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1991 Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea

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The 1991 Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea was a two-week, end of season tour of Papua New Guinea by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played five matches on the tour, including two Test matches against the Papua New Guinea national rugby league team. The tour began on 29 September and finished on 13 October.[1]

As of 2017 this remains the only full Kangaroo Tour of Papua New Guinea.

Leadership

As he had been since 1989, Bob Fulton was the coach of the Kangaroos. Mal Meninga was the team captain.

Touring squad

Eleven of the 23 man squad had played for Australia in their 2-1 Trans-Tasman Test series win over New Zealand earlier in the year. Among those selected to tour but who were ultimately ruled out with injury were Penrith test players and 1991 premiership winners Greg Alexander, Mark Geyer and John Cartwright as well as Canberra Raiders halves Laurie Daley and Ricky Stuart.

Player Club Position(s) Games Tests Tries Goals F/Goals Points
Gary Belcher Canberra Raiders Fullback 5 2 3 10 32
Martin Bella Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Prop 5 2
Willie Carne Brisbane Broncos Wing 5 2 8 32
Bradley Clyde Canberra Raiders Lock, Second-row 4 2 3 12
Gary Coyne Canberra Raiders Second-row, Prop 4 2
Andrew Ettingshausen Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Centre 4 2 3 12
Brad Fittler Penrith Panthers Lock, Centre 5 2 4 16
Andrew Gee Brisbane Broncos Second-row 1 0
Scott Gourley St George Dragons Second-row, Lock 4 1 3 12
Peter Jackson North Sydney Bears Five-eighth, Centre 4 1 3 12
Chris Johns Brisbane Broncos Wing, Centre 5 2 2 8
Glenn Lazarus Canberra Raiders Prop 5 2 1 4
Cliff Lyons Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Five-eighth 5 2 3 12
Mark McGaw Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Centre 1 0
Bruce McGuire Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Second-row 1 0
Mal Meninga (c) Canberra Raiders Centre 3 2 2 6 20
Steve Roach Balmain Tigers Prop 1 0
Ian Roberts Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Second-row 4 1 4
Craig Salvatori Eastern Suburbs Roosters Second-row 1
Geoff Toovey Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Halfback 5 2 1 4
Kerrod Walters Brisbane Broncos Hooker 4 2
Kevin Walters Brisbane Broncos Halfback, Hooker 5 2 1 4
Rod Wishart Illawarra Steelers Wing 4 2 4 4 24

Tour

The Australian's played five games on the tour, winning all five.


Sunday, 29 September
Northern Zone 6 – 40 Australia
Tries:

Goals:
David Buko (3)
[2]
Tries:
Bradley Clyde (2), Gary Belcher, Scott Gourley, Cliff Lyons, Mal Meninga, Geoff Toovey, Kevin Walters
Goals:
Mal Meninga (4/8)

Attendance: 10,300
Referee: Tom Pelas

Northern Zone: David Buko, Tweedy Malagian, Charlie Vee, John Markham, Lance Tirava, Elison Ketauwo, David Gilpu, Mathias Kin, Michael Matmillo, Patrick Kiap, Nande Yer, John Piel (c), Goro Arigae. Res - Joe Tonar, Chris Sari, Jacob Danny, Dick Moiga.

Australia: Gary Belcher, Willie Carne, Mal Meninga (c), Andrew Ettingshausen, Rod Wishart, Peter Jackson, Geoff Toovey, Martin Bella, Kevin Walters, Glenn Lazarus, Craig Salvatori, Ian Roberts, Bradley Clyde. Res - Cliff Lyons, Brad Fittler, Chris Johns, Scott Gourley.

Australian forward Craig Salvatori suffered an ankle injury during the game and did not play again on tour.


Wednesday, 2 October
Island Zone 25 – 42 Australia
Tries:
James Kapia, August Joseph, Jimmy Peter
Goals:
Normyle Eremas (3)
Field Goals:
Bernard Bate
[3]
Tries:
Brad Fittler (2), Peter Jackson (2), Willie Carne, Scott Gourley, Chris Johns
Goals:
Gary Belcher (5)

Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Graham Ainui

Island Zone: Normyle Eremas, Arnold Tivelit, Henry Hairoi, August Joseph, James Kapia, Willie Langer, Billy Kennedy, Pisai Maevo, Bernard Bate, David Gaius, Jimmy Peter, Ben Lakur, Apelis Walia. Res - Phillip Nagatia, Ken Oki, Cliff Rich, Albert Levy.

Australia: Gary Belcher (c), Willie Carne, Peter Jackson, Brad Fittler, Chris Johns, Cliff Lyons, Kevin Walters, Steve Roach, Kerrod Walters, Glenn Lazarus, Gary Coyne, Andrew Gee, Scott Gourley. Res - Geoff Toovey, Martin Bella, Ian Roberts, Andrew Ettingshausen.


1st Test

Reserve forward Scott Gourley who had made 5 rugby union test appearances for Australia in 1988 before switching to rugby league with St. George, became Australia's 41st dual-rugby international.

Sunday, 6 October
Papua New Guinea  2 – 58  Australia
Tries:






Goals:
Ipisa Wanega (1/1)
[4]
Tries:
Willie Carne (3)
Rod Wishart (3)
Andrew Ettingshausen (2)
Brad Fittler (2)
Cliff Lyons
Ian Roberts
Goals:
Gary Belcher (5/10)
Mal Meninga (0/2)
Danny Leahy Oval, Goroka
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Dennis Hale New Zealand
Player of the Match: Willie Carne
Papua New Guinea
Australia
FB 1 Ipisa Wanega
RW 2 Liprin Palangat
RC 3 Chris Itam
LC 4 Richard Wagambi
LW 5 Korul Sinemau
FE 6 Stanley Haru (c)
HB 7 Sam Karara
PR 8 John Unagi
HK 9 Danny Moi
PR 10 Daroa Ben-Moide
SR 11 Max Tiri
SR 12 Thomas Daki
LK 13 Joe Gispe
Substitutions:
IC 14 Joshua Kouoru
IC 15 Ngala Lapan
IC 16 James Naipao
IC 17 Kes Paglipari
Coach:
Papua New Guinea Skerry Palanga
FB 1 Gary Belcher
LW 2 Rod Wishart
RC 3 Mal Meninga (c)
LC 4 Andrew Ettingshausen
RW 5 Willie Carne
FE 6 Cliff Lyons
HB 7 Geoff Toovey
PR 8 Martin Bella
HK 9 Kerrod Walters
PR 10 Glenn Lazarus
SR 11 Bradley Clyde
SR 12 Ian Roberts
LF 13 Brad Fittler
Substitutions:
IC 14 Chris Johns
IC 15 Kevin Walters
IC 16 Gary Coyne
IC 17 Scott Gourley
Coach:
Australia Bob Fulton

Wednesday, 9 October
Highlands Zone 3 – 28 Australia
Tries:

Goals:
Gigmai Ongugo (1)
Field Goals:
Gigmai Ongugo (1)
[5]
Tries:
Gary Belcher, Willie Carne, Scott Gourley, Chris Johns, Glenn Lazarus
Goals:
Rod Wishart (4)
Rebiamul Oval, Mount Hagen
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Moses Tolingling

Highlands Zone: John Okul, Francis Abba, David Gomia, Thomas Tumbo, Joe Rema, Dimbi Ongugo, Gigmai Ongugo, Leslie Hoffman, Maima Kawage, Yami Kamisive, Joe Paraka (c), Philip Humar, John Yawing. Res - Michael Angra, Mek Kepo, John Passigan, Michael Kiap.

Australia: Gary Belcher, Willie Carne, Chris Johns, Mark McGaw, Rod Wishart, Cliff Lyons, Geoff Toovey, Glenn Lazarus, Kevin Walters, Gary Coyne, Bruce McGuire, Scott Gourley, Bradley Clyde (c). Res - Kerrod Walters, Martin Bella, Brad Fittler, Peter Jackson.

Australia won a bruising encounter 28–3 over Highlands Zone in Mount Hagan.[6]


2nd Test

This test match also doubled as a Group Stage game for the 1989-92 Rugby League World Cup. Gary Belcher, Martin Bella, Cliff Lyons and Gary Coyne all played their last tests for Australia.

Sunday, 13 October
Papua New Guinea  6 – 40  Australia
Tries:
Stanley Haru






Goals:
Phillip Boge (1)
Tries:
Willie Carne (3)
Gary Belcher
Andrew Ettingshausen
Mal Meninga
Peter Jackson
Rod Wishart
Bradley Clyde
Goals:
Mal Meninga (2/7)
Gary Belcher (0/2)
Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby
Attendance: 14,500
Referee: Dennis Hale New Zealand
Player of the Match: Willie Carne
Papua New Guinea
Australia
FB 1 Phillip Boge
RW 2 Liprin Palangat
RC 3 Korul Sinemau
LC 4 Richard Wagambi
LW 5 Gideon Kouoru
FE 6 Stanley Haru (c)
HB 7 Sam Karara
PR 8 John Unagi
HK 9 Danny Moi
PR 10 James Naipao
SR 11 Thomas Daki
SR 12 Kes Paglipari
LK 13 Joe Gispe
Substitutions:
IC 14 Leslie Hoffman
IC 15 Ngala Lapan
IC 16 Kera Ngaffin
IC 17 Jack Uradok
Coach:
Papua New Guinea Skerry Palanga
FB 1 Gary Belcher
LW 2 Rod Wishart
RC 3 Mal Meninga (c)
LC 4 Andrew Ettingshausen
RW 5 Willie Carne
FE 6 Peter Jackson
HB 7 Geoff Toovey
PR 8 Martin Bella
HK 9 Kerrod Walters
PR 10 Glenn Lazarus
SR 11 Bradley Clyde
SR 12 Ian Roberts
LF 13 Brad Fittler
Substitutions:
IC 14 Cliff Lyons
IC 15 Kevin Walters
IC 16 Chris Johns
IC 17 Gary Coyne
Coach:
Australia Bob Fulton

Statistics

Leading Try Scorer

Leading Point Scorer

  • 32 by Gary Belcher (3 tries, 10 goals) and Willie Carne (8 tries)

Largest Attendance

Largest non-test Attendance

  • 10,300 - Australia vs Northern Zone

References