1948 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia
The 1948 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the fourteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the eleventh tour to visit Australia. The eight-match tour included two Test Matches, which were the first played by New Zealand in Australia since 1909.
Captained by Pat Smith, the Kiwis returned home having won six and lost two of their games. The team won the first test match of the tour but lost the second.
1948 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia | |||||
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Manager | Vic Simpson Bill Swift | ||||
Tour captain(s) | Patrick Smith | ||||
Top point scorer(s) | Warwick Clarke 42 | ||||
Top try scorer(s) | Dave Redmond 3 | ||||
Top test point scorer(s) | Warwick Clarke 16 | ||||
Top test try scorer(s) | Dave Redmond 2 | ||||
Summary |
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Total |
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Test match |
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Opponent |
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Australia |
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Tour chronology | |||||
Previous tour | 1938 by to 1946 by 1947-48 to | ||||
Next tour | 1949 by to 1950 by 1952 by |
Squad
Player | Pos. | Age[1] | Weight | Province | Tests on Tour |
Games | Tries | Goals | FG | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Doug Anderson | Centre | 21 | 11 st. 8 lb. (73 kg) | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Bob Aynsley | Hooker | 26 | 13 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) | West Coast | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Des Barchard | Halfback | 25 | 12 st. 2 lb. (77 kg) | Auckland | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Vic Belsham | Five-eighth | 22 | 10 st. 8 lb. (67 kg) | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Warwick Clarke | Fullback | 28 | 11 st. 4 lb. (72 kg) | Auckland | 2 | 6 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 42 |
Rex Cunningham | Halfback | 25 | 11 st. 5 lb. (72 kg) | Auckland | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Joe Duke | Second-row | 30 | 13 st. 6 lb. (85 kg) | Canterbury | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Jack Forrest | Wing | 24 | 12 st. 9 lb. (80 kg) | West Coast | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Abby Graham | Five-eighth | 28 | 11 st. 2 lb. (71 kg) | Auckland | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Albert Hambleton | Prop | 23 | 14 st. 4 lb. (91 kg) | South Auckland | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Travers Hardwick | Lock | 26 | 13 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) | Auckland | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sandy Hurndell | Second-row | 21 | 14 st. 10 lb. (93 kg) | Auckland | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Joffe Johnson | Prop | 30 | 15 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Allen Laird | Lock | 24 | 12 st. 8 lb. (80 kg) | Auckland | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Charlie McBride | Second-row | 23 | 13 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) | West Coast | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Bill McKenzie | Wing | 23 | 12 st. 7 lb. (79 kg) | Canterbury | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
John Newton | Prop | 27 | 14 st. 12 lb. (94 kg) | West Coast | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Dave Redmond | Wing | 24 | 12 st. 4 lb. (78 kg) | Auckland | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Maurie Rich | Fullback | 23 | 12 st. 8 lb. (80 kg) | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 16 |
Maurie Robertson | Centre | 22 | 11 st. 10 lb. (74 kg) | Auckland | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Patrick Smith | Hooker | 32 | 14 st. 10 lb. (93 kg) | Canterbury | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Allan Wiles | Centre | 27 | 12 st. 4 lb. (78 kg) | Auckland | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Ken Mountford, who was initially selected in the touring party, withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Allen Laird. [2]
The touring squad were the first rugby league team to fly to Australia.[3]
The Rugby League News published pen portraits of the tourists: backs, forwards and the co-managers.
Tour
May 22 | New South Wales | 23–17 | New Zealand | Sydney Cricket Ground | |
Tries: 5 Len Smith Norm Jacobson Eddie Tracey Johnny Graves Les Cowie Goals: 4 Keith Froome (4) |
Program Report[4] |
Tries: 3 Jack Forrest Allen Laird John Newton Goals: 4 Warwick Clarke (4) |
Attendance: 43,505 Referee: George Bishop |
New South Wales: FB: Noel Pidding (21) ( St George), WG: Norm Jacobson (28) ( Newtown), CE: Len Smith (28) ( Newtown), CE: Eddie Tracey (24) ( Canterbury), WG: Johnny Graves (20) ( South Sydney), FE: Wally O'Connell (25) ( Easts), HB: Keith Froome (26) ( Newtown), LK: Les Cowie (22) ( South Sydney), SR: Fred De Belin (26) ( Balmain), SR: Jack Rayner (26) ( South Sydney), PR: Frank Farrell (30) ( Newtown), HK: Kevin Schubert (20) ( Wollongong), PR: Jack Holland (24) ( St George). |
May 23 | Combined Country | 16–30 | New Zealand | Wollongong Showground | |
Tries: 4 Bobby Dimond Bill Burgess Johnny Hawke Ron Rowles Goals: 2 Fred Chew (2) |
Article[5] Report[6] [7] Report |
Tries: 6 Albert Hambleton (2) Des Barchard (2) Charlie McBride Joe Duke Goals: 6 Maurie Rich (6) |
Attendance: 10,000 Gate: AU£ 1,069 Referee: M. Ibbotson |
NSW Country PR: Ron Mann ( Western Suburbs), HK: Ted Dawson ( Waratah Mayfield), PR: Alf Gibbs ( South Newcastle), SR: Bill Burgess ( Waratah Mayfield), SR: Don Stait ( Portland), LK: Billy Edwards ( Harden), HB: Jim Scoular ( Lakes United), FE: Johnny Hawke ( Canberra), WG: Bobby Dimond ( Dapto), CE: Bill Halvorsen ( Cessnock), CE: Ned Andrews ( South Newcastle), WG: Ron Rowles ( C.B.C.), FB: Fred Chew ( Parkes). |
1st Test
May 29 |
Australia | 19–21 | New Zealand |
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Tries: 1 Jack Rayner Goals: 8 Johnny Graves (5) Keith Froome (3) |
Program Report[8] Database |
Tries: 3 Dave Redmond (2) Charlie McBride Goals: 6 Warwick Clarke (6) |
Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 55,866 Referee: T. McMahon Jnr |
Australia FB: Noel Pidding (age 21) ( St George), WG: Pat McMahon (21) (Toowoomba), CE: Len Smith (28) ( Newtown), CE: Len Pegg (25) ( Souths), WG: Johnny Graves (20) ( South Sydney), FE: Wally O'Connell (25) ( Easts), HB: Keith Froome (26) ( Newtown), LK: Ignatius Tyquin (27) ( Souths), SR: Fred De Belin (26) ( Balmain), SR: Jack Rayner (26) ( South Sydney), PR: Frank Farrell (30) ( Newtown), HK: Kevin Schubert (20) ( Wollongong), PR: Eddie Brosnan (27) ( Brothers). |
June 2 | Northern NSW | 7–13 | New Zealand | League Park, Armidale | |
Tries: 1 Cec Fitzsimmons Goals: 2 Bruce Flint (2) |
Teams[9] [10] Report[11] |
Tries: 3 Doug Anderson Rex Cunningham Allen Laird Goals: 2 Maurie Rich (2) |
Attendance: 4,000 Referee: H. Morson |
Northern NSW FB: Bruce Flint ( East Tamworth), WG: Cec Fitzsimmons ( North Tamworth), CE: Trevor Eather ( Boggabri), CE: Phillip Starr ( Guyra), WG: Phil Snell ( West Armidale), FE: T. Curr-Parkes (Barraba), HB: William Bischoff ( West Armidale), LK: Jack Stewart ( Uralla), SR: Cliff McHardie (East Armidale), SR: Cecil Bull ( Guyra), PR: A. Smith ( Boggabri), HK: C. Foxe ( Narrabri), PR: Maurice Dawson ( Glen Innes). |
June 5 | Queensland | 10–11 | New Zealand | Brisbane Cricket Ground | |
Tries: 2 Duncan Hall Ignatius Tyquin Goals: 2 Dan O'Connor (2) |
Team[12] Report[13] Report[14] |
Tries: 1 Allan Wiles Goals: 4 Warwick Clarke (4) |
Attendance: 20,812 Gate: AU£ 2,535 Referee: S.W. Chambers |
Queensland FB: Dan O'Connor (age 30) ( Norths), WG: Pat McMahon (21) (Toowoomba), CE: Harry Linde (24) ( Tivoli), CE: Len Pegg (25) ( Souths), WG: Jack Horrigan ( Valleys), FE: Harry Griffiths (22) ( Booval Swifts), HB: Billy Thompson (24) (Toowoomba), LK: Ignatius Tyquin (27) ( Souths), SR: Duncan Hall (22) ( Valleys), SR: Ron McLennan (23) ( Easts), PR: Kelly Brennan (28) ( West End), HK: Henry Benton (28) ( Centrals), PR: Eddie Brosnan (27) ( Brothers). |
June 6 | Rockhampton | 2–12 | New Zealand | Rockhampton Showground | |
Tries: 0 Goals: 1 Ken Brighton |
Team[15] Report[16] |
Tries: 2 Abby Graham (2) Goals: 3 Warwick Clarke (3) |
Attendance: 3,176 Gate: AU£ 599 Referee: J. Shuttleton |
Rockhampton FB: R. Graff ( Leichhardts), WG: Ken Brighton ( North Rockhampton), CE: William Cuddy ( Brothers), CE: Des Crow (age 18) ( Brothers), WG: Leo Jeffcoat ( Brothers), FE: P. Carroll ( Leichhardts), HB: Cyril. Connell Jr (age 20) ( Brothers), LK: Norm Dingwall ( Leichhardts), SR: C. Dingwall ( Leichhardts), SR: C. Hunt ( Brothers), PR: Jack Kelly ( Leichhardts), HK: H. Ferricks ( Fitzroys), PR: W. Brighton ( Brothers), Coach: J. Crow. |
2nd Test
June 12 |
Australia | 13–4 | New Zealand |
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Tries: 3 Ignatius Tyquin Len Pegg Pat McMahon Goals: 2 Keith Froome (2) |
Report[17] Report[18] Database |
Tries: 0 Goals: 2 Warwick Clarke (2) |
Brisbane Cricket Ground Attendance: 23,013 Gate: AU£ 3,689 Referee: S. Chambers |
Australia FB: Clive Churchill (age 21) ( South Sydney), WG: Pat McMahon (20) (Toowoomba), CE: Len Smith (31) ( Newtown), CE: Len Pegg (26) ( Souths) captain-coach, WG: Johnny Graves (20) ( South Sydney), FE: Wally O'Connell (25) ( Easts), HB: Keith Froome (26) ( Newtown), LK: Ignatius Tyquin (29) ( Souths), SR: Fred De Belin (27) ( Balmain), SR: Duncan Hall (22) ( Valleys), PR: Jack Holland (25) ( St George), HK: Kevin Schubert (20) ( Wollongong), PR: Nevyl Hand ( North Sydney). |
June 14 | Newcastle | 9–10 | New Zealand | Newcastle Sports Ground | |
Tries: 1 Ned Andrews Goals: 3 Ron Crossley (3) |
Teams[19] [20] Report[21] |
Tries: 2 Dave Redmond Sandy Hurndell Goals: 2 Warwick Clarke (2) |
Attendance: 8,000 Gate: AU£ 566 Referee: W. Jackson |
Newcastle FB: Les Gilbert ( Northern Suburbs), WG: Terry Sullivan ( Western Suburbs), CE: Ron Golden ( Lakes United), CE: Ned Andrews ( South Newcastle), WG: Ron Crossley ( Northern Suburbs), FE: Horry Banks ( Western Suburbs), HB: Len Walton ( South Newcastle), LK: Jack Hutchinson ( Northern Suburbs), SR: Ivor Rees ( Kurri Kurri), SR: William Wylie ( Waratah Mayfield), PR: Alf Gibbs ( South Newcastle), HK: Ted Dawson ( Waratah Mayfield), PR: Gus Briggs ( Central Newcastle). |
Sources
Acronym | Item | Years | Database App | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Direct Online Access | ||||
RLN | Rugby League News | 1920-1973 | Trove | Match Program in Sydney, Team Lists, Team Photos, Articles |
RLP | Rugby League Project | 1907-present | Website | Test Match teams & scorers. |
Sun | The Sun (Sydney) | 1910-1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Articles. |
DT | The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) | 1931-1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Articles. |
CM | The Courier-Mail | 1933-1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Articles. |
- | Various Regional Newspapers | 1891-1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Given Names of Players |
Offline Resources | ||||
EECYB | E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book | 1946-1978 | Copies at State Library of NSW | Teams, Point Scorers, Report. 1949 Yearbook covers the 1948 tour. |
References
- Age as given in the ‘’Rugby League News’’ for the first match against New South Wales
- "League Replacement - Team for Australia". Gisborne Herald. Gisborne: Gisborne Herald Company. 15 May 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 27 Dec 2020 – via National Library of New Zealand - Papers Part.
- New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Kiwis Make Rugby League History". The Rugby League News. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 29 No. 10 (29 May 1948)). nla.obj-644034424. Retrieved 28 Dec 2020 – via Trove.
- Corbett, W.F. (22 May 1948). "N.S.W. Beats New Zealand 23-17; League Thriller". The Sun (Sydney). Sydney: National Library of Australia. p. 6. Retrieved 14 Dec 2020.
- "Rugby League - New Zealand at S'ground". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: National Library of Australia. 20 May 1948. p. 10. Retrieved 14 Dec 2020.
- "Rugby League". Illawarra Mercury. Wollongong: National Library of Australia. 27 May 1948. p. 10. Retrieved 14 Dec 2020.
- "Kiwis Defeat Country". South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus. Wollongong: National Library of Australia. 27 May 1948. p. 17. Retrieved 14 Dec 2020.
- Corbett, W.F. (29 May 1948). "New Zealand Wins Sensational Test By 21-19". The Sun (Sydney). Sydney: National Library of Australia. p. 6. Retrieved 14 Dec 2020.
- "Visit of Kiwis". Armidale Express. Armidale: National Library of Australia. 28 May 1948. p. 15. Retrieved 15 Dec 2020.
- "Kiwi Visit". Armidale Express. Armidale: National Library of Australia. 31 May 1948. p. 10. Retrieved 15 Dec 2020.
- "Spotlight on Sport - Rugby League - Kiwi Calculations Upset - Internationals Hard pressed By Northern Side". Armidale Express. Armidale: National Library of Australia. 4 Jun 1948. p. 14. Retrieved 15 Dec 2020.
- "Q.R.L. Team Thompson As Half-Back". The Queensland Times. Ipswich: National Library of Australia. 1 Jun 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 27 Dec 2020.
- Kearney, L.H. (6 Jun 1948). "Queensland gave Kiwis League battle fright". Sunday Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. p. 10. Retrieved 23 Dec 2020.
- "Cunning Kick Clipped Queensland". Truth. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 6 Jun 1948. p. 12. Retrieved 27 Dec 2020.
- "Rockhampton Team". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 31 May 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 27 Dec 2020.
- "Mighty Defence Marks R'ton-Kiwi Match". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 7 Jun 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 27 Dec 2020.
- Reid, R.W. (12 Jun 1948). "L. Pegg's Brilliant Attacks". Brisbane Telegraph. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. p. 3. Retrieved 27 Dec 2020.
- Kearney, L.H. (13 Jun 1948). "Australians Hit Back Hard To Beat Kiwi". Sunday Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. p. 10. Retrieved 27 Dec 2020.
- "The Teams". The Newcastle Sun. Newcastle: National Library of Australia. 14 Jun 1948. p. 8. Retrieved 14 Dec 2020.
- Roulston, R. S. (7 Jun 1948). "Attacking Team To Meet Kiwis". The Newcastle Sun. Newcastle: National Library of Australia. p. 8. Retrieved 15 Dec 2020.
- "Kiwis Win 10-9 In Final Burst". Newcastle Morning Herald. Newcastle: National Library of Australia. 15 Jun 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 14 Dec 2020.