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Down through the years, rugby league has produced all manner of grand comebacks. But none was more dramatic than Australia’s stunning back-from-the-dead effort against Great Britain in the Second Test of the 1990 Kangaroo tour.
With only seconds remaining, Bob Fulton’s men faced the possibility of a rare Ashes loss to Mal Reilly’s Poms, trailing 0-1 in the series and tied at 10-all in game two at Manchester.
Rookie halfback Ricky Stuart had earlier been the villain for Australia, releasing an errant pass that was swooped on by centre Paul O’Loughlin for a 50 metre intercept try.
The conversion sailed wide, but Great Britain was well and truly in the box seat at 10-all as the Old Trafford clock ticked past the 79th minute mark.
In just his second game for Australia, Stuart was almost inconsolable after his risky pass – the Kangaroos had not lost an Ashes series to England for two decades, and the chance of dropping a second loomed large.
But the green and golds would get one final chance, and were good enough to seize it when all hope looked lost.
As fate would determine, it was the villain Stuart who would emerge as the match-saving hero.
Receiving the ball on his own quarter line, the little number seven dummied past England hooker Lee Jackson and sped through a yawning gap.
As the defence converged, he considered kicking ahead for speedy winger Andrew Ettingshausen, but a heartbeat or two later and he spotted skipper Mal Meninga roaring up in support.
Stuart drew the defence and passed to the giant centre who powered over for the match-sealing try.
The Aussie contingent in the 46,615 crowd erupted. Australia’s 14-10 win would be recorded as one for the ages and the team went on to claim the Third Test – and The Ashes trophy – at Leeds with a 14-0 scoreline.
Stuart was a relieved man as he strode from the field and spoke of the late, late comeback.
“The further I ran, the closer Mal got to me,” he told reporters.
“In the end it was a simply matter of draw the fullback (Steve Hampson) and pass the ball. But during the run it seemed as though a million thoughts went through my head.
“I couldn’t bear to think how I would feel if I bungled that one. My earlier blue (the intercepted pass) was just like a death in the family.”
Ironically it had been Roos’ captain Meninga, one of Stuart’s Canberra teammates, who lifted Stuart’s spirits after his blooper.
“I was moping around behind the try-line with my head down and feeling shocking,” he said. “But Mal and Badge (Gary Belcher) gave me terrific support. They told me to forget what had happened and to get my mind back on winning the Test match.
“As soon as I threw that bad pass, I realised the ramifications. I felt as though I had let the entire touring party down. It was the worst moment in my life.”
The Kangaroos were stronger than they might have thought, and were worthy winners of that game which League historians warmly recall as a classic. They had dominated the fiercely determined England throughout with the scoreboard belying their efforts.
Although they scored only two tries in the second half, they repeatedly forced holes in the Great Britain defence and should have posted two or three more four pointers.
For Ricky Stuart, the game was a nightmare that became a dream.
For rugby league and sport in general, it demonstrated that impossibilities can morph into reality.
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We’ve all faced setbacks that were tough to overcome. Problem gambling can feel like that. It feels like that to thousands of Australians every day.
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