1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia

The 1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the eighteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the thirteenth tour to visit Australia. The fifteen-match tour included three Test Matches. The touring team began with a pair of wins but then lost the next two, against Newcastle and the First Test in Sydney. Five strong performances in Queensland followed, with wins by wide margins in high-scoring matches. In contrast, the Second Test was a low-scoring match, Australia winning 8 to 2 to secure their first Trans-Tasman series win since 1935. New Zealand lost the Third Test, and thus the series three-nil, and also the two tour matches that followed.

Leadership The team was captained by Tommy Baxter.

The touring team was managed by Ron McGregor.

Squad 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 provincial team. Player Age Weight Province TestsonTour Games Tries Goals FG Points Ron Ackland 21 13. 4 (84) Auckland 0 4 4 0 0 12 Vern Bakalich 26 12. 2 (77) Auckland 3 7 7 0 0 21 Tommy Baxter 26 12. 12 (82) Auckland 2 9 1 0 0 3 Sel Belsham 25 11. 2 (71) Auckland 3 9 1 0 0 3 John Bond , 24 14. 8 (93) Canterbury 0 6 2 0 0 6 Ossie Butt , 22 14. 4 (91) Wellington 0 5 0 0 0 0 Jock Butterfield , 24 14. 0 (89) Canterbury 3 10 1 0 0 3 Pat Creedy 28 12. 5 (78) Canterbury 0 3 1 4 0 11 Cyril Eastlake Utility Back 25 11. 7 (73) Auckland 3 11 2 6 0 18 Arnold Green , 22 10. 11 (68) West Coast 0 7 7 0 0 21 Reese Griffiths , 18 12. 3 (78) West Coast 0 7 4 0 0 12 Tom Hadfield , 21 12. 0 (76) Auckland 1 8 4 0 0 12 Cliff Johnson 27 15. 2 (96) Auckland 3 8 1 0 0 3 John Lasher 23 12. 12 (82) Auckland 0 7 3 0 0 9 Duncan MacRae 22 15. 4 (97) Auckland 3 9 0 0 0 0 Henry Maxwell 24 15. 10 (100) Auckland 3 10 3 0 0 9 George Menzies 25 11. 5 (72) West Coast 3 9 2 0 0 6 Gordon Moncur 23 11. 2 (71) Auckland 0 6 1 0 0 3 Frank Mulcare 27 13. 0 (83) West Coast 3 7 3 0 0 9 Mauriohooho Murray 23 14. 5 (91) Auckland 0 8 3 0 0 9 Rex Percy 22 13. 7 (86) Auckland 0 8 12 0 0 36 Jim Riddell 26 13. 8 (86) Auckland 3 9 0 0 0 0 Keith Roberts 24 11. 12 (75) Canterbury 0 5 5 0 0 15 Bill Sorensen , 24 13. 4 (84) Auckland 3 12 10 5 0 40 Des White 29 11. 13 (76) Auckland 3 10 0 44 0 88 John Yates , 25 15. 2 (96) Auckland 0 4 1 0 0 3

Matches

Team list:Western NSW: FB: Barry Russell (age 22), WG: William Miller (23) ( Parkes), CE: Ray Quinnell (23), CE: Alex Whitby (23), WG: Joseph Cohen (23), FE: Jack McIntosh (25), HB: William Roberts (26) (Orange), LK: John Gain (23) ( Parkes), SR: Jack Perrin (24) ( Parkes), SR: Patrick Weldon (21) (Orange), PR: Hilton Bonham (20) (Bathurst), HK: John Kelly (24), PR: Laurie Bennett (26) (Lithgow). Ken Van Heekeren (24) and Frank Border (27) were selected as reserves, but did not play. New Zealand: FB: Pat Creedy, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Ron Ackland, CE: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Reese Griffiths, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Jim Riddell, SR: Cliff Johnson, PR: John Bond, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: John Yates.

Team list:New South Wales: FB: Ron Willey (age 28) ( Manly), WG: Ross Kite (24) ( St George), CE: Dick Poole (25) ( Newtown), CE: Tony Paskins (27) ( Easts), WG: Don Adams (22) ( Maitland), FE: Graham Laird (22) ( Parramatta), HB: Col Donohoe (26) ( Souths), LK: Peter O'Connor (25) ( Young), SR: Don Schofield (25) ( Cessnock), SR: Henry Holloway (25) ( Newtown), PR: Roy Bull (26) ( Manly), HK: Ken Kearney (30) ( St George), PR: Les Hampson (22) ( Newtown). Bryan Orrock (25) ( St George) and Keith Holman (28) ( Wests) were selected as reserves but did not play. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Bill Sorensen, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Henry Maxwell.

Team list:Newcastle: FB: Russ Naughton ( Lakes United), WG: Don Adams ( Maitland), CE: J. Fitzpatrick, CE: Neil McDonnell ( Lakes United), WG: Brian Carlson ( Souths), FE: Warren Foley ( Waratah Mayfield), HB: Bobby Banks ( Waratah Mayfield), LK: Bill Smith ( Waratah Mayfield), SR: Kurri Chapple ( Kurri), SR: Don Schofield ( Cessnock), PR: Doug Hawke ( Norths), HK: Ken Fogarty ( Maitland), PR: Fred Brown ( Maitland). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Gordon Moncur, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Tom Hadfield, WG: Arnold Green, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Pat Creedy, LK: Rex Percy, SR: John Yates, SR: Duncan MacRae, PR: Mauriohooho Murray, HK: John Lasher, PR: Henry Maxwell.

1st Test

Team list:Australia: FB: Ken McCrohon (23) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Don Adams ( Maitland), CE: Alex Watson (23) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), CE: Dick Poole (25) ( Newtown), WG: Ian Moir (24) ( South Sydney), FE: Cyril Connell Jr (26) ( North Rockhampton), HB: Keith Holman (28) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Ian Doyle (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites), SR: Ignatius Tyquin (23) ( South Brisbane), SR: Kel O'Shea (22) ( Western Suburbs), PR: Roy Bull (26) ( Manly-Warringah), HK: Ken Kearney (30) ( St George), PR: Brian Davies (25) ( Brisbane Brothers). Tom Payne (21) ( Toowoomba All Whites) and Don Furner (23) ( Toowoomba Souths) were selected as reserves but did not play. Brian Carlson (23) ( South Newcastle) was selected for this match but withdrew. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Henry Maxwell.

Team list:Brisbane: FB: Ken McCrohon ( Wests), WG: B. Pryor ( Souths), CE: J. Mulgrew ( Valleys), CE: Norm Pope ( Valleys), WG: Bill Monkland ( Wests), FE: Norm Reynolds ( Wests), HB: Darcy Ryan ( Wests), LK: John Bruton ( Brothers), SR: J. Duncan ( Brothers), SR: Tom Tyquin ( Souths), PR: Brian. Davies ( Brothers), HK: Alan Hornery ( Wests), PR: Norm McFadden ( Valleys). New Zealand: FB: Pat Creedy, WG: Ron Ackland, CE: Bill Sorensen, CE: Arnold Green, WG: Tom Hadfield, FE: Cyril Eastlake, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: John Yates, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Mauriohooho Murray, HK: John Lasher, PR: John Bond.

Team list:Toowoomba: FB: Athol Halpin ( All Whites), WG: Des McGovern (age 28) ( All Whites), CE: Tom Payne (21) ( All Whites), CE: Les Hardy ( Souths), WG: Bob Buckley ( All Whites), FE: H. Walker ( Souths), HB: Sammy Hunter (25) ( Souths), LK: Ian Doyle (24) ( All Whites), SR: Jim Payne (19) ( All Whites), SR: Don Furner (23) ( Souths), PR: Ron Proudfoot (22) ( Newtown), HK: Leo Johnson ( Newtown), PR: Kev Boshammer ( All Whites), Coach: Duncan Thompson (Toowoomba ). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Ron Ackland, CE: Tom Hadfield, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Gordon Moncur, FE: Cyril Eastlake, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: John Yates, PR: Henry Maxwell, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Duncan MacRae.

Team list:Queensland: FB: Ken McCrohon (age 23) ( Wests), WG: Des McGovern (28) ( Toowoomba All Whites), CE: Alex Watson (23) ( Wests), CE: Tom Payne (21) ( Toowoomba All Whites), WG: Bob Buckley ( Toowoomba All Whites), FE: Cyril Connell Jr (26) ( North Rockhampton), HB: Sammy Hunter (25) ( Toowoomba Souths), LK: Tom Tyquin (23) ( Souths), SR: Gary Parcell ( Ipswich Brothers), SR: Don Furner (23) ( Toowoomba Souths), PR: Brian Davies (25) ( Brisbane Brothers), HK: Alan Hornery ( Wests), PR: Ron Proudfoot (22) ( Toowoomba Newtown). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Tom Hadfield, CE: Bill Sorensen, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Vern Bakalich, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Jim Riddell, SR: Cliff Johnson, PR: Henry Maxwell, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Duncan MacRae, RF: Mauriohooho Murray, RB: Ron Ackland.

Team list:Central Queensland: FB: Ray Robinson ( Railways), WG: Allan Rycen ( Railways), CE: Ray Thomas ( Fitzroys), CE: G. Little ( Brothers), WG: Malcolm Spencer ( Railways), FE: Bob Banks ( Norths), HB: Ken Jenkins ( Norths), LK: Ollie Smith ( Brothers), SR: Nev Callaghan ( Fitzroys), SR: Pat Sear ( Norths), PR: C. Harkin ( Brothers), HK: P. Millroy ( Norths), PR: Brian Cridland ( Norths). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Tom Hadfield, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Reese Griffiths, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Jock Butterfield, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: John Bond, HK: John Lasher, PR: Mauriohooho Murray.

Team list:North Queensland: FB: Bevan Hoyle (Townsville), WG: Albert Roberts (Townsville), CE: Len Blaik (Townsville), CE: Ron Tait ( Innisfail), WG: Morry Breen ( Innisfail), FE: Thorpe Scott (Townsville), HB: Ken Woodward (Cairns), LK: Hugh Kelly (age 23) (Cairns), SR: Danny Clifford (Tully), SR: Elton Rasmussen ( Mackay Magpies), PR: John Blankensee (Cairns), HK: Ron Griffiths (Cairns), PR: Ken Herbert (Townsville). New Zealand: FB: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Gordon Moncur, CE: Reese Griffiths, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Arnold Green, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Jock Butterfield, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: John Lasher, PR: Henry Maxwell.

2nd Test

Team list:Australia: FB: Gordon Clifford ( Newtown), WG: Don Adams ( Maitland), CE: Dick Poole ( Newtown), CE: Alex Watson ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Des McGovern ( Toowoomba All Whites), FE: Cyril Connell Jr ( North Rockhampton), HB: Keith Holman ( Western Suburbs), LK: Ian Doyle ( Toowoomba All Whites), SR: Tom Tyquin ( South Brisbane), SR: Kel O'Shea ( Western Suburbs), PR: Brian Davies ( Brisbane Brothers), HK: Ken Kearney ( St George), PR: Roy Bull ( Manly-Warringah). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Cyril Eastlake, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Tom Hadfield, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Henry Maxwell, SR: Cliff Johnson, PR: Jim Riddell, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Duncan MacRae.

Team list:Wide Bay: FB: A. Brunkie, WG: L. Kavanagh, CE: W. Beck, CE: P. Clarke, WG: W. Hannen, FE: B. Sherwood, HB: G. Norris, LK: L. Hooper, SR: R. Marles, SR: T. Drysdale, PR: R. King, HK: Keith Weston, PR: M. Ziebath. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Cyril Eastlake, CE: Reese Griffiths, CE: Gordon Moncur, WG: Arnold Green, FE: George Menzies, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Jim Riddell, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: Mauriohooho Murray, HK: John Lasher, PR: John Bond.

Team list:Northern NSW: FB: C. Robinson, WG: J. Gurd, CE: R. Lumsden (Urunga), CE: J. Daly, WG: J. Wood, FE: A. Davidson, HB: C. Kelly, LK: G. Smith, SR: Arthur Collinson (Port Macquarie), SR: Guy Brazier (Dorrigo), PR: Lloyd Hudson ( Kempsey), HK: Allan Ferguson ( Armidale), PR: P. Purchase. New Zealand: FB: Gordon Moncur, WG: Arnold Green, CE: Reese Griffiths, CE: Tom Hadfield, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: John Bond, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: Henry Maxwell, HK: John Lasher, PR: Mauriohooho Murray.

3rd Test

Team list:Australia: FB: Norm Pope (24) ( Brisbane Valleys), WG: Don Adams (22) ( Maitland), CE: Dick Poole (25) ( Newtown), CE: Alex Watson (23) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Des McGovern (28) ( Toowoomba All Whites), FE: Darcy Henry (24) ( Western Suburbs), HB: Keith Holman (28) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Ian Doyle (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites), SR: Tom Tyquin (23) ( South Brisbane), SR: Kel O'Shea (22) ( Western Suburbs), PR: Roy Bull (27) ( Manly-Warringah), HK: Ken Kearney (30) ( St George), PR: Brian Davies (25) ( Brisbane Brothers). Ian Moir (24) ( South Sydney) and Don Furner (23) ( Toowoomba Souths) were selected as reserves, but did not play. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Henry Maxwell.