1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia
The 1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the eighteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the thirteenth tour to visit Australia. The fifteen-match tour included three Test Matches.
The touring team began with a pair of wins but then lost the next two, against Newcastle and the First Test in Sydney. Five strong performances in Queensland followed, with wins by wide margins in high-scoring matches. In contrast, the Second Test was a low-scoring match, Australia winning 8 to 2 to secure their first Trans-Tasman series win since 1935. New Zealand lost the Third Test, and thus the series three-nil, and also the two tour matches that followed.
1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia | |||||
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Manager | Ron McGregor | ||||
Coach(es) | Bill Telford | ||||
Tour captain(s) | Tommy Baxter | ||||
Top point scorer(s) | Des White 88 | ||||
Top try scorer(s) | Rex Percy 12 | ||||
Top test point scorer(s) | Des White 10 ![]() | ||||
Top test try scorer(s) | Vern Bakalich 2 ![]() | ||||
Summary |
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Total |
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Test match |
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Opponent |
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Tour chronology | |||||
Previous tour | 1952 by ![]() ![]() 1955 by ![]() 1955-56 to ![]() ![]() | ||||
Next tour | 1956 by ![]() ![]() 1958 by ![]() ![]() 1959 by ![]() ![]() |
Leadership
The team was captained by Tommy Baxter.[1]
The touring team was managed by Ron McGregor.[2]
Squad
The Rugby League News published a Team Photo, Player Details (Occupation, Age, Height and Weight) and pen portraits of the tourists: Backs and Forwards which listed their provincial team.
Matches
May 30 | Western Division ![]() |
16–19 | ![]() |
Lithgow | |
Tries: 2 Laurie Bennett Alex Whitby Goals: 5 Barry Russell (5) |
Result[4] |
Tries: 5 Vern Bakalich (2) Ron Ackland Jock Butterfield Frank Mulcare Goals: 2 Pat Creedy (2) |
Attendance: 6,620 Gate: AU£ 1,062 Referee: Eric McIlhatton |
Western NSW: FB: Barry Russell (age 22), WG: William Miller (23) ( |
June 2 | New South Wales ![]() |
17–26 | ![]() |
Sydney Cricket Ground | |
Tries: 3 Don Adams Graham Laird Peter O'Connor Goals: 4 Ron Willey (4) |
Program Database |
Tries: 4 Bill Sorensen (3) Frank Mulcare Goals: 7 Des White (7) |
Attendance: 35,492 Gate: AU£ 5,008 Referee: C. Brown |
New South Wales: FB: Ron Willey (age 28) ( |
June 4 | Newcastle ![]() |
20–5 | ![]() |
Newcastle Sports Ground | |
Tries: 4 Fred Brown Doug Hawke Don Adams Brian Carlson Goals: 4 Russ Naughton (4) |
Result[5] |
Tries: 1 Henry Maxwell Goals: 1 Des White |
Attendance: 12,500 Gate: AU£ 2,247 Referee: G. Hallwood |
Newcastle: FB: Russ Naughton ( |
1st Test
June 9 2.30pm |
Australia ![]() |
12–9 | ![]() |
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Tries: 4 Don Adams (2) Dick Poole Ian Moir Goals: 0 |
Program Result[6][7] Database |
Tries: 3 Sel Belsham Vern Bakalich Bill Sorensen Goals: 0 |
Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 46,766 Gate: AU£ 15,905 Referee: John Casey |
Australia: FB: Ken McCrohon (23) ( |
June 11 | Brisbane ![]() |
8–26 | ![]() |
Brisbane Exhibition Ground | |
Night game |
Tries: 2 J. Duncan (2) Goals: 1 Brian Davies |
Result[8] |
Tries: 6 Bill Sorensen Tom Hadfield Cyril Eastlake John Yates Arnold Green Pat Creedy Goals: 4 Bill Sorensen (2) Pat Creedy (2) |
Attendance: 14,367 Gate: AU£ 2,020 Referee: John Casey |
Brisbane: FB: Ken McCrohon ( |
June 13 | Toowoomba ![]() |
25–33 | ![]() |
Toowoomba | |
Tries: 5 Leo Johnson Athol Halpin Des McGovern Tom Payne Bob Buckley Goals: 5 Don Furner (5) |
Result[9] |
Tries: 7 Rex Percy (2) Ron Ackland (2) Tom Hadfield Bill Sorensen Henry Maxwell Goals: 6 Des White (6) |
Attendance: 6,142 Gate: AU£ 1,327 Referee: Frank Ballard |
Toowoomba: FB: Athol Halpin ( |
June 16 | Queensland ![]() |
26–40 | ![]() |
Brisbane | |
Tries: 6 Des McGovern Alex Watson Bob Buckley Tom Tyquin Don Furner Gary Parcell Goals: 4 Cyril Connell Jr (3) Don Furner |
Database |
Tries: 8 George Menzies (2) Vern Bakalich Tom Hadfield Tommy Baxter Frank Mulcare Mauriohooho Murray Ron Ackland Goals: 8 Des White (8) |
Attendance: 28,261 Gate: AU£ 4,138 Referee: John Casey |
Queensland: FB: Ken McCrohon (age 23) ( |
June 17 | Central Queensland ![]() |
22–60 | ![]() |
Rockhampton | |
Tries: 6 G. Little (2) Allan Rycen Ollie Smith Bob Banks P. Millroy Goals: 2 Ken Jenkins (2) |
Tries: 14 Rex Percy (6) Reese Griffiths (3) Vern Bakalich (2) Bill Sorensen Tom Hadfield Mauriohooho Murray Goals: 9 Des White (9) |
Attendance: 5,800 Gate: AU£ 1,451 Referee: N. Castley |
Central Queensland: FB: Ray Robinson ( |
June 20 | North Queensland ![]() |
8–53 | ![]() |
Townsville | |
Tries: 2 Danny Clifford Ken Woodward Goals: 1 Albert Roberts |
Tries: 15 Keith Roberts (4) John Lasher (3) Arnold Green (2) Bill Sorensen (2) Gordon Moncur Reese Griffiths Henry Maxwell Cyril Eastlake Goals: 4 Bill Sorensen (3) Cyril Eastlake |
Attendance: 4,000 Gate: AU£ 963 Referee: H. Gilbert |
North Queensland: FB: Bevan Hoyle (Townsville), WG: Albert Roberts (Townsville), CE: Len Blaik (Townsville), CE: Ron Tait ( |
2nd Test
June 23 |
Australia ![]() |
8–2 | ![]() |
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Tries: 2 Dick Poole Alex Watson Goals: 1 Gordon Clifford |
Result[10] Database |
Tries: 0 Goals: 1 Des White |
Brisbane Attendance: 28,361 Gate: AU£ 9,827 Referee: Darcy Lawler |
Australia: FB: Gordon Clifford ( |
June 24 | Wide Bay ![]() |
5–29 | ![]() |
Maryborough | |
Tries: 1 L. Hooper Goals: 1 A. Brunkie |
Tries: 7 Arnold Green (3) John Bond (2) Keith Roberts Rex Percy Goals: 4 Des White (4) |
Attendance: 1,326 Gate: AU£ 349 Referee: Vic Vercoe |
Wide Bay: FB: A. Brunkie, WG: L. Kavanagh, CE: W. Beck, CE: P. Clarke, WG: W. Hannen, FE: B. Sherwood, HB: G. Norris, LK: L. Hooper, SR: R. Marles, SR: T. Drysdale, PR: R. King, HK: Keith Weston, PR: M. Ziebath. |
June 27 | Northern Division ![]() |
14–15 | ![]() |
Narrabri | |
Tries: 4 J. Gurd (2) C. Kelly A. Collinson Goals: 1 C. Robinson |
Tries: 3 Rex Percy (2) Bill Sorensen Goals: 3 Cyril Eastlake (3) |
Attendance: 2,040 Gate: AU£ 566 Referee: K. Hilton |
Northern NSW: FB: C. Robinson, WG: J. Gurd, CE: R. Lumsden (Urunga), CE: J. Daly, WG: J. Wood, FE: A. Davidson, HB: C. Kelly, LK: G. Smith, SR: Arthur Collinson (Port Macquarie), SR: Guy Brazier (Dorrigo), PR: Lloyd Hudson ( |
3rd Test
June 30 2.30pm |
Australia ![]() |
31–14 | ![]() |
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Tries: 7 Don Adams (3) Alex Watson (2) Keith Holman Darcy Henry Goals: 5 Norm Pope (5) |
Program Database |
Tries: 2 Vern Bakalich Cliff Johnson Goals: 4 Des White (4) |
Sydney Attendance: 46,735 Gate: AU£ 14,806 Referee: Darcy Lawler |
Australia: FB: Norm Pope (24) ( |
July 1 | Southern Division ![]() |
25–10 | ![]() |
Wollongong | |
Tries: 5 L. Johnson M. Grenfell D. Spence J. Lumsden M. Graham Goals: 5 D. Russell (5) |
Result[11] |
Tries: 2 Rex Percy Mauriohooho Murray Goals: 2 Cyril Eastlake (2) |
Attendance: 6,804 Gate: AU£ 1,016 Referee: Jerry Lane |
Southern Division: FB: Darcy Russell ( |
July 4 | Southern NSW | 16–11 | ![]() |
Cootamundra | |
Tries: 4 D. Goldspink (2) Burns B. Clay Goals: 2 J. O'Connell (2) |
Result[12] |
Tries: 1 Arnold Green Goals: 4 Des White (4) |
Attendance: 6,000 Gate: AU£ 322 Referee: H. T. Grew |
Southern NSW: FB: J. O'Connell, WG: D. Goldspink, CE: W. Garvin, CE: Brian Clay ( |
Sources
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 | Test Match teams & scorers. |
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, Point Scorers, Report. 1953 Yearbook covers the 1952 tour. |
QRLG | Queensland Rugby League Gazette | 1950-1955 | Copies at State Library of Qld | Program for matches in Brisbane. Collection is predominantly of representative matches. |
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[13] | 1913-1975 | Copies at SLQ & NLA | Match Report, Given Names & Club of Ipswich Players |
- | The Bulimba Cup Era[14] | 1925-1972 | Copies at SLQ & NLA | Clubs of Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane players. This book includes Bulimba Cup match reports and team lists. |
- | A History of Mackay Rugby League[15] | 1919-2015 | Author's Website | Given Names & Club of Mackay Players |
- | More Than The Foley Shield[16] | 1908-2014 | Author's Website | Match report, team photos. Given Names & Club of North Queensland Players |
References
- New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Kiwi Leader". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 37 No. 9 (19 May 1956)). nla.obj-759209000. Retrieved 14 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
- New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Kiwi Manager". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 37 No. 11 (26 May 1956)). nla.obj-759212259. Retrieved 14 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
- Age as given in the ‘’Rugby League News’’ for the first match against New South Wales
- "N.Z. League Team Wins At Lithgow". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 31 May 1956. p. 7. Retrieved 14 Feb 2021.
- "Newcastle Defeats Kiwis". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 7 Jun 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 14 Feb 2021.
- "Australia Wins League Test". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 14 Jun 1956. p. 19. Retrieved 14 Feb 2021.
- "Football Flashes". St. George Call. Kogarah: National Library of Australia. 14 Jun 1956. p. 7. Retrieved 15 Feb 2021.
- "Kiwis Beat Brisbane". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 14 Jul 1956. p. 19. Retrieved 14 Feb 2021.
- "Kiwis Defeat Toowoomba". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 14 Jul 1956. p. 7. Retrieved 14 Feb 2021.
- "Australia Wins Rugby League Test Series". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 28 Jun 1956. p. 19. Retrieved 14 Feb 2021.
- "Kiwis Defeated At Wollongong". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 2 Jul 1956. p. 10. Retrieved 15 Feb 2021.
- "Kiwis Beaten At Cootamundra". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 5 Jul 1956. p. 16. Retrieved 14 Feb 2021.
- 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.
- Price, Tony (2015). A History of Mackay Rugby League. CPX Printing and Logistics. ISBN 978-0-646-94056-4.
- Price, Tony (2014). More Than The Foley Shield - A History of Rugby League in Queensland. CPX Printing and Logistics. ISBN 978-0-646-92820-3.