1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup

The 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup was the ninth Rugby League World Cup tournament held and saw yet another change of format with competition stretched to cover almost three years (1985 to 1988). The national rugby league teams of Australia, France, Great Britain, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea played each other on a home and away basis. These matches were fitted into the normal international programme of three-match test series between the nations, with a pre-designated match from each series counting as the world cup fixture.

1985–1988 (1985–1988) World Cup  ()
Number of teams5
Winner Australia (6th title)
Matches played18
Attendance218,246 (12,125 per match)
Points scored769 (42.72 per match)
Top scorer Michael O'Connor (100)
Top try scorer Michael O'Connor (8)
Tournaments
 < 1977

The competition was further altered by the addition of a new nation, Papua New Guinea.[1] The Kumuls performed creditably, particularly when playing in the front of their fiercely patriotic home crowd, while France were unable to fulfil their 1987 tour of Australasia due to financial difficulties, and had to forfeit away fixtures against Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

At the end of four years, Australia finished top of the table, and, through a victory over Great Britain in Christchurch, the Kiwis qualified to join them in the final.

Despite finishing top of the table, poor international attendances since the mid-1970s (since 1974, the Kangaroos had only lost one test series, to France in 1978) meant the Australians declined to host the final, and asked New Zealand Rugby League to host the World Cup Final at Eden Park in Auckland; Cup organisers and New Zealand officials accepted this request.

Unfortunately for the Kiwis, home advantage with a record New Zealand attendance of over 47,000 was not enough, as the Kiwis went down 25–12 to the seemingly invincible Australians.

Venues
Sydney Wigan Brisbane Leeds
Sydney Football Stadium Central Park Lang Park Headingley
Capacity: 40,000 Capacity: 37,000 Capacity: 32,500 Capacity: 22,000
Auckland Port Moresby Christchurch Avignon
Carlaw Park Lloyd Robson Oval Addington Showgrounds Parc des Sports
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 17,000 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 15,000
Perpignan Wagga Wagga Carcassonne
Stade Gilbert Brutus Eric Weissel Oval Stade Albert Domec
Capacity: 13,000 Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 10,000
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Final

The World Cup Final was held at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

Auckland
Eden Park
Capacity: 48,000

Results

1985
7 July
New Zealand  18 – 0  Australia
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 15,327
9 November
Great Britain  6 – 6  New Zealand
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 22,209
7 December
France  0 – 22  New Zealand

1986
16 February
France  10 – 10  Great Britain
Parc des Sports, Avignon
Attendance: 4,000
29 July
Australia  32 – 12  New Zealand
Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 22,811
17 August
Papua New Guinea  24 – 22  New Zealand
Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby
Attendance: 15,000
4 October
Papua New Guinea  12 – 62  Australia
Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby
Attendance: 17,000

This match was the third Test of the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France's Ashes series.

22 November
Great Britain  15 – 24  Australia
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 20,169
Referee: J. Rascagneres

This was the final Test match of the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

13 December
France  0 – 52  Australia

1987
24 January
Great Britain  52 – 4  France
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 6,567
24 October
Great Britain  42 – 0  Papua New Guinea
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 9,121
15 November
France  21 – 4  Papua New Guinea

1988
Further information: 1988 Great Britain Lions tour § Papua New Guinea
22 May
Papua New Guinea  22 – 42  Great Britain
Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby
Attendance: 12,107

The victory lifted Great Britain above New Zealand into second place on the World Cup table on eight points – one ahead of the Kiwis.[2]

Further information: 1988 Great Britain Lions tour § 3rd Ashes Test
9 July
Australia  12 – 26  Great Britain
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 15,944

This was the end of a 15-match winning streak for the Australians,[3] and Great Britain's first Test victory over the Kangaroos since their 18–14 win at Odsal during the 1978 Kangaroo tour, as well as their first win in Australia for 18 years. It also put Great Britain on top of the World Cup points table.[4]

10 July
New Zealand  66 – 14  Papua New Guinea
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 8,392
Further information: 1988 Great Britain Lions tour § New Zealand
17 July
New Zealand  12 – 10  Great Britain

The last group stage match for both teams turned out to be a sudden death battle for a spot in the final. For New Zealand nothing less than a win would get them to the Final while Great Britain only needed a draw. It was also the last Test match of the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour. The Kiwis victory meant they qualified to face Australia in the final at Eden Park, Auckland.

20 July
Australia  70 – 8 Papua New Guinea 
Eric Weissel Oval, Wagga Wagga
Attendance: 11,685

Australia's 62-point win set a new record for largest winning margin in international rugby league. Winger Michael O'Connor also set a new record for most points scored by an individual in international rugby league.[5] The sellout crowd of 11,685 also set a ground attendance record at Wagga Wagga's Eric Weissel Oval.[6]

Tournament standings
TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDifferencePoints
 Australia860225291+161121
 New Zealand851215886+72111
 Great Britain842220390+11310
 Papua New Guinea820684325−24141
 France811635140−1053

1 France's 1987 away fixtures against Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea were scratched and each team awarded two points as the French were unable to tour Australasia that year due to financial difficulties.

World Cup Final
Main article: 1988 Rugby League World Cup Final
9 October 1988
14:30
New Zealand  12–25  Australia
Tries:
Kevin Iro
Tony Iro

Goals:
Peter Brown (2/5)		 Tries:
Allan Langer (2)
Gavin Miller
Dale Shearer
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (4/7)
Field Goal:
Ben Elias
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 47,363 [7]
Referee: Graham Ainui
Man of the Match: Gavin Miller
New Zealand
Australia
FB1 Gary Mercer
RW2 Tony Iro
RC3 Kevin Iro
LC4 Dean Bell (c)
LW5 Mark Elia
FE6 Gary Freeman
HB7 Clayton Friend
PR8 Peter Brown
HK9 Wayne Wallace
PR10 Adrian Shelford
SR11 Mark Graham
SR12 Kurt Sorensen
LF13 Mark Horo
Substitutions:
IC14 Shane Cooper
IC15 Sam Stewart
Coach:
Tony Gordon
FB1 Garry Jack
RW2 Dale Shearer
RC3 Andrew Farrar
LC4 Mark McGaw
LW5 Michael O'Connor
FE6 Wally Lewis (c)
HB7 Allan Langer
PR8 Paul Dunn
HK9 Benny Elias
PR10 Steve Roach
SR11 Paul Sironen
SR12 Gavin Miller
LF13 Wayne Pearce
Substitutions:
IC14 David Gillespie
IC15 Terry Lamb
Coach:
Don Furner

The 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup saw New Zealand play Australia in the World Cup final, the culmination of four years of competition. The Final was played at the spiritual home of rugby union in New Zealand, Auckland's Eden Park. It was the first time that rugby league had been played at the ground since 1919. The final attracted the highest ever crowd for a rugby league match in New Zealand of 47,363 (only 672 less than had attended the 1987 Rugby World Cup Final at the venue).[8] Australia had won the right to host the final, but in the interests of promoting the game, and because attendances for internationals played in Australia had been dwindling for over a decade due to the Kangaroos dominance, the ARL agreed to move the game to New Zealand. Prior to kick-off Graham Brazier performed the New Zealand national anthem.

Despite Australia's successful Ashes defence against Great Britain earlier in the year, the inexperience of the Australian World Cup Final team (and because NZ had defeated Australia in their previous encounter in a one-off test in Brisbane in 1987), saw the hosts actually go into the match as favourites in the eyes of many critics. However, the Wally Lewis led Kangaroos, boasting veteran test players Garry Jack, Dale Shearer, Michael O'Connor, Steve Roach, Paul Dunn, Wayne Pearce, and Terry Lamb, along with 1986 Kangaroos Ben Elias and Paul Sironen, mixed with newer international players Mark McGaw, Allan Langer, Gavin Miller, Andrew Farrar and David Gillespie, triumphed over the ill-disciplined Kiwis, who at least made sure the victorious Australians were bloodied and bruised for their victory lap. For the Kiwis, the Iro brothers Tony and Kevin, Gary Freeman, Clayton Friend, Mark Graham, Adrian Shelford, Kurt Sorensen and captain Dean Bell dished out the punishment.

Despite Queensland having won the State of Origin series 3–0 over New South Wales earlier in the year, the Maroons only supplied three of Australia's 15 players for the World Cup Final. Captain Wally Lewis (who broke his right forearm in the 15th minute of the game while tackling Tony Iro), Dale Shearer and Allan Langer. Lewis later claimed that it was the same as had been the case since Origin started in 1980, Qld wins the series but it was mainly NSW players picked for Australia.

Try scorers
8
6
5
4
3
2
1

References
  1. Paddy McAteer (22 December 2010) "Whole World in their Hands" Archived 5 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine North West Evening Mail
  2. "Schofield too hot for PNG". 22 May 1988. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  3. Baker, Andrew (20 August 1995). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". The Independent. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  4. "Best of British shocks Aussies". Evening Times. 9 July 1988. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  5. "O'Connor helps set Test records". The Age. 21 July 1988. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  6. "Rugby League World Cup – Roo Tour Memories: Allan Langer". broncos.com.au. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  7. RLWC 1985 – 1988: Australia at RLIF.co.uk
  8. BBC Sport – Rugby league – England to face New Zealand in 2010 Four Nations opener
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