Prior to the Super League war, a Kangaroo Tour to England and France was the pinnacle of every rugby league player’s career (apart from winning the respective premierships in Sydney and Brisbane).
In 1982, the Australian rugby league team, the Kangaroos, went on a tour of England and France.
The 1982 Kangaroos had in their side players such as Wally Lewis, Brett Kenny, Max Krilich, Craig Young, Peter Sterling, Steve Rogers, Mal Meninga, Ray Price and Wayne Pearce.
Before the tour, the Kangaroos split into two squads, one team to play Papua New Guinea, the other side Western Australia in an exhibition game. Both games were won in very easy fashion by the Kangaroos.
Coach Frank Stanton made an interesting selection choice prior to the opening tour match against Hull Kingston Rovers, when he named Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling as the five-eighth and half back ahead of Lewis and Steve Mortimer.
Both Kenny and Sterling kept Lewis and Mortimer out of the first Test line-up against Great Britain. Pearce and Eric Grothe also made their Test debuts.
The Kangaroos won 40-4, which sent alarm bells ringing in British rugby league.
In fact, the Kangaroos went on to win every game on the tour of Britain and France, and came home known as ‘The Invincibles.’
Players like Lewis, Kenny, Sterling, Pearce, Meninga heralded a new golden era of Australian rugby league.
That is, until the Super League war began.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Despite the birth of Superleague in England the British team remains disappointing at representative level. I had the chance of seeing the Australian Schoolboys Test match against the English schoolsboys last weekend --- we won 66-nil. Not a good sign for the health of the international game. I couldn't believe how unfit some of those pommy kids were.
Whiteline
Guest
Steve Rogers was a legend, not only for his skill but how he played the game. Never once sent off, sin binned or guilty of any trace of anger. He was an unselfish player and admired throughout the whole league. If anything, his one flaw was that sometimes he had the chance to use his great skill or speed (especially in his younger years) but chose to slow and look for support when he could have done it all himself.
sheek
Guest
Jason, Agreed. Speaking of the 1970 Ashes series, it was the first one I followed, & little did I know it would be the last time Great Britain would beat Australia in a RL series. I couldn't believe how good & tough those Poms were. The WC win a few months later was really an awesome achievement against these guys. 1970 was a tough year to be an Aussie sports supporter. The cricketers, Kangaroos & Wallabies all got smacked in this year.
Jason Cave
Guest
You got to remember that the standard of British rugby league was at an all-time low around the time the '82 Kangaroos toured Britain & France. They were still in a time-warp about 1970, and had not developed their standard of rugby league one bit. In fact, the warning signs that British rugby league had fallen so far behind began to emerge in 1979, when Australia thrashed Great Britain 3-0 in the 1979 Ashes series in Australia. The British Rugby League should've taken action after the '79 tour, to make sure they would meet the challenge of the 1982 Kangaroos Tour head-on. And they failed.
sheek
Guest
Jason, Sometimes greatness seems to come in pairs - Kangaroos of 1982 & 84; Wallabies of 1984 & 86; Lions of 1971 & 74, etc. That was an awesome team in 1982 - Brentnall at fullback; Grothe & Boustead on the wings; Meninga & Rogers in the centres; Kenny & Sterling as the halves; a backrow of Price, Boyd & Reddy; & a frontrow of Krilich(c), Young & Morris. Lewis was the 14th man, coming on for 20-odd minute stints in the 2nd & 3rd tests. But I kinda think the 1986 mob was slightly stronger allround.