1998 Anzac Test
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| 1998 Anzac Test | |||||||||||||
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| Date | 24 April 1998 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | North Harbour Stadium | ||||||||||||
| Location | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||
Robbie Paul  | |||||||||||||
| Referee | Russell Smith  | ||||||||||||
| Attendance | 24,620 | ||||||||||||
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| Broadcasters |
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| Commentators | |||||||||||||
The 1998 Anzac test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand at the North Harbour Stadium 24 April 1998. It was the 2nd Anzac test played between the two nations since the first was played under the Super League banner in 1997 and the first to be played in New Zealand.
Australia led 12-6 at half time after two tries to Terry Hill while Kevin Iro crossed for the home side, but the Kiwis came back thanks to two tries after half time by Sean Hoppe and Terry Hermansson which saw NZ lead 18-12. After Steve Renouf scored with only his 3rd touch of the game midway through the second half, the game was in the balance with the score at 18-16. Kevin Iro then put the result beyond doubt with his second try with 2 minutes remaining to give the home side a 22-16 win in front of an almost full house of 24,620 fans. This was New Zealand's first win over Australia since the first test of the 1991 Trans-Tasman Test series at the Olympic Park Stadium in Melbourne.[1]
Squads
Although Rodney Howe, Brad Thorn and Darren Lockyer had played Super League Tests for Australia in 1997, according to official Australian Rugby League records which do not recognise any test match played under the Super League banner, they along with Mat Rogers made their test debuts for Australia in this game.
| New Zealand | Position | Australia |
|---|---|---|
 Matthew Ridge (c)
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Fullback | Robbie O'Davis 
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| Sean Hoppe
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Wing | Wendell Sailor 
|
 Richie Blackmore
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Centre | Terry Hill 
|
 Ruben Wiki
|
Centre | Steve Renouf
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 Richie Barnett
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Wing | Mat Rogers 
|
 Robbie Paul
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Five-eighth | Laurie Daley (c)
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| Stacey Jones
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Halfback | Andrew Johns
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 John Lomax
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Prop | Rodney Howe 
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| Henry Paul
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Hooker | Geoff Toovey
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| Quentin Pongia
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Prop | Paul Harragon
|
 Jarrod McCracken
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Second-row | Steve Menzies
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 Tony Iro
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Second-row | Brad Thorn
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| Logan Swann
|
Lock | Brad Fittler
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| Nigel Vagana
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Interchange | Darren Lockyer
|
 Terry Hermansson
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Interchange | Nik Kosef
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| Kevin Iro
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Interchange | Glenn Lazarus
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| Joe Vagana
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Interchange | Dean Pay
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| Frank Endacott
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Coach | Bob Fulton
|
Match summary
24 April 1998
7:30pm (AEST) |
New Zealand 
|
22 – 16 |  Australia
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|---|---|---|
| Tries Kevin Iro (2) Sean Hoppe Terry Hermansson Goals Matthew Ridge (3/5) |
[2] |
Tries Terry Hill (2) Steve Renouf Goals Mat Rogers (2/4) |
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 24,620 Referee: Russell Smith Player of the Match: Robbie Paul |
