Tiger Wolf Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 I watched the Sunday Night with Matty Johns show this morning and Benny Elias was the special guest. Anyway they were discussing the touring teams of the 80s and 90s. Matty Johns commented that one of the greatest games people should watch was the 2nd test in 1990 at Old Trafford. As test matches went that is one of the hardest losses as a fan I have watched as we would have won the series that day and played so well. The panel were commenting that they were treated like superstars by the British RL fans and press during that era and would like tours to resume. Thinking back and anyone old enough to witness some of those games will appreciate the sentiment and comments. Some of those games and atmosphere were awesome, a few games where GB managed to win inc 88 3rd test in Aus, and Wembley 94 (Jiffy try). Even for the many games GB lost you just had to watch the Aussies on awe, even though hard to take a GB fan at the time. As far as tours go times are different now of course with both countries playing at the same time so could not do a proper tour schedule as we remember. Saying that what great memories I had of those teams and characters plus watching my own team try their best against them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 The Kangaroo tours (both tests and club matches) form many of my favourite Rugby League memories. I often wonder how the game would have changed if Great Britain had won that 1990 series, at a time when State of Origin was just replacing test rugby in the eyes of the Australians as the peak of the sport. If Great Britain had won maybe the whole sport would have been more focussed on the international game. Personally, I feel that would have been a great thing. "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. "If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 1 minute ago, Dunbar said: The Kangaroo tours (both tests and club matches) form many of my favourite Rugby League memories. I often wonder how the game would have changed if Great Britain had won that 1990 series, at a time when State of Origin was just replacing test rugby in the eyes of the Australians as the peak of the sport. If Great Britain had won maybe the whole sport would have been more focussed on the international game. Personally, I feel that would have been a great thing. I think the more important win would have been the 3rd test 1992. Right in the middle of the ARL season and on prime time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 1 minute ago, Scubby said: I think the more important win would have been the 3rd test 1992. Right in the middle of the ARL season and on prime time. Yes, fair enough. Or both! You can dream. "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. "If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidM Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 6 minutes ago, Dunbar said: The Kangaroo tours (both tests and club matches) form many of my favourite Rugby League memories. I often wonder how the game would have changed if Great Britain had won that 1990 series, at a time when State of Origin was just replacing test rugby in the eyes of the Australians as the peak of the sport. If Great Britain had won maybe the whole sport would have been more focussed on the international game. Personally, I feel that would have been a great thing. That was soul destroying . It started the ‘ whatever we do we won’t beat these in a series or competition ‘ mentality that I’ve had pretty much ever since ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graveyard johnny Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 imagine james tedesco - latrell mitchell and josh addo carr lining up on a wet wednesday night at belle vue these days!!!!!!!!!!!! see you later undertaker - in a while necrophile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Mackem Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 Unfortunately and sadly SOO is the be-all and end-all for the Aussies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 5 minutes ago, Cumbrian Mackem said: Unfortunately and sadly SOO is the be-all and end-all for the Aussies. I have been watching this closely and there are now a few dissenting voices about how many high profile players don't even qualify for SOO. Over 50% of NRL players are now from Polynesian heritage compared with less than 5% when Kangaroo tours were around. This number is only going to rise when you see players debuting in the NRL each week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidM Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 8 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said: imagine james tedesco - latrell mitchell and josh addo carr lining up on a wet wednesday night at belle vue these days!!!!!!!!!!!! Kangaroo tours were the best . I saw them twice up here playing Cumbria , and it was awesome to see these superstars off the telly and I’ve never forgot it . It was only the midweek team but still some great names FB 1 Greg Alexander RW 2 Dale Shearer CE 3 Cliff Lyons CE 4 Brad Fittler LW 5 Chris Johns FE 6 Kevin Walters HB 7 Ricky Stuart PR 8 Mark Sargent HK 9 Ben Elias (c) PR 10 David Gillespie SR 11 Mark Carroll SR 12 Mark Geyer LK 13 Des Hasler Substitutions: IC 14 Brad Mackay IC 15 Glenn Lazarus IC 16 Bob Lindner 1990 FB 1 Tim Brasher RW 2 Wendell Sailor RC 3 Paul McGregor LC 4 Terry Hill LW 5 Rod Wishart FE 6 Greg Florimo HB 7 Kevin Walters PR 8 Ian Roberts HK 9 Jim Serdaris PR 10 Glenn Lazarus SR 11 Paul Sironen (c) SR 12 Steve Menzies LK 13 Brad Fittler 1994 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedfordshire Bronco Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 I'm hopeful the rise of Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and maybe PNG will continue to revitalise the international calendar.... Once all this nonsense is over of course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hela Wigmen Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 Just now, Bedfordshire Bronco said: I'm hopeful the rise of Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and maybe PNG will continue to revitalise the international calendar.... Once all this nonsense is over of course It already has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graveyard johnny Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 2 minutes ago, DavidM said: Kangaroo tours were the best . I saw them twice up here playing Cumbria , and it was awesome to see these superstars off the telly and I’ve never forgot it . It was only the midweek team but still some great names FB 1 Greg Alexander RW 2 Dale Shearer CE 3 Cliff Lyons CE 4 Brad Fittler LW 5 Chris Johns FE 6 Kevin Walters HB 7 Ricky Stuart PR 8 Mark Sargent HK 9 Ben Elias (c) PR 10 David Gillespie SR 11 Mark Carroll SR 12 Mark Geyer LK 13 Des Hasler Substitutions: IC 14 Brad Mackay IC 15 Glenn Lazarus IC 16 Bob Lindner 1990 FB 1 Tim Brasher RW 2 Wendell Sailor RC 3 Paul McGregor LC 4 Terry Hill LW 5 Rod Wishart FE 6 Greg Florimo HB 7 Kevin Walters PR 8 Ian Roberts HK 9 Jim Serdaris PR 10 Glenn Lazarus SR 11 Paul Sironen (c) SR 12 Steve Menzies LK 13 Brad Fittler 1994 some great names there mate- wish we could have it like that now see you later undertaker - in a while necrophile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Mackem Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 4 minutes ago, Scubby said: I have been watching this closely and there are now a few dissenting voices about how many high profile players don't even qualify for SOO. Over 50% of NRL players are now from Polynesian heritage compared with less than 5% when Kangaroo tours were around. This number is only going to rise when you see players debuting in the NRL each week. Personally for me SOO should be nothing more than an annual one-off match instead of a 3 match series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graveyard johnny Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 somehow you get the feeling watching a kangaroo team play some of our sl teams at places like belle vue and wheldon rd these days would be like watching bruce springsteen at wombwell trades and labour club see you later undertaker - in a while necrophile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 5 minutes ago, Cumbrian Mackem said: Personally for me SOO should be nothing more than an annual one-off match instead of a 3 match series. I think 3 games of SOO per year is worth to the NRL roughly 50% of the whole of Super League's new deal with Sky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rioman Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 1982 first test at Boothferry Park, ever the optimist I said to my mate, "I fancy us today". Come half time I said "bloody hell they're playing a different game to us". And with the odd exception have been doing ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Wolf Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 37 minutes ago, DavidM said: Kangaroo tours were the best . I saw them twice up here playing Cumbria , and it was awesome to see these superstars off the telly and I’ve never forgot it . It was only the midweek team but still some great names FB 1 Greg Alexander RW 2 Dale Shearer CE 3 Cliff Lyons CE 4 Brad Fittler LW 5 Chris Johns FE 6 Kevin Walters HB 7 Ricky Stuart PR 8 Mark Sargent HK 9 Ben Elias (c) PR 10 David Gillespie SR 11 Mark Carroll SR 12 Mark Geyer LK 13 Des Hasler Substitutions: IC 14 Brad Mackay IC 15 Glenn Lazarus IC 16 Bob Lindner 1990 FB 1 Tim Brasher RW 2 Wendell Sailor RC 3 Paul McGregor LC 4 Terry Hill LW 5 Rod Wishart FE 6 Greg Florimo HB 7 Kevin Walters PR 8 Ian Roberts HK 9 Jim Serdaris PR 10 Glenn Lazarus SR 11 Paul Sironen (c) SR 12 Steve Menzies LK 13 Brad Fittler 1994 Yes, that 90 midweek team was worthy of a test team. Similarly the Wire game would have been worthy as a test team. Awesome, of course Wire lost but I was fortunate to see them beat the tourists in 78. FB 1 Greg Alexander RW 2 Chris Johns CE 3 Mal Meninga (c) CE 4 Kevin Walters LW 5 Dale Shearer FE 6 Brad Fittler HB 7 Des Hasler PR 8 Glenn Lazarus HK 9 Ben Elias PR 10 Mark Sargent SR 11 Mark Geyer SR 12 David Gillespie LK 13 Brad Mackay Substitutions: IC 14 Michael Hancock IC 15 John Cartwright IC 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clogiron Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 Tours are a thing from another era, never to be seen again but like many such things it doesn't mean what's replaced them is better. The player's are more familiar now with regular coverage of the game down under whereas it was a privilege to see them up against your local team who would put a 'wholehearted' effort in against them and until the 80s occasionally beat them. A different time & a different game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Fanatic Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 58 minutes ago, DavidM said: Kangaroo tours were the best . I saw them twice up here playing Cumbria , and it was awesome to see these superstars off the telly and I’ve never forgot it . It was only the midweek team but still some great names FB 1 Greg Alexander RW 2 Dale Shearer CE 3 Cliff Lyons CE 4 Brad Fittler LW 5 Chris Johns FE 6 Kevin Walters HB 7 Ricky Stuart PR 8 Mark Sargent HK 9 Ben Elias (c) PR 10 David Gillespie SR 11 Mark Carroll SR 12 Mark Geyer LK 13 Des Hasler Substitutions: IC 14 Brad Mackay IC 15 Glenn Lazarus IC 16 Bob Lindner 1990 FB 1 Tim Brasher RW 2 Wendell Sailor RC 3 Paul McGregor LC 4 Terry Hill LW 5 Rod Wishart FE 6 Greg Florimo HB 7 Kevin Walters PR 8 Ian Roberts HK 9 Jim Serdaris PR 10 Glenn Lazarus SR 11 Paul Sironen (c) SR 12 Steve Menzies LK 13 Brad Fittler 1994 I saw both those games plus the 1982 and 1986 games where the teams were: 1982 1986 1. Greg Brentnall 1. Gary Belcher 2. Kerry Boustead 2. Dale Shearer 3. Mal Meninga 3. Chris Mortimer 4. Steve Ella 4. Mal Meninga 5. John Ribot 5. Michael O'Connor 6. Wally Lewis 6. Terry Lamb 7. Peter Sterling 7. Greg Alexander 8. Don McKinnon 8. Phil Daley 9. Max Krilich 9. Ben Elias 10. Rohan Hancock 10. Martin Bella 11. John Muggleton 11. Paul Dunn 12. Ian Schubert 12. Les Davidson 13. Wayne Pearce 13. Paul Langmack 14. Steve Rogers 14. Paul Sironen 15. Ray Price 15. Not listed The first time especially, it was like watching someone from another planet, they played like nothing I'd ever seen. You knew Cumbria had no chance but still went to see the Aussies just to marvel at how good they were. 100% League 0% Union Just because I don't know doesn't mean I don't understand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Picture Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 3 hours ago, Scubby said: I think the more important win would have been the 3rd test 1992. Right in the middle of the ARL season and on prime time. It would have come after thumping them in Melbourne too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
langpark Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 Great for the fans, but even better for the players. I think GB and and Kangaroos should each do a tour (as they used to) once every 10 years. That way, each generation of top players, will get one chance to play in one. It is not something that can happen every year, especially now with the World Cup and other events that have come about. But it is a shame that they disappeared completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrisbaneRhino Posted May 10, 2021 Share Posted May 10, 2021 While the 1982 Kangaroos were on a different level, competition for possession helped keep some games close, at least on the scoreboard. From memory they beat Hull 13-7, Wigan 13-9 and Bradford 13-6 (I remember listening to the commentary and they were 7-6 up with about 5 minutes left). Compare with some of the drubbings on later tours as the game purified itself of scrums. I genuinely don't think we can have a big international scene until we are regularly competitive. Sadly I just don't think we'll ever produce enough quality players for that to happen, and the genie of contested possession has long gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Badrinath Posted May 10, 2021 Share Posted May 10, 2021 12 hours ago, graveyard johnny said: somehow you get the feeling watching a kangaroo team play some of our sl teams at places like belle vue and wheldon rd these days would be like watching bruce springsteen at wombwell trades and labour club My first game was warrington playing the midweek aussie team at wilderspool, I never saw a crowd like that again till the (first) last game at wilderspool. We got nilled, but it was a very very special night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo5 Posted May 10, 2021 Share Posted May 10, 2021 13 hours ago, DavidM said: Kangaroo tours were the best . I saw them twice up here playing Cumbria , and it was awesome to see these superstars off the telly and I’ve never forgot it . It was only the midweek team but still some great names FB 1 Greg Alexander RW 2 Dale Shearer CE 3 Cliff Lyons CE 4 Brad Fittler LW 5 Chris Johns FE 6 Kevin Walters HB 7 Ricky Stuart PR 8 Mark Sargent HK 9 Ben Elias (c) PR 10 David Gillespie SR 11 Mark Carroll SR 12 Mark Geyer LK 13 Des Hasler Substitutions: IC 14 Brad Mackay IC 15 Glenn Lazarus IC 16 Bob Lindner 1990 FB 1 Tim Brasher RW 2 Wendell Sailor RC 3 Paul McGregor LC 4 Terry Hill LW 5 Rod Wishart FE 6 Greg Florimo HB 7 Kevin Walters PR 8 Ian Roberts HK 9 Jim Serdaris PR 10 Glenn Lazarus SR 11 Paul Sironen (c) SR 12 Steve Menzies LK 13 Brad Fittler 1994 My first gave was at Brunton Park in 82,as a 15yr old rugby player I remember being amazed at the size,speed & skill of the Kangeroos,great night and still remember the long snake of lights heading back along the A69 to West Cumbria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Stottle Posted May 10, 2021 Share Posted May 10, 2021 14 hours ago, Scubby said: I think the more important win would have been the 3rd test 1992. Right in the middle of the ARL season and on prime time. Still maintain to this day we were robbed, Laurie Daly was clearly offside for the Aussies winning try at the play the ball, he was on his knees in our defensive line then rose to take a ball from a colleague to score who had run past him. I couldn't believe it when the ref gave the try, even a Aussie fan next to me agreed Daly was offside. The whole game is on YouTube, watch it and you will see what I mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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