Super League Tri-series

The Super League Tri-series was an international rugby league football tournament contested in 1997 between Queensland, New South Wales, and New Zealand representative rugby league teams. It was run by the breakaway Super League organisation as an alternative to the Australian Rugby League's traditional State of Origin series, with each of the two series involving exclusively players contracted to clubs of their respective League. New South Wales were overall winners of the Tri-series, defeating Queensland in the final.

New Zealand restricted their selections to players based in Australia and New Zealand and did not recognize the matches as international games.

Game 1
Friday 11 April
New South Wales 38 – 10 Queensland
Tries:
Andrew Ettingshausen (3)
Ken Nagas (2)
Greg Alexander
David Peachey
Goals:
Ryan Girdler (5/7)		 [1] Tries:
Peter Ryan
Wendell Sailor


Goals:
Mat Rogers (1/2)
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 26,731
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Man of the Match: Greg Alexander

Game 2
Friday 9 May
New Zealand 12 – 26 Queensland
Tries:
Stacey Jones
John Timu



Goals:
Gene Ngamu (2/2)		 [2] Tries:
Tonie Carroll
Allan Langer
Mat Rogers
Kevin Walters
Shane Webcke
Goals:
Mat Rogers (3/5)
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Graham Annesley
Man of the Match: Allan Langer

Game 3
Wednesday 14 May
New South Wales 20 – 15 New Zealand
Tries:
Simon Gillies (2)
Ken Nagas (2)
Goals:
Ryan Girdler (2/4)
Laurie Daley (0/1)		 [3] Tries:
Ruben Wiki (2)

Goals:
Stacey Jones (3/4)

Field Goals:
Gene Ngamu (1)
Bruce Stadium, Canberra
Attendance: 13,836
Referee: Steve Clark

After New South Wales defeated Queensland on 11 April 1997 it was possible for New Zealand to make the final if they defeated New South Wales. This commercially disastrous final looked like becoming a reality when New Zealand winger Sean Hoppe scored a try in the dying minutes of the 14 May match against New South Wales, but the try was controversially disallowed.[4]

Table
TeamPlayedWinsLossesPoints
1New South Wales2204
2Queensland2112
3New Zealand2020

Final

The Tri-series final was held on 19 May 1997, and won by New South Wales, who defeated Queensland 23–22 at ANZ Stadium in the longest-ever game of first class rugby league. After 80 minutes, the scores were locked at 18–18, and a further 20 minutes were played. At the end of this time, the scores were 22–22, and Queensland captain Allan Langer is said to have asked the referee, "Should we toss a coin to see who wins?" The game then moved into golden point extra time, and after 104 minutes, Noel Goldthorpe kicked a field goal for New South Wales, and won the match.

Despite the game being played in Brisbane, NSW were the home team as it was the Final of the series.

Monday 19 May
New South Wales 23 – 22 (gp) Queensland
Tries:
Brett Mullins (3)
Matthew Ryan

Goals:
David Furner (3/4)

Field Goals:
Noel Goldthorpe (1)		 [5] Tries:
Steve Renouf (2)
Tonie Carroll
Michael Hancock
Goals:
Mat Rogers (2/3)
Darren Lockyer (1/2)
ANZ Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 35,570
Referee: Bill Harrigan

Squads

New South Wales
Position Game 1
(versus Qld)		 Game 2
(versus NZ)		 Game 3
(versus Qld)
Fullback David Peachey
Wing Ken Nagas
Centre Andrew Ettingshausen
Centre Ryan Girdler Matthew Ryan
Wing Matthew Ryan Brett Mullins
Five-Eighth Laurie Daley (c)
Halfback Greg Alexander Noel Goldthorpe
Prop Glenn Lazarus
Hooker Craig Gower Luke Priddis Craig Gower
Prop Rodney Howe Ian Roberts
Second Row Sean Ryan David Furner
Second Row Simon Gillies
Lock David Furner Bradley Clyde
Interchange Matt Adamson Danny Lee Robbie Kearns
Interchange Solomon Haumono
Interchange Robbie Ross Scott Wilson Robbie Ross
Interchange Noel Goldthorpe Matthew Ryan Luke Priddis

New Zealand

The side was coached by Graeme Norton and he served as a selector alongside Frank Endacott and Gary Kemble.

Position Game 1
(versus Qld)		 Game 2
(versus NSW)
Fullback Anthony Swann
Wing Sean Hoppe
Centre Tea Ropati
Centre Ruben Wiki
Wing Richie Barnett
Five-Eighth Gene Ngamu
Halfback Stacey Jones
Prop Quentin Pongia
Hooker Syd Eru
Prop Joe Vagana
Second Row Tony Iro Stephen Kearney
Second Row Stephen Kearney Tyran Smith
Lock Tawera Nikau
Interchange John Timu Solomon Haumono
Interchange Brady Malam Marc Ellis
Interchange Tyran Smith Brady Malam
Interchange Marc Ellis Tony Iro

Queensland

Queensland were coached by Wayne Bennett.

Position Game 1
(versus NSW)		 Game 2
(versus NZ)		 Game 3
(versus NSW)
Fullback Julian O'Neill Darren Lockyer
Wing Mat Rogers
Centre Steve Renouf Darren Smith Steve Renouf
Centre Geoff Bell Tonie Carroll
Wing Wendell Sailor
Five-Eighth Kevin Walters
Halfback Allan Langer (c)
Prop Brad Thorn
Hooker Steve Walters
Prop Andrew Gee Craig Greenhill Owen Cunningham
Second Row Owen Cunningham Peter Ryan
Second Row Gorden Tallis
Lock Darren Smith Peter Ryan Darren Smith
Interchange Peter Ryan Michael Hancock
Interchange Chris McKenna Kevin Campion
Interchange Paul Green
Interchange Shane Webcke

Statistics

Try scorers
Tries ScoredPlayer
4Ken Nagas (NSW)
3Andrew Ettingshausen (NSW), Brett Mullins (NSW), Tonie Carroll (Qld)
2David Peachey (NSW), Simon Gillies (NSW), Ruben Wiki (NZ), Steve Renouf (Qld)
1Shane Webcke (Qld), Greg Alexander (NSW), Kevin Walters (Qld), Allan Langer (Qld), Mat Rogers (Qld), Stacey Jones (NZ), Wendell Sailor (Qld), Gene Ngamu (NZ), Peter Ryan (Qld), Michael Hancock (Qld), Matthew Ryan (NSW), John Timu (NZ)

See also

References
  1. 1997 Super League Tri-series - NSW vs Qld
  2. 1997 Super League Tri-series - NZ vs Qld
  3. 1997 Super League Tri-series - NSW vs NZ
  4. Mascord, Steve (14 May 1997). "Try, try and try again, but Kiwis denied by ref". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax. p. 50. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  5. 1997 Super League Tri-series Final
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