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.

Results

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)		Tries: Peter Ryan Wendell Sailor Goals: Mat Rogers (1/2)

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 26,731 Referee: Bill Harrigan Player of the Match: Greg Alexander

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Game 2

Friday 9 May

New Zealand	12 – 26	Queensland
Tries: Stacey Jones John Timu Goals: Gene Ngamu (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 Player of the Match: Allan Langer

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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)		Tries: Ruben Wiki (2) Goals: Stacey Jones (3/4) Field Goals: Gene Ngamu (1)

Bruce Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 13,836 Referee: Steve Clark

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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.

Table

	Team	Played	Wins	Losses	Points
1	New South Wales	2	2	0	4
2	Queensland	2	1	1	2
3	New Zealand	2	0	2	0

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)		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

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Squads

New South Wales

Coach:Tim Sheens Assistant Coach: Craig Bellamy

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
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 Scored	Player
4	Ken Nagas (NSW)
3	Andrew Ettingshausen (NSW), Brett Mullins (NSW), Tonie Carroll (Qld)
2	David Peachey (NSW), Simon Gillies (NSW), Ruben Wiki (NZ), Steve Renouf (Qld)
1	Shane 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

• 1997 State of Origin series
• Super League (Australia)

External links

• Complete Statistics and Players of the Super League Tri-Series
• Super League Tri-Series 1997 at rugbyleagueproject.org