1998 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain
Encyclopedia
The 1998 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team
. The New Zealand Kiwis defeated Great Britain
2-0 in the three match Test series.
, having already lost a Test series 1-2 with Australia. It was the first full tour of Great Britain by a New Zealand side since 1993.
Many of the squad, including coach Frank Endacott
, had been involved in the Auckland Warriors' 1998 season
, where they had finished 15th out of 20 clubs. In addition to this the Auckland Rugby League
were looking to sell the club during the tour.
and Tony
and the Pauls, Robbie
and Henry
.
controlled all three Test matches.
In the second Test match Great Britain were ahead 16-8 at halftime before letting in 28 points in the second half to lose the match and the series.
but did not tour Great Britain again until the 2000 World Cup
. The next full tour was conducted in 2002
which saw a drawn Test series 1-all.
The Auckland Warriors were sold to a consortium that included majority investor the Tainui
tribe as well as Graham Lowe and Malcolm Boyle. Kiwi coach Frank Endacott was replaced as Warriors coach and several Kiwis left the club included Stephen Kearney
, Quentin Pongia
, and Kevin Iro
. Endacott's next coaching assignment would be the 1999 ANZAC Test
on 23 April.
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
. The New Zealand Kiwis defeated Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
2-0 in the three match Test series.
Background
New Zealand arrived in Great Britain for the first time since the 1995 World Cup1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
, having already lost a Test series 1-2 with Australia. It was the first full tour of Great Britain by a New Zealand side since 1993.
Many of the squad, including coach Frank Endacott
Frank Endacott
Frank Morris Endacott, ONZM is a retired rugby league player and coach from New Zealand. His son, Shane, also played rugby league.-Playing career:Endacott played for Addington and Hornby in the Canterbury Rugby League competition...
, had been involved in the Auckland Warriors' 1998 season
1998 Auckland Warriors season
The Auckland Warriors 1998 season was the Auckland Warriors 4th first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's National Rugby League. The coach of the team was Frank Endacott while Matthew Ridge was the club's captain.-Jersey & Sponsors:...
, where they had finished 15th out of 20 clubs. In addition to this the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
were looking to sell the club during the tour.
Squad
The squad included two sets of brothers; the Iros, KevinKevin Iro
Kevin Leslie Iro is a former professional rugby league international footballer who has representated both New Zealand and the Cook Islands. In his domestic career, his achievements include playing in the Challenge Cup final for Leeds, Wigan and St. Helens.Iro is the younger brother of New Zealand...
and Tony
Tony Iro
Tony Roy Iro is the Assistant Coach of the New Zealand Warriors, selector and Assistant Coach of the New Zealand national rugby league team and a former rugby league player...
and the Pauls, Robbie
Robbie Paul
Robert Rawiri 'Robbie' Hunter-Paul is a New Zealand rugby league player. He currently plays for Leigh Centurions in England. He played for the New Zealand national team 27 times. He is the younger brother of Leeds Carnegie player Henry Paul.-Early years:Born in Tokoroa, New Zealand, his junior...
and Henry
Henry Paul
Henry Paul , is a dual code rugby international. Paul has previously represented New Zealand in rugby league and England in rugby union XV's and 7's. He currently holds the world record for the most consecutive kicks on the field.Paul's usual position is loose forward/Lock. He can also operate in...
.
| Name | Test1 | Test2 | Test3 | Games | Tries | Goals | FGs | Points | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FB | FB | FB | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | Sydney Roosters Sydney Roosters The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League... |
|
| BE | BE | BE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
|
| HK | HK | HK | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Auckland Warriors | |
| WG | WG | WG | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 28 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | |
| WG | WG | WG | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Auckland Warriors | |
| CE | CE | CE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Auckland Warriors | |
| BE | BE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Adelaide Rams Adelaide Rams The Adelaide Rams were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The team was formed in 1995 for the planned rebel Super League competition, which eventually ran parallel to the rival Australian Rugby League competition in 1997... |
||
| HB | HB | HB | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | Auckland Warriors | |
| SR | SR | SR | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Auckland Warriors | |
| SR | SR | SR | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Parramatta Eels Parramatta Eels The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League... |
|
| BE | BE | BE | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011.... |
|
| FE | FE | BE | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | Bradford Bulls Bradford Bulls Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league.... |
|
| (c) | PR | PR | PR | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Auckland Warriors |
| BE | BE | BE | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Penrith Panthers Penrith Panthers The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan... |
|
| BE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Illawarra Steelers Illawarra Steelers The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football... |
|||
| LK | LK | LK | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Auckland Warriors | |
| PR | PR | PR | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Auckland Warriors | |
| CE | CE | CE | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Canberra Raiders Canberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982... |
- Coach: Frank EndacottFrank EndacottFrank Morris Endacott, ONZM is a retired rugby league player and coach from New Zealand. His son, Shane, also played rugby league.-Playing career:Endacott played for Addington and Hornby in the Canterbury Rugby League competition...
(Auckland Warriors)
Fixtures
They won the first two Test matches 22-16 and 36-16 before being held to a 23-all draw in the third and final Test match. Australian referee Bill HarriganBill Harrigan
-External links:**http://www.billharrigan.com.au/Referee-career-pg2853.html*http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/harrigan.html*http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1766903.htm*http://www.claxtonspeakers.com.au/speakers_profile/134...
controlled all three Test matches.
In the second Test match Great Britain were ahead 16-8 at halftime before letting in 28 points in the second half to lose the match and the series.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Attendance | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 931 October 1998 | Great Britain Great Britain national rugby league team The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions".... |
Alfred McAlpine Stadium Galpharm Stadium The Galpharm Stadium, formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, is a multi-use sports in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Since 1994, it has been the home ground of Huddersfield Town and Super League side, Huddersfield Giants.-The Stadium:... , Huddersfield Huddersfield Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city.... |
Won | 22-16 | 18,500 | http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Great_Britain_vs_New_Zealand_1998/Game_1/Great_Britain-vs-New_Zealand.html |
| 7 November 1998 | Great Britain Great Britain national rugby league team The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions".... |
Reebok Stadium Reebok Stadium The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'... , Bolton Bolton Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the... |
Win | 36-16 | 27,486 | http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Great_Britain_vs_New_Zealand_1998/Game_2/Great_Britain-vs-New_Zealand.html |
| 23 November 2002 | Great Britain Great Britain national rugby league team The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions".... |
Vicarage Road Vicarage Road Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:... , Watford Watford Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban... |
Draw | 23-23 | 13,217 | http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Great_Britain_vs_New_Zealand_1998/Game_3/Great_Britain-vs-New_Zealand.html |
Aftermath
New Zealand next competed against Great Britain in the 1999 Tri-Nations1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations
-Tournament standings:-Final:Teams:NEW ZEALAND: 1. Richie Barnett ; 2. Nigel Vagana , 3. Ruben Wiki , 5. Willie Talau , 5. Leslie Vainikolo ; 6. Henry Paul , 7. Robbie Paul ; 8. Joe Vagana , 9. Richard Swain , 10. Craig Smith , 11. Stephen Kearney , 12...
but did not tour Great Britain again until the 2000 World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
. The next full tour was conducted in 2002
2002 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France
The 2002 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The New Zealand Kiwis drew the series 1-all against Great Britain and also defeated Wales and France.-Background:...
which saw a drawn Test series 1-all.
The Auckland Warriors were sold to a consortium that included majority investor the Tainui
Tainui
Tainui is a tribal waka confederation of New Zealand Māori iwi. The Tainui confederation comprises four principal related Māori iwi of the central North Island of New Zealand: Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Waikato...
tribe as well as Graham Lowe and Malcolm Boyle. Kiwi coach Frank Endacott was replaced as Warriors coach and several Kiwis left the club included Stephen Kearney
Stephen Kearney
Stephen Peter Kearney, ONZM is a professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Parramatta Eels in the NRL as well as the New Zealand national team...
, Quentin Pongia
Quentin Pongia
Quentin Lee Pongia is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who represented his country. He is the grandson of fellow Kiwi international Jim Calder and his sister Megan Tahapeehi has also represented the Kiwi Ferns.-Playing career:Originally from the West Coast,...
, and Kevin Iro
Kevin Iro
Kevin Leslie Iro is a former professional rugby league international footballer who has representated both New Zealand and the Cook Islands. In his domestic career, his achievements include playing in the Challenge Cup final for Leeds, Wigan and St. Helens.Iro is the younger brother of New Zealand...
. Endacott's next coaching assignment would be the 1999 ANZAC Test
ANZAC Test
The Anzac Test is an annual rugby league football test match . The test match is played annually between Australia and New Zealand on or around Anzac Day for the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.-Origins:Australia and New Zealand had competed in Rugby League Tests since 1908...
on 23 April.