1956 New Zealand Māori rugby league tour of Australia
1956 New Zealand Māori rugby league tour of Australia | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | Ernie Asher and Wilf Davies | ||||
Coach(es) | Travers Hardwick | ||||
Tour captain(s) | Henry Maxwell | ||||
Summary |
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Total |
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Tour chronology | |||||
Previous tour | 1922 by ![]() ![]() 1956 by ![]() ![]() | ||||
Next tour | 1957 RLWC in ![]() 1958 by ![]() ![]() 1983 by ![]() ![]() |
The 1956 New Zealand Māori rugby league tour of Australia was the fourth overseas tour by a Māori rugby league team. The previous three tours were also to Australia. There had been tours in both 1908 and 1909 during the code’s formative years. The third tour occurred in 1922.
In the rival code, New Zealand Māori Rugby Union teams had undertaken taken three tours since the conclusion of World War II:— to Fiji in 1948 and 1954, and to Australia in 1949.
In Rugby League, Māori teams had played touring teams in 1946, 1949, 1953, 1954 and 1955.
This Māori tour, which began on August 1, followed a tour by the New Zealand national team which had concluded in early July. Two players, Henry Maxwell and Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray participated in both tours. Simon Yates was on the Māori tour, whilst his brother John Yates had been on the Kiwis tour.
The October 1955 issue of the Rugby League News mentioned the prospect of a Māori tour to Australia.[1] The December 1955 issue included a draft itinerary.[2]
Leadership
[edit]The Māori team was managed by Ernie Asher who had been a player on the 1908 and 1909 tours, and Wilf Davies.[3]
Travers Hardwick coached the team. Hardwick had toured Australia with the New Zealand national team in 1948 and 1952.
The team was captained by Henry Maxwell, with George Turner serving as vice-captain.[4]
Squad
[edit]The Rugby League News published a Team Photo, Player Details (Age, Height and Weight) and Pen Portraits of the tourists.
Player | Position | Age[5] | Weight | Province |
---|---|---|---|---|
George Bell | Centre | 26 | 13. 10 (87) | ![]() |
Andrew Berryman | Fullback, Centre | 25 | 13. 2 (83) | ![]() |
Jim Cassidy | Prop | 27 | 16. 7 (105) | ![]() |
Ted Cook | Hooker | 24 | 13. 0 (83) | ![]() |
Darby Diamond | Utility Back | 27 | 13. 10 (87) | ![]() |
Joe Gibbons | Centre | 25 | 12. 6 (79) | ![]() |
Ron Goodin | Fullback | 25 | 13. 0 (83) | ![]() |
Denis Hansen | Second-row | 22 | 14. 3 (90) | |
Arney Hawkes | Lock | 21 | 13. 7 (86) | ![]() |
Russell Herawini | Five-eighth, Halfback | 26 | 11. 7 (73) | ![]() |
Barry Maddigan | Wing | 19 | 12. 3 (78) | ![]() |
Henry Maxwell | Prop | 24 | 15. 0 (95) | ![]() |
Hugh McKinnon | Wing | 20 | 12. 7 (79) | ![]() |
Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray | Second-row | 24 | 12. 6 (79) | ![]() |
Bill Paki | Lock, Second-row | 27 | 13. 7 (86) | ![]() |
Ted Penney | Utility Back | 23 | 12. 4 (78) | ![]() |
Vic Pirihi | Wing | 19 | 12. 10 (81) | ![]() |
Joe Rātima | Prop | 28 | 16. 10 (106) | ![]() |
Kingi Tamati | Hooker | 22 | 12. 3 (78) | ![]() |
Bill Tauru | Utility Back | 23 | 13. 6 (85) | ![]() |
Jack Te Kawa | Five-eighth, Halfback | 23 | 12. 8 (80) | ![]() |
George Turner | Utility Back | 24 | 12. 0 (76) | ![]() |
Joe Wright | Halfback | 28 | 12. 6 (79) | ![]() |
Simon Yates | Second-row | 20 | 13. 4 (84) | ![]() |
Matches
[edit]August 1 | North Coast | 8–10 | ![]() |
Kempsey | |
Tries: 2 B. Johnson E. Carney Goals: 1 J. Daley |
Teams[6] Report[7] |
Tries: 2 Joe Rātima Vic Pirihi Goals: 2 Ron Goodin (2) |
Attendance: 7,126 Referee: L. McCrae |
North Coast: FB: C. Robinson ( |
August 4 | Brisbane ![]() |
32–23 | ![]() |
Brisbane | |
Tries: Goals: |
Report[8] |
Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 9,756 |
August 5 | Central Queensland ![]() |
24–38 | ![]() |
Rockhampton | |
Tries: Goals: |
Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 6,000 |
August 11 | Ipswich ![]() |
21–11 | ![]() |
North Ipswich Reserve | |
Tries: 5 Denis Jackwitz (2) Barry Brennan (2) Jim Pegg Goals: 3 Jim Holbeck (3) |
Tries: 3 Jack Te Kawa Jim Cassidy Hugh McKinnon Goals: 1 Ted Penney |
Attendance: 2,000 Gate: AU£ 370 Referee: Nev Kelly |
Ipswich: FB: Jim Holbeck ( |
August 12 | Wide Bay ![]() |
6–31 | ![]() |
Bundaberg | |
Tries: Goals: |
Result[9] |
Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 2,630 |
August 15 | Northern Division ![]() |
17–15 | ![]() |
Armidale | |
Tries: Goals: |
Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 3,000 |
August 18 | Newcastle ![]() |
19–15 | ![]() |
Newcastle Sports Ground | |
Tries: Goals: |
Report[10] |
Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 9,918 |
August 22 | Western Division ![]() |
5–0 | ![]() |
Dubbo | |
Tries: 1 Goals: 1 |
Tries: 0 Goals: 0 |
Attendance: 2,500 Referee: C. Smith |
August 26 | Southern Division ![]() |
17–16 | ![]() |
Wollongong | |
Tries: 3 Ron Smith Bill Poland Don Spence Goals: 4 Darcy Russell (4) |
Report[11] |
Tries: 2 Arney Hawkes George Turner Goals: 5 Ron Goodin (5) |
Attendance: 4,000 Referee: H. Barwick |
Southern Division: FB: Darcy Russell ( |
August 29 | Group 9 | 21–19 | ![]() |
Young | |
Tries: Goals: |
Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 3,000 Referee: D. Smith |
September 2 | Metropolis ![]() |
20–22 | ![]() |
Sydney Sports Ground | |
3pm |
Tries: 4 Ray Ritchie (2) Norm Strong Ian Johnston Goals: 4 Doug Fleming (4) |
Program Report[12] |
Tries: 4 Barry Maddigan (2) Arney Hawkes Kingi Tamati Goals: 5 Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray (5) |
Attendance: 13,148 Referee: Col Pearce |
Metropolis: FB: Doug Fleming ( |
September 6 | Monaro ![]() |
13–67 | ![]() |
Goulburn | |
Tries: Goals: |
Team[13] |
Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 1,200 Referee: W. Grugan |
September 9 | Sydney ![]() |
37–7 | ![]() |
Sydney Sports Ground | |
3pm |
Tries: 7 Ray Ritchie Bob Honeysett Ray Cardilini Bernie Purcell Dick See Harry Wells Ian Johnston Goals: 8 Gordon Clifford (6) Bernie Purcell (2) |
Program |
Tries: 1 Joe Rātima Goals: 2 Andrew Berryman (2) |
Attendance: 11,619 Referee: Col Pearce |
Sydney: FB: Gordon Clifford ( |
September 13 | Group 20 | 17–22 | ![]() |
Griffith Ex-Servicemen's Oval | |
Tries: 3 Laurie Foley (2) A. Campbell Goals: 4 Fred Maxwell (4) |
Teams[14] Report[15] |
Tries: 4 Ted Penney George Turner Vic Pirihi Joe Rātima Goals: 5 Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray (5) |
Attendance: 2,460 Referee: Ray Ward |
Group 20: FB: Fred Maxwell ( |
Sources
[edit]Acronym | Item | Years | Database App | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Direct Online Access | ||||
RLN | Rugby League News | 1920-1973 | Trove | Match Program in Sydney, Team Lists, Team Photos, Articles |
RLP | Rugby League Project | 1907–present | RLP Website | Tour itinerary. |
CQH | The Central Queensland Herald | 1930-1956 | Trove | Short match reports. |
CT | The Canberra Times | 1926-1995 | Trove | Short match reports. |
Offline Resources | ||||
EECYB | E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book | 1946-1978 | Copies at State Library of NSW |
Teams and Point Scorers for the two matches in Sydney. 1957 Yearbook covers the 1956 tour. |
RRLG | Rockhampton Rugby League Gazette | 1951-1968 | Copies at State Library of Qld |
Program for matches in Rockhampton. Collection includes club as well as Rockhampton and Central Queensland representative matches. |
- | Ipswich Versus International Teams[16] | 1913-1975 | Copies at SLQ & NLA |
Match Report, Given Names & Club of Ipswich Players |
- | The Bulimba Cup Era[17] | 1925-1972 | Copies at SLQ & NLA |
Clubs of Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane players. This book includes Bulimba Cup match reports and team lists. |
References
[edit]- ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1 October 1955). "Maoris After Tours". The Rugby League News. 36 (34). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-642190345. Retrieved 16 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1 December 1955). "Māoris Games In Sydney". The Rugby League News. 36 (36). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-642195544. Retrieved 16 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1 September 1956). "Wilf Davies Has Fine R.L. Record". The Rugby League News. 37 (27). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-760487902. Retrieved 12 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1 September 1956). "Leads Maoris". The Rugby League News. 37 (27). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-760487842. Retrieved 16 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ Age as given in the ‘’Rugby League News’’ for the match against Metropolis
- ^ "Teams In Big Match". Macleay Argus. 2 Aug 1956. p. 5.
- ^ "Māoris Won-Hard Game". Macleay Argus. 2 Aug 1956. p. 5.
- ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (11 August 1956). "Māori Centre Berryman A Dazzler". The Rugby League News. 37 (23). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-760110876. Retrieved 12 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (18 August 1956). "Turner Stars For Māoris". The Rugby League News. 37 (24). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-760416760. Retrieved 12 February 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (25 August 1956). "Maoris' Brilliant Form At Newcastle". The Rugby League News. 37 (25). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-760421295. Retrieved 12 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ Stretch, Roger (27 Aug 1956). "Big League match disappoints - Southern Defeats Māoris". Illawarra Mercury. p. 8.
- ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (8 September 1956). "Pleaseing Display By Māoris". The Rugby League News. 37 (28). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-760498786. Retrieved 12 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Canberra League Followers Confident of Win". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 29 Aug 1956. p. 15. Retrieved 7 Feb 2021.
- ^ "Big Football Here Tomorrow - 5,000 May Watch Māori Play". The Area News. 12 Sep 1956. p. 1.
- ^ "New Zealand Beat Group 20 - Big Crowd Saw the Māori play". The Area News. 14 Sep 1956. p. 1.
- ^ Christison, J.E. (2012). Ipswich Versus International Teams. J.E. Christison. ISBN 978-0-98060-74-2-0.
- ^ Christison, J.E. (2012). Ipswich Rugby League - The Bulimba Cup Era. J.E. Christison. ISBN 978-0-98060-74-0-6.