Province TestsonTour TourGames Tries Goals FG Points Alister Atkinson 25 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) Linwood Canterbury 3 9 10 0 0 30 Tommy Baxter 22 13 st. 8 lb. (86 kg) Richmond Auckland 3 10 4 0 0 12 David Blanchard 27 14 st. 0 lb. (89 kg) Linwood Canterbury 3 8 2 0 0 6 Bill Davidson 26 13 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) Marist Brothers Auckland 3 8 2 3 0 12 Cyril Eastlake 21 11 st. 4 lb. (72 kg) Ellerslie Auckland 3 10 7 0 0 21 Robert Edwards 25 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) Marist Brothers Auckland 3 9 5 0 0 15 Jimmy Haig 27 12 st. 3 lb. (78 kg) Marist Brothers Old Boys Canterbury 3 9 3 1 0 11 Travers Hardwick 29 13 st. 11 lb. (88 kg) Ngaruawahia South Auckland 3 11 4 0 0 12 Cliff Harris 21 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) Marist Brothers Auckland 0 2 0 0 0 0 Bevan Hough 23 11 st. 7 lb. (73 kg) Richmond Auckland 0 7 6 0 0 18 Harvey Kreyl 26 14 st. 1 lb. (89 kg) Randwick Wellington 0 6 2 0 0 6 Ron McKay 20 12 st. 7 lb. (79 kg) Central Taranaki 3 8 5 0 0 15 Bill McKenzie 27 13 st. 6 lb. (85 kg) Marist Brothers Old Boys Canterbury 1 5 0 0 0 0 Bill McLennan 24 16 st. 0 lb. (102 kg) Blackball West Coast 3 11 3 0 0 9 George Menzies 21 11 st. 0 lb. (70 kg) Runanga West Coast 2 8 3 0 0 9 Roy Moore 23 12 st. 12 lb. (82 kg) Mount Albert Auckland 0 4 0 20 0 40 Frank Mulcare 23 12 st. 12 lb. (82 kg) Ngahere West Coast 3 9 8 0 0 24 Bob Neilson 28 13 st. 12 lb. (88 kg) Greymouth Marist West Coast 0 5 1 0 0 3 Bob O'Donnell 26 15 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) Blackball West Coast 0 4 0 0 0 0 Joe Rātima 26 15 st. 7 lb. (98 kg) Ponsonby Auckland 0 4 3 0 0 9 Alan Riechelmann 21 12 st. 10 lb. (81 kg) Marist Brothers Auckland 0 4 1 0 0 3 Roy Roff 26 12 st. 4 lb. (78 kg) Mount Albert Auckland 0 5 2 0 0 6 Jack Russell-Green 26 11 st. 5 lb. (72 kg) Point Chevalier Auckland 0 4 0 0 0 0 Des White 25 12 st. 3 lb. (78 kg) Ponsonby Auckland 3 9 1 52 0 107

Matches

Team list:Combined Riverina-Western Division FB: Les Koch ( Gundagai), WG: Neil Kingsmill ( Albury Blues), CE: Neville Brogan ( Young), CE: Clem O'Brien (Geurie), WG: Stan Root ( Narromine), FE: J. Doherty ( Warren), HB: Bob Isaac ( Adelong), LK: Peter O'Connor ( Young), SR: Ted Curran ( Adelong), SR: Neville (Fraser) Frazer ( Dunedoo), PR: Eric Funnell ( Bathurst Railway), HK: Harry Gibbs ( Gundagai), PR: Frank Hogan ( St Patrick's), IJ: Tom Kerwick ( Orange CYMS), Coach: Nevyl Hand. New Zealand FB: Des White, WG: Robert Edwards, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Bill McKenzie, FE: George Menzies, HB: Jimmy Haig, LK: Travers Hardwick, SR: Harvey Kreyl, SR: Frank Mulcare, PR: Bob O'Donnell, HK: Bill Davidson, PR: Bill McLennan.

Team list:New South Wales FB: Clive Churchill (25) ( Souths), WG: Noel Pidding (25) ( St George), CE: Col Geelan (24) ( Newtown), CE: Harry Wells (20) ( Wollongong), WG: Brian Carlson (19) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), FE: Wally O'Connell (29) ( Manly), HB: Keith Holman (24) ( Wests), LK: Peter Diversi (20) ( Norths), SR: Albert Paul (24) ( Lakes United), SR: Ferris Ashton (24) ( Easts), PR: Charlie Gill (29) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert (24) ( Manly), PR: Ken Mogg (25) ( South Newcastle). The following were selected as reserves but did not play: Ian Moir (20) ( Souths) and Tom Tyrrell (24) ( Balmain). New Zealand FB: Des White, WG: Robert Edwards, CE: Cyril Eastlake, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Bill McKenzie, FE: Ron McKay, HB: Jimmy Haig, LK: Travers Hardwick, SR: Frank Mulcare, SR: Alister Atkinson, PR: Bill McLennan, HK: Bill Davidson, PR: David Blanchard.

Team list:Combined Monaro-Southern Division FB: Bert Hewitt ( Corrimal), WG: Ron Roberts (24) ( Picton), CE: Doug McRitchie (28) ( Queanbeyan), CE: Harry Wells (20) ( Wollongong), WG: Peter Morton ( Queanbeyan), FE: Bernie (O'Keeffe) O'Keefe ( C.B.C.), HB: Noel Hill ( Thirroul), LK: Jack Quinn ( Gerringong), SR: Jack Perrin ( Queanbeyan), SR: Bruce Smith (25) ( Thirroul), PR: Billy Hodges ( Captain's Flat), HK: Bill Bolt ( C.B.C.), PR: Austin Lawler ( C.B.C.). New Zealand Des White, Robert Edwards, Ron McKay, Cliff Harris, Bevan Hough, Cyril Eastlake, Jimmy Haig, Travers Hardwick, Frank Mulcare, Alister Atkinson, Bill McLennan, Bill Davidson, David Blanchard.

Team list:Newcastle FB: Gwyn Madge (26) ( Kurri), WG: Ivor (Woolfe) Wolfe ( Lakes United), CE: Viv Madge (30) ( Kurri), CE: Ned Andrews (30) ( Souths), WG: Darcy Russell (23) ( Waratah Mayfield), FE: Warren Foley (18) ( Waratah Mayfield), HB: Bobby Banks (22) ( Centrals), LK: Frank Mayo (22) ( Wests), SR: Tom Anderson (23) ( Norths), SR: Gordon Harley (29) ( Maitland), PR: Doug Hawke (23) ( Norths), HK: Bill Hilliard (23) ( Kurri), PR: George Lawler (24) ( Maitland). The following were selected as reserves but did not play: Gus Shepherd ( Centrals). New Zealand FB: Roy Moore, WG: Bevan Hough, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Alan Riechelmann, WG: Bill McKenzie, FE: George Menzies, HB: Jack Russell-Green, LK: Bob Neilson, SR: Joe Rātima, SR: Harvey Kreyl, PR: Bill McLennan, HK: Roy Roff, PR: Bob O'Donnell.

1st Test

Team list:Australia FB: Clive Churchill (25) ( South Sydney), WG: Noel Pidding (25) ( St George), CE: Noel Hazzard (27) (Bundaberg), CE: Rees Duncan (20) ( Kurri Kurri), WG: Denis Flannery (23) ( Ipswich Brothers), FE: Col Geelan (24) ( Newtown), HB: Keith Holman (24) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Albert Paul (24) ( Lakes United), SR: Brian Davies (21) ( Brisbane Brothers), SR: Ferris Ashton (24) ( Eastern Suburbs), PR: Charlie Gill (29) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert (24) ( Manly-Warringah), PR: Jack Rooney (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites). The following were selected as reserves but did not play: Col Donohoe (22) ( Eastern Suburbs), and Tom Tyrrell (24) ( Balmain). The following were selected but withdrew owing to injury: Harold (Mick) Crocker ( South Brisbane), Duncan Hall ( Toowoomba Newtown), Kevin Hansen ( Western Suburbs). New Zealand FB: Des White, WG: Robert Edwards, CE: Ron McKay, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Bill McKenzie, FE: Cyril Eastlake, HB: Jimmy Haig, LK: Travers Hardwick, SR: Frank Mulcare, SR: Alister Atkinson, PR: Bill McLennan, HK: Bill Davidson, PR: David Blanchard.

Team list:Northern NSW (Combined North Coast-Northern Division) FB: B. Hillier ( North Tamworth), WG: Tom Mills ( Singleton), CE: Norman Young ( West Tamworth), CE: Colin De Lore (Tuncurry), WG: Jim Daley (Bangalow), FE: Kevin (Haydon) Hayden (Kempsey CYM), HB: Carl Keogh ( Gunnedah), LK: A J. Edwards (Murwillumbah), SR: George Alaban (Macksville), SR: Kevin (McKiernan) McKeirnan (Kempsey CYM), PR: Noel Hall ( Grafton), HK: Alf Hardman ( Moree), PR: C. Schaeffer (Macksville). New Zealand FB: Des White, WG: Bevan Hough, CE: Cyril Eastlake, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Alister Atkinson, FE: George Menzies, HB: Jimmy Haig, LK: Travers Hardwick, SR: Harvey Kreyl, SR: Bob Neilson, PR: David Blanchard, HK: Roy Roff, PR: Bill McLennan.

Team list:Queensland FB: Nev Linde (27) ( Tivoli), WG: Des McGovern (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites), CE: Noel Hazzard (27) (Bundaberg), CE: Eric Webster ( Souths), WG: Denis Flannery (23) ( Ipswich Brothers), FE: Bob Banks (21) ( Toowoomba Newtown), HB: Cyril Connell Jr (22) ( Toowoomba Newtown), LK: Ron (Roy) Teys ( Toowoomba Valleys), SR: Roy Greenwood (Tully), SR: Brian Davies (21) ( Brisbane Brothers), PR: Jack Rooney (26) ( Brisbane Brothers), HK: Ron Griffiths (26) ( Ipswich CYM), PR: Gordon Teys ( Toowoomba Valleys). The following were selected but withdrew owing to injury: Rex McGlynn (Bundaberg), Duncan Hall (28) ( Toowoomba Newtown), Harold (Mick) Crocker (25) ( Souths). New Zealand FB: Des White, WG: Robert Edwards, CE: Ron McKay, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Bevan Hough, FE: George Menzies, HB: Jimmy Haig, LK: Travers Hardwick, SR: Frank Mulcare, SR: Alister Atkinson, PR: Bill McLennan, HK: Bill Davidson, PR: David Blanchard.

Team list:Central Queensland FB: Norm Pope (20) ( Railways), WG: Leo Jeffcoat ( Brothers), CE: D. Watkins ( Norths), CE: B. Ford ( Brothers), WG: J (Paten) Paton ( Railways), FE: D. White ( Norths), HB: Duncan Jackson ( Norths), LK: Peter Robinson ( Norths), SR: Tony Brown ( Brothers), SR: Noel Joyce ( Brothers), PR: F. Bryson ( Brothers), HK: Vince Hage ( Norths), PR: D. Casey ( Railways). New Zealand FB: Roy Moore, WG: Robert Edwards, CE: Alan Riechelmann, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Bevan Hough, FE: Cyril Eastlake, HB: Jack Russell-Green, LK: Travers Hardwick, SR: Bob Neilson, SR: Joe Rātima, PR: Harvey Kreyl, HK: Roy Roff, PR: Bob O'Donnell.

Team list:Central West Queensland FB: Noel Webster ( Longreach), WG: Alan Deasy ( Longreach), CE: Mick Hauff ( Blackall), CE: Mick Irwin ( Blackall), WG: Bill (Chic) Buchester ( Blackall), FE: Leo Quigley ( Blackall), HB: Alf (Alby) O'Brien ( Winton), LK: George Lynn ( Winton), SR: Doug Davis ( Longreach), SR: Col Hauff ( Blackall), PR: Norm Elliott ( Winton), HK: Brian Jisberg ( Barcaldine), PR: Mick Turnbull ( Blackall). New Zealand FB: Roy Moore, WG: Alister Atkinson, CE: Alan Riechelmann, CE: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Bevan Hough, FE: George Menzies, HB: Jimmy Haig, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Joe Rātima, SR: Bob Neilson, PR: Harvey Kreyl, HK: Roy Roff, PR: Bill McLennan.

Team list:North Queensland FB: Frank Gill ( Kangaroos), WG: A. Boundy ( Ivanhoes), CE: Frank Fahey (Ayr), CE: Dev Dines (Mareeba), WG: Norm Stokes (Ayr), FE: Neville Wilson (Charters Towers), HB: Ron O'Connell ( Brothers), LK: Trevor Whitehead (Herbert River), SR: Horrie Robertson (Herbert River), SR: Keith Geary (Souths), PR: E. Kratzman (Tully), HK: Kel O'Shea (18) (Ayr), PR: Ross Primrose (Mackay). New Zealand FB: Des White, WG: Robert Edwards, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Ron McKay, WG: Bevan Hough, FE: George Menzies, HB: Jack Russell-Green, LK: Travers Hardwick, SR: Alister Atkinson, SR: Frank Mulcare, PR: Bill McLennan, HK: Bill Davidson, PR: David Blanchard.

Team list:Toowoomba FB: Ken Cronin ( Valleys), WG: Sammy Hunter ( Souths), CE: Russell Brown ( Souths), CE: Athol Halpin ( All Whites), WG: Jim Allen ( All Whites), FE: Bob Banks ( Newtown), HB: Ken McCaffery ( Souths), LK: Ron (Roy) Teys ( Valleys), SR: Gordon Teys ( Valleys), SR: Bill Beardsworth ( Valleys), PR: Vince Soorley ( Newtown), HK: Kev Boshammer ( All Whites), PR: Neil Teys ( Valleys). New Zealand FB: Roy Moore, WG: Bill McKenzie, CE: Cyril Eastlake, CE: Alan Riechelmann, WG: Cliff Harris, FE: Ron McKay, HB: Jack Russell-Green, LK: Travers Hardwick, SR: Joe Rātima, SR: Bob Neilson, PR: Bob O'Donnell, HK: Roy Roff, PR: Harvey Kreyl.

2nd Test

Team list:Australia FB: Clive Churchill ( South Sydney), WG: Denis Flannery ( Ipswich Brothers), CE: Noel Hazzard (Bundaberg), CE: Gordon Willoughby ( Manly-Warringah), WG: Noel Pidding ( St George), FE: Col Geelan ( Newtown), HB: Keith Holman ( Western Suburbs), LK: Albert Paul ( Lakes United), SR: Ferris Ashton ( Eastern Suburbs), SR: Brian Davies ( Brisbane Brothers), PR: Charlie Gill ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert ( Manly-Warringah), PR: Kevin Hansen ( Western Suburbs).