1994 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
| 1994 Kangaroos tour | |||||
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| Date | 2 October 1994 – 4 December 1994 | ||||
| Manager | Geoff Carr, Ron Wilkinson | ||||
| Coach(es) | Bob Fulton | ||||
| Tour captain(s) | Mal Meninga | ||||
| Top point scorer(s) | Rod Wishart (174) | ||||
| Top try scorer(s) | Andrew Ettingshausen (15) | ||||
| Summary |
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| Total |
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| Test match |
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| Opponent |
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 Great Britain |
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 France |
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| Tour chronology | |||||
| Previous tour | 1990 | ||||
| Next tour | 2001 | ||||
The 1994 Kangaroo Tour was the 18th and last Kangaroo Tour played in the conventional format, where the Australia national rugby league team (known as the XXXX Kangaroos due to sponsorship reasons) played a number of matches against British and French clubs or provincial outfits, in additions to the Test matches. The outbreak of the Super League war in early 1995 meant that the next Kangaroo tour, set for 1998, never eventuated, although shortened, test only tours were staged in 2001 and 2003.
Australia continued its dominance, winning both Test series against Great Britain and France, suffering only one loss (against Great Britain in the First Test at Wembley, just as they had done in 1990), and remained undefeated against British club outfits in a streak stretching back to the 1978 tour.
The team was coached by Bob Fulton who was making his fourth Kangaroo tour (1973 and 1978 as a player, the latter as captain, and 1990 as coach). Team captain Mal Meninga created history by becoming the first and so far only player to make four tours as a player. He also became the first player to captain consecutive tours. His four tours included being a member of two undefeated teams, first as a member of "The Invincibles" in 1982, and the second with "The Unbeatables" in 1986. Meninga also had the remarkable record of playing in every test match during each of his 4 tours meaning that 21 of his eventual 46 tests for Australia were playing on a Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France. Fulton and Meninga also became the first pair to be the coach and captain on consecutive Kangaroo tours. Laurie Daley, the New South Wales State of Origin captain who had captained the Australian team to a 14–all draw with New Zealand in Auckland in 1993 with Meninga missing due to suspension, was named as the tour's vice-captain.
Balmain Tigers Second-rower Paul Sironen became just the fourth forward to be selected for three Kangaroo tours, having previously toured in 1986 and 1990.
This was the last full strength Australian side to take the field until after the resolution of the Super League war (1998) with all Australian teams from 1995–1997 being made up exclusively of either Australian Rugby League (ARL) loyal or Super League (SL) aligned players.
The Kangaroo tour was televised back to Australia on the Nine Network with commentary provided by Nine's rugby league commentary team of Ray Warren (making a rare appearance overseas due to a fear of flying),[1] 1982 and 1986 Kangaroo tourist Peter Sterling, and 13 test veteran for Australia Paul Vautin. Following the second test Vautin was forced to return to Australia for medical reasons. [citation needed] He was replaced in the commentary box by former Great Britain halfback Alex Murphy who had provided sideline comments for Nine during the first two tests.
Touring squad
[edit]* Sub total included in games totals.
By club
[edit]The touring side was represented by 20 New South Welshmen (N) and 8 Queenslanders (Q).
With captain Mal Meninga and vice-captain Laurie Daley both coming from the Canberra Raiders, this was the first time the Kangaroos captain and vice-captain had come from the same club since Reg Gasnier had captain-coached the 1967–68 Kangaroo tour with his St George teammate Johnny Raper as the nominated vice-captain.
During the tour in games where neither Meninga or Daley played (or they were on the bench), Bob Fulton handed the team captaincy to Paul Sironen (x1), Allan Langer (x3), Ricky Stuart (x1), Kevin Walters (x1) and Glenn Lazarus (x1). Tour vice-captain Daley never actually got to captain a run-on side during the tour.
- Canberra Raiders (7): Mal Meninga (captain) (Q), Laurie Daley (N) (vice-captain), Bradley Clyde (N), David Furner (N), Brett Mullins (N), Ricky Stuart (N), Steve Walters (Q)
- Brisbane Broncos (6): Michael Hancock (Q), Allan Langer (Q), Glenn Lazarus (N), Steve Renouf, (Q), Wendell Sailor (Q), Kevin Walters (Q)
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (3): Terry Hill (N), Steven Menzies (N), Ian Roberts (N)
- Balmain Tigers (2): Tim Brasher (N), Paul Sironen (N)
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2): Dean Pay (N) Jason Smith (Q)
- Illawarra Steelers (2): Paul McGregor (N), Rod Wishart (N)
- North Sydney Bears (2): David Fairleigh (N), Greg Florimo (N)
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (1): Andrew Ettingshausen (N)
- Newcastle Knights (1): Paul Harragon (N)
- Penrith Panthers (1): Brad Fittler (N)
- Western Suburbs Magpies (1): Jim Serdaris (N)
Great Britain
[edit]The first match against Great Britain at London's Wembley Stadium featured pre-match entertainment by Cliff Richard.[2]
The 1994 Ashes series again broke the record aggregate crowd for the series in Great Britain with 140,430 attending the three Tests, beating the record of 133,684 set on the 1990 Kangaroo Tour. As with the 1982, 1986 and 1990 tours, the game against Wigan at Central Park drew the biggest club game attendance of the Kangaroo Tour attracting 20,057 fans. The larger test attendances had been made possible by the use of England's 82,000 capacity national stadium (Wembley) as well as the use of larger capacity soccer stadiums Old Trafford and Elland Road rather than the traditional use of the larger club grounds such as Central Park, Headingley (Leeds) and Odsal Stadium (Bradford).
The Kangaroos played an international tour match against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff on 30 October wearing their non-Test Australian jumpers for the game (for the first time in Kangaroo Tour history, the Kangaroos non-Test jumpers included yellow hoops around the waist leaving the traditional jumper to be used only in the Tests). In the first meeting of the two nations since the 1982 Kangaroo tour, the Australians ran in eight tries to one in a 46–4 win, played on a heavy ground and in driving rain before 8,729 fans. The match proved to be spiteful and produced two dark spots. Welsh dual international John Devereux suffered a badly broken jaw after he accidentally collided with Mal Meninga's left shoulder when attempting to tackle the Australian captain. Later an all-in-brawl erupted after Kangaroos second-rower Paul Sironen reacted to a high tackle from Welsh halfback Kevin Ellis on Kangaroo halfback Allan Langer.
The 1994 Kangaroos scored 535 points on the British leg of the tour (96 tries, 75 goals, 1 field goal), while conceding only 108 points (17 tries, 20 goals).
Test venues
[edit]The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.
| London | Manchester | Leeds |
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| Wembley Stadium | Old Trafford | Elland Road |
| Capacity: 82,000 | Capacity: 44,000 | Capacity: 40,000 |
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| Sunday 2 October | Cumbria  |
8 – 52 |  Australia |
Derwent Park, Workington | |
| Tries: Paul Burns Goals: Dean Marwood (2) |
[[3] Report] |
Tries: David Fairleigh (2), Wendell Sailor (2), Paul McGregor, Tim Brasher, Steve Menzies, Ian Roberts, Jim Serdaris Goals: Rod Wishart (8) |
Attendance: 4,277 Referee: John Connolly Player of the Match: Steve Menzies |
         Cumbria
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     Australia
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With the NSWRL Grand Final having been played only a week earlier, Kangaroos coach Bob Fulton rested the Canberra and Canterbury-Bankstown players for what would be Australia's only tour match against a full English county side (though both Jason Smith (Bulldogs) and Bradley Clyde (Canberra) were selected on the bench, but like Allan Langer, wasn't used by coach Fulton). Making their debuts in Australian colours were Wendell Sailor, Terry Hill, Greg Florimo, Jim Serdaris and Steve Menzies who was awarded the Man of the Match. Second rower Paul Sironen and making his 3rd Kangaroo Tour as a player (the record for a forward), captained the Kangaroos in the absence of Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley. Workington Town centre Kevin Pape was given the honour of captaining Cumbria in front of his home crowd in what was his Testimonial year.
| Wednesday 5 October | Leeds  |
6 – 48 | Australia |
Headingley, Leeds | |
| Tries: Alan Tait Goals: Francis Cummins (1) |
[[4] Report] |
Tries: Andrew Ettingshausen (3), Allan Langer (3), Steve Renouf, Mal Meninga, Steve Menzies Goals: David Furner (6) |
Attendance: 18,581 Referee: Russell Smith Player of the Match: Brad Fittler |
     Leeds
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Australia
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The Kangaroos produced a powerhouse performance against Leeds with a 48–6 win at Headingley. As he had done during his first game on the 1990 Kangaroo tour, former Leeds player Andrew Ettingshausen crossed for a hat trick of tries, as did Allan Langer. Dean Pay, David Furner and Jason Smith made their green and gold debuts.[5]
| Saturday 8 October | Wigan  |
20 – 30 | Australia |
Central Park, Wigan | |
| Tries: Jason Robinson, Va'aiga Tuigamala, Gary Connolly, Martin Offiah Goals: Frano Botica (1) Andy Farrell (1) |
[[6] Report] |
Tries: Bradley Clyde, Dean Pay, Laurie Daley, Steve Renouf, Michael Hancock, Brett Mullins Goals: Mal Meninga (2) Laurie Daley (1) |
Attendance: 20,057 Referee: David Campbell Player of the Match: Dean Pay |
     Wigan
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Australia
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The Kangaroos controlled the first half against Wigan, leading 26–6 at half time with tries to Clyde, Pay, Daley (off what looked to be a forward pass from former Wigan import Ian Roberts), Renouf (a dazzling 52 metre run with neither Robinson nor Gary Connolly making any ground) and Hancock with only Jason Robinson scoring for the cherry and whites. Great Britain prop Kelvin Skerrett was sin-binned midway through the half for backchat after the use of a forearm on Paul Sironen who was attempting to tackle him. Following the restart after Hancock's try, Sironen, taking the hit up, was felled by an elbow to the head from Barrie McDermott who was put on report (and later suspended). Due to stoppages, the first half went almost 10 minutes longer than the regulation 40 minutes.
Former All Black Va'aiga Tuigamala scored a brilliant solo try soon after half time that brought the 20,057 crowd to its feet when he beat Meninga's attempted tackle and chipped ahead along the sideline and beat Sailor, Clyde and Mullins to the ball, but the Kangaroos hit straight back with a solo try to Brett Mullins from a poor Henry Paul kick and poor defence which allowed him to race 75 metres to score next to the posts and take the score to 30–10. But from there Wigan fought back with a try to Gary Connolly from a quick penalty tap and a late try to Martin Offiah to bring some respectability for the home side. After receiving a cut to the head in the first half fans were treated to the rare sight of Australian captain Mal Meninga wearing headgear for most of the game.[7]
| Wednesday 12 October | Castleford  |
12 – 38 | Australia |
Wheldon Road, Castleford | |
| Tries: Phil Eden, Richie Blackmore, Chris Smith Goals: Lee Crooks (0/3) |
[[8] Report] |
Tries: Rod Wishart (2), Allan Langer, Andrew Ettingshausen, Paul McGregor, Kevin Walters, Jim Serdaris Goals: Rod Wishart (5) |
Attendance: 11,073 Referee: John Connolly Player of the Match: Greg Florimo |
    Castleford
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Australia
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With 38 points, the Kangaroos put on their biggest score against Castleford since defeating them 39–6 on the 1929–30 Kangaroo tour. Playing in the unfamiliar position of lock forward, Greg Florimo was judged as the Man of the Match.
| Sunday 16 October | Halifax  |
12 – 26 | Australia |
Thrum Hall, Halifax | |
| Tries: John Bentley, Richard Smith Goals: John Schuster (2/2) |
[[9] Report] |
Tries: Wendell Sailor (2), Bradley Clyde, Greg Florimo, Andrew Ettingshausen Goals: Mal Meninga (2/4) Tim Brasher (1/2) |
Attendance: 8,352 Referee: John Holdsworth Player of the Match: Laurie Daley |
    Halifax
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Australia
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