1982 Kangaroos tour
Date	10 October 1982 – 18 December 1982
Manager	Frank Farrington
Coach(es)	Frank Stanton
Tour captain(s)	Max Krilich
Top point scorer(s)	Mal Meninga (158)
Top try scorer(s)	Steve Ella (22)
Summary	P W D L
Total	22 22 00 00
Test match	05 05 00 00
Opponent	P W D L
Great Britain	3 3 0 0
France	2 2 0 0
Tour chronology
Previous tour	1978
Next tour	1986

The 1982 Kangaroo tour was the fifteenth Kangaroo tour where the Australian national rugby league team played a number of matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to the Test matches. The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 barring wartime, toured Great Britain every four years often capping the tour with matches and Tests in France. This regular touring side (and in recent years all Australian representative sides) are known as the Kangaroos.

The 1982 Kangaroos, coached by Frank Stanton dominated, winning both Test series against Great Britain (three Tests) and France (two Tests); winning every match of the tour and earning the nickname The Invincibles. This was the first Kangaroo undefeated touring side winning twenty-two matches played and scoring 1,005 points with 120 against at an average of 45.6 points per game while conceding only 5.4 points per game. The twenty-eight player squad was captained by Max Krilich, with Wally Lewis his deputy. The next Kangaroo Tour was staged in 1986.

The team was coached by the tough and single-minded Balmain Tigers coach Frank Stanton who demanded great discipline and focus from his sides and who was making his third tour. Stanton's first tour came as a player in 1963–64, while this was his second consecutive as coach after also coaching the 1978 Kangaroo tour. Manly-Warringah's Max Krilich was making his second Kangaroo tour and was named captain and carried out his duties coolly and with great application.^[1] Queensland captain Wally Lewis was named as tour vice-captain.

Interviewed by journalist/author Ian Whiticker in 2004 Krilich said about the talented squad; "The players in that squad were yet to reach their full potential. We were criticised as a weak side, but nobody knew how great a player Wayne Pearce was going to be on the tour. Wally Lewis was still in his early 20s, and many of the Queenslanders were in the early stages of their careers". He also spoke of Stanton (who was his Manly-Warringah club coach when he had won the 1976 and 1978 NSWRFL premierships, the second of which Krilich was captain of the Sea Eagles): "Frank was a mentally tough coach who totally believed in what he told his players. Great credit must go to Stanton who played down the accomplishment and kept our heads straight."^[2]

While the pair did not enjoy an easy relationship, mostly due to Stanton not being impressed with his attitude to training or habits on tour which actually caused him to put on weight, Wally Lewis also found respect for Stanton he had not previously experienced after making his test debut under him against France in 1981. After missing selection for the first Test in Hull in favour of Parramatta's 1982 premiership winning Five-eighth Brett Kenny (Lewis was selected on an extended bench but wasn't used), Stanton challenged Lewis to get back into shape and win his way back into the Test team, something he achieved with selection on the bench for the second Test in Wigan and the third Test in Leeds. Lewis later admitted that early on in the tour his poor attitude did not sit well with Stanton and that it had led to his missing first test selection. Although this was his first Kangaroo Tour, it was not the first tour of Great Britain and France for Lewis who had been a member of the 1977 Australian Schoolboys rugby union tour of Japan, Great Britain and France, a team that included future dual-rugby international Michael O'Connor as well as the Ella brothers Mark, Gary and Glen, cousins of 1982 tourist Steve Ella.

Six players from the 1982 NSWRL premiership winning Parramatta Eels were selected in the squad, a new Kangaroo tour record for the club with all six players playing in at least one test each on the tour. Manly, the team they defeated in the inaugural Winfield Cup Grand Final, also had six players selected. One Manly player considered unlucky not to tour was their Queensland back rower Paul Vautin who had made his test debut earlier in the year against New Zealand and was one of Manly's best in their run to the Grand Final. Max Krilich later would tell that it was his belief that Vautin's comment during the year that representing Queensland was a bigger honour than playing for Australia had ultimately cost him a place on the tour. Ironically, Vautin would be back in the test team for the tests against New Zealand in 1983. 1982 Brisbane premiers Wynnum-Manly had two players selected (Gene Miles and Rod Morris), while the team they defeated in the BRL Grand Final Souths Magpies were represented by Mal Meninga, a goal kicking Queensland centre who was as big as a second rower (107 kg (16 st 12 lb)) and could run with the pace of a winger.

One notable absentee was Western Suburbs Five-eighth Terry Lamb who had represented NSW in the 1981 State of Origin game. Lamb was originally selected to tour but declined to do so due to his upcoming wedding to his fiancé Kim.^[3]

Tour managers were the Newtown administrator Frank Farrington and Queenslands, Tom Drysdale. Open Rugby magazine claimed the Australians had brought "a new dimension of excitement and adventure" to the game and former England great Alex Murphy, who called each test for the BBC alongside Ray French, called then "men from another planet."^[1]

This was the first Kangaroo tour since the introduction of State of Origin and it allowed Queensland to counter New South Wales' long dominance in representative selection with a record-equalling eleven Queenslanders selected for the tour.^[4] This was a considerable increase on the Queensland representation in the 1978 Kangaroos when only three players were selected. Two of those players, Kerry Boustead and Rod Morris, were also members of the 1982 Kangaroos.

Despite there being a record number, the selection of only 11 Queenslander's in the 28 man touring squad was controversial. Queensland had won the 1982 State of Origin series despite being comparatively under prepared due to the NSWRFL clubs refusing to release their Queensland players for pre-series training. Among the Queensland Origin representatives to miss selection were Manly-Warringah's Paul Vautin and Chris Close (who had been the Man of the Match in both Origin games in 1980 and 1981), Wynnum-Manly fullback Colin Scott and South Sydney outside back Mitch Brennan.

Future Kangaroos captain Mal Meninga, making the first of his record four consecutive Kangaroo Tours, was the leading point scorer on tour with 166 from 10 tries and 68 goals, including 48 points in the three Tests against Great Britain (2 tries, 21 goals), and 17 points in the two Tests against France (1 try, 7 goals). John Ribot was the leading try scorer on tour with 25 from just 14 games, including a try in the 3rd test against Great Britain. Ribot added 20 goals to his points tally to join Meninga as the only players on tour to score over 100 points. Meninga's second rowers size coupled with his wingers pace made him a sensation on the tour. He was often bigger than the British forwards Australia played and he could also score length of the field tries. His signature became much sort after both during and after the Kangaroo tour with multiple clubs chasing him. Ultimately he would go on to sign for a season with St Helens in 1984–85 where he would replicate his 1982 tour form to the delight of Saints fans.

Player	Club	Position(s)	Tests	Matches	Tries	Goals	F/Goals	Points
Chris Anderson	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Wing	0	12	8	0	0	24
Kerry Boustead	Eastern Suburbs Roosters	Wing	6	13	9	0	0	27
Les Boyd	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Second-row, Prop	3	14	3	0	0	9
Greg Brentnall	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Fullback	6	13	3	0	0	9
Ray Brown	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Hooker	0	14	0	0	0	0
Greg Conescu	Norths Devils (Qld)	Hooker	0	14	2	1	0	8
Steve Ella	Parramatta Eels	Centre, Fullback	0	13	21	1	0	65
Eric Grothe	Parramatta Eels	Wing	4	14	21	1	0	65
Rohan Hancock	Warwick Wattles (Qld)	Prop	1	10	0	0	0	0
Brett Kenny	Parramatta Eels	Five-eighth	6	12	6	0	0	18
Max Krilich (c)	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Hooker	6	12	1	0	0	3
Wally Lewis (vc)	Fortitude Valley Diehards (Qld)	Five-eighth, Centre	3	14	3	9	0	27
Paul McCabe	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Second-row	3	13	7	0	0	21
Don McKinnon	North Sydney Bears	Prop	0	10	3	1	0	11
Mal Meninga	Souths Logan Magpies (Qld)	Centre, Wing	6	14	10	68	0	166
Gene Miles	Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (Qld)	Centre	0	11	1	0	0	3
Rod Morris	Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (Qld)	Prop	0	12	0	0	0	0
Steve Mortimer	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Halfback	0	9	6	1	0	20
John Muggleton	Parramatta Eels	Second-row	1	14	9	0	0	27
Mark Murray	Fortitude Valley Diehards (Qld)	Halfback, Five-eighth	0	10	4	1	0	14
Wayne Pearce	Balmain Tigers	Lock, Second-row	5	13	5	0	0	15
Ray Price	Parramatta Eels	Lock	3	9	2	0	0	6
John Ribot	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Wing	2	14	25	20	0	115
Rod Reddy	St George Dragons	Second-row	4	12	2	0	0	6
Steve Rogers	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Centre	5	16	10	7	0	44
Ian Schubert	Eastern Suburbs Roosters	Fullback, Lock, Second-row	0	12	3	0	0	9
Peter Sterling	Parramatta Eels	Halfback	5	12	8	0	0	24
Craig Young	St George Dragons	Prop	4	11	1	0	0	3

The touring side was represented by 17 New South Welshmen (N) and 11 Queenslanders (Q).

• Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (5): Max Krilich (captain) (N), John Ribot (Q), Les Boyd (N), Paul McCabe (Q), Ray Brown (N)
• Parramatta Eels (6): Brett Kenny (N), Peter Sterling (N), Steve Ella (N), Eric Grothe (N), Ray Price (N), John Muggleton (N)
• Canterbury Bulldogs (3): Greg Brentnall (N), Chris Anderson (N), Steve Mortimer (N)
• Fortitude Valley Diehards (2): Wally Lewis (vice-captain) (Q), Mark Murray (Q)
• St George Dragons (2): Rod Reddy (Q), Craig Young (N)
• Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (2): Gene Miles (Q), Rod Morris (Q)
• Balmain Tigers (1): Wayne Pearce (N)
• Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (1): Steve Rogers (N)
• Eastern Suburbs Roosters (2): Ian Schubert (N), Kerry Boustead (Q)
• Norths Devils (1): Greg Conescu (Q)
• North Sydney Bears (1): Don McKinnon (N)
• Souths Magpies (1): Mal Meninga (Q)
• Warwick Wattles (1): Rohan Hancock (Q)

Before flying to England, half the squad, led by Kangaroos vice-captain Wally Lewis, went to Perth to play Western Australia, while the other half, along with coach Stanton, travelled to Papua New Guinea for Australia's first ever Test match against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls, won 38–2 by the Kangaroos. Nine of the players who travelled to PNG with Stanton would go on to play in the first Test against Great Britain. Winger John Ribot crossed for four tries (though he would be overlooked for the first two Ashes Tests in favour of Eric Grothe), while fullback Greg Brentnall scored twice. Other try scorers for the Kangaroos were Kerry Boustead, Brett Kenny, Mal Meninga and Steve Rogers, while Meninga kicked 4 goals. Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny, Mark Murray and Ray Brown made their test debuts in the match.

Those missing from the 2nd test win over New Zealand earlier in the year at the Sydney Cricket Ground were Michael Cronin who did not tour, and Wally Lewis, Steve Mortimer, Les Boyd and Rod Morris who played in Perth on the same day. Of the quartet that played in Perth, only Boyd would go on to play in the first test against Great Britain.

Saturday, 2 October 1982

Papua New Guinea	2–38	Australia
Tries: Goals: Kungas Kuveu (1/2)	[5]	Tries: John Ribot (4) Greg Brentnall (2) Kerry Boustead Brett Kenny Mal Meninga Steve Rogers Goals: Mal Meninga (4/10)

Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Don Wilson

Papua New Guinea

Australia

FB 1 Kungas Kuveu RW 2 Alan Rero CE 3 Ifiso Segeyaro CE 4 James Yip LW 5 D. Timi FE 6 Jon Joseph (c) HB 7 Alfred Kabavas PR 8 Tara Gau HK 9 Otti Asotau PR 10 Joe Tep SR 11 Arebo Taumaku SR 12 L. Tete LK 13 Roy Loitive Substitutions: IC 14 Francis Matmillo IC 15 Ekon Togili Coach: Skerry Palanga

FB 1 Greg Brentnall LW 2 John Ribot CE 3 Mal Meninga CE 4 Steve Rogers RW 5 Kerry Boustead FE 6 Brett Kenny HB 7 Peter Sterling PR 8 Craig Young HK 9 Max Krilich (c) PR 10 Rohan Hancock SR 11 John Muggleton SR 12 { Rod Reddy LK 13 Ray Price Substitutions: IC 14 Mark Murray IC 15 Ray Brown Coach: Frank Stanton

Saturday, 2 October

Western Australia	5–57	Australia
Tries: Mick Rasmussen Goals: P. Harrison (1)	[6]	Tries: Eric Grothe (4), Ian Schubert (2), Chris Anderson, Greg Conescu, Steve Ella, Gene Miles, Rod Morris, Paul McCabe, Wayne Pearce Goals: Wally Lewis (4) Steve Ella (3) Les Boyd (2)

Cannington Raceway, Perth Attendance: 3,000

Western Australia

Australia

In Perth, the Kangaroos crossed for 13 tries (with Eric Grothe bagging four) and predictably defeated WA 57–5.

Once on English soil controversy surfaced when the incumbent Australian Test halves from the mid-year tests against New Zealand, Steve Mortimer and Wally Lewis (both had played the game against WA in Perth), were incomprehensibly not chosen for the opening match. Instead, Stanton chose to go with the halves from the test against Papua New Guinea, Parramatta's Grand Final winning duo Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny. The Eels pair took the field against Hull Kingston Rovers and, playing alongside nine of the eventual first Test team, set about locking up their positions for the first Test on 30 October.

Leading up to the first Test at the Boothferry Park ground in Hull, the Kangaroos also played a tour international match against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff on 24 October. The match was played in heavy rain in front of 5,617 fans and Australia, captained by Wally Lewis, ran in nine tries to one in a 37–7 rout. The game marked the first time Lewis, who would take over the Test captaincy in 1984, captained Australia in an international match.

Fiery forward Les Boyd enhanced his reputation for the rough play when he was sent off twice on tour. He was sent off in the first game of the tour against Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven Park, and in the second Test against the Lions at Central Park in Wigan. He was also sin-binned in the third Ashes Test at Headingley in Leeds.

The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.

Hull	Wigan	Leeds
Boothferry Park	Central Park	Headingley
Capacity: 26,800	Capacity: 37,000	Capacity: 30,000

Sunday, 10 October

Hull Kingston Rovers	10–30	Australia
Tries: Steve Hartley, Gary Prohm Goals: George Fairbairn (2)	[7]	Tries: Peter Sterling (2), Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Steve Rogers, Craig Young Goals: Mal Meninga (6)

Craven Park, Hull Attendance: 10,742 Referee: Fred Lindop Player of the Match: Mal Meninga

Hull Kingston Rovers

Australia

FB 1 George Fairbairn (c) RW 2 Steve Hubbard CE 3 Mike Smith CE 4 Ian Robinson LW 5 Garry Clark SO 6 Steve Hartley SH 7 James Walsh PR 8 Roy Holdstock HK 9 David Watkinson PR 10 Steve Crooks SR 11 Andy Kelly SR 12 Chris Burton LF 13 Gary Prohm Substitutions: IC 14 Phil Lowe IC 15 Coach: Roger Millward

FB 1 Greg Brentnall RW 2 Eric Grothe CE 3 Mal Meninga CE 4 Steve Rogers LW 5 John Ribot FE 6 Brett Kenny HB 7 Peter Sterling PR 8 Craig Young HK 9 Max Krilich (c) PR 10 Rod Morris SR 11 Les Boyd SR 12 Rod Reddy LF 13 Ray Price Substitutions: IC 14 Wally Lewis IC 15 John Muggleton Coach: Frank Stanton

Hull KR led the Kangaroos 8–5 at half time but that was as good as it got for Roger Millward's men as the Kangaroos piled on 25 points to just 2 in the second half to run out easy 30–10 winners. Man of the Match Mal Meninga lit up Craven Park on his first taste of football on English soil, scoring a try and kicking 6 goals in the win.

Wednesday, 13 October

Wigan	9–13	Australia
Tries: Henderson Gill Goals: Colin Whitfield (3)	[8]	Tries: Kerry Boustead, John Muggleton, Paul McCabe Goals: Steve Ella (2)

Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 12,158 Referee: Gerry Kershaw

Wigan

Australia

FB 1 Barry Williams RW 2 Dennis Ramsdale CE 3 David Stephenson CE 4 Colin Whitfield LW 5 Henderson Gill SO 6 Martin Foy SH 7 Gary Stephens (c) PR 8 Lee Bamber HK 9 Nicky Kiss PR 10 Glyn Shaw SR 11 Brian Juliff SR 12 Mick Scott LF 13 John Pendlebury Substitutions: IC 14 Jimmy Fairhurst IC 15 Danny Campbell Coach: Alex Murphy

FB 1 Ian Schubert RW 2 Chris Anderson CE 3 Steve Ella CE 4 Gene Miles LW 5 Kerry Boustead FE 6 Wally Lewis (c) HB 7 Steve Mortimer PR 8 Don McKinnon HK 9 Ray Brown PR 10 Rohan Hancock SR 11 Paul McCabe SR 12 John Muggleton LF 13 Wayne Pearce Substitutions: IC 14 Steve Rogers IC 15 Ray Price Coach: Frank Stanton

Friday, 15 October

Barrow	2–29	Australia
Tries: Goals: Steve Tickle (1)	[9]	Tries: Ian Schubert (2), Greg Conescu, Steve Ella, Mark Murray, Wayne Pearce, Steve Rogers Goals: Wally Lewis (3) Steve Rogers (1)

Craven Park, Barrow Attendance: 6,282 Referee: Derek Fox

Barrow

Australia

FB 1 Steve Tickle RW 2 Keith Bentley CE 3 Ron O'Regan CE 4 Ralph McConnell LW 5 Michael James SO 6 Mel Mason (c) SH 7 David Cairns PR 8 Malcolm Flynn HK 9 Les Wall PR 10 Peter Gee SR 11 Eddie Szymala SR 12 Mark Gillespie LF 13 Derek Hadley Substitutions: IC 14 Steve Herbert IC 15 Coach: Frank Foster

FB 1 Ian Schubert RW 2 Chris Anderson CE 3 Steve Ella CE 4 Gene Miles LW 5 John Ribot FE 6 Wally Lewis (c) HB 7 Mark Murray PR 8 Rohan Hancock HK 9 Greg Conescu PR 10 Rod Morris SR 11 Les Boyd SR 12 Rod Reddy LF 13 Wayne Pearce Substitutions: IC 14 Ray Brown IC 15 Steve Rogers Coach: Frank Stanton

Sunday, 17 October

St. Helens	0–32	Australia
Tries: Goals:	[10]	Tries: Kerry Boustead (2), Les Boyd (2), Eric Grothe (2), Steve Rogers, Peter Sterling Goals: Mal Meninga (4/8)

Knowsley Road, St. Helens Attendance: 8,190 Referee: Robin Whitfield Player of the Match: Les Boyd

St Helens

Australia

FB 1 Clive Griffiths RW 2 Barry Ledger CE 3 Chris Arkwright CE 4 David Fairclough LW 5 Denis Litherland SO 6 Stephen Peters SH 7 Neil Holding PR 8 Mel James HK 9 Michael Glover PR 10 Brian Gelling SR 11 Roy Mathias (c) SR 12 Paul Forber LF 13 Andy Platt Substitutions: IC 14 John Smith IC 15 Paul Brownbill Coach: Billy Benyon

FB 1 Greg Brentnall RW 2 Kerry Boustead CE 3 Mal Meninga CE 4 Steve Rogers LW 5 Eric Grothe FE 6 Brett Kenny HB 7 Peter Sterling PR 8 Craig Young HK 9 Max Krilich (c) PR 10 Les Boyd SR 11 Wayne Pearce SR 12 John Muggleton LF 13 Ray Price Substitutions: IC 14 Wally Lewis IC 15 Rod Morris Coach: Frank Stanton

Wednesday, 20 October

Leeds	4–31	Australia
Tries: Goals: Mark Conway (2)	[11]	Tries: Steve Ella (2), Mal Meninga (2), Kerry Boustead, Eric Grothe, Steve Rogers Goals: Mal Meninga (5)

Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 11,570 Referee: Billy Thompson Player of the Match: Wayne Pearce

Leeds

Australia

FB 1 Neil Hague RW 2 Alan Smith CE 3 Ian Wilkinson CE 4 Les Dyl LW 5 Andrew Smith SO 6 John Holmes SH 7 Mark Conway PR 8 Roy Dickinson HK 9 David Ward (c) PR 10 Tony Burke SR 11 Keith Rayne SR 12 Wayne Heron LF 13 David Heron Substitutions: IC 14 Mark Massa IC 15 Andrew Sykes Coach: Robin Dewhurst

FB 1 Greg Brentnall RW 2 Kerry Boustead CE 3 Mal Meninga CE 4 Steve Rogers LW 5 Eric Grothe FE 6 Brett Kenny HB 7 Peter Sterling PR 8 Craig Young HK 9 Max Krilich (c) PR 10 Les Boyd SR 11 Paul McCabe SR 12 John Muggleton LF 13 Wayne Pearce Substitutions: IC 14 Steve Ella IC 15 Rod Morris Coach: Frank Stanton

The Kangaroos played a non-test international against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff. This was the first time Wally Lewis (playing in the unfamiliar position of centre) would captain Australia against an international team. The Kangaroos would not play Wales again until 1994, that game also at Ninian Park.

Sunday, 24 October 1982

Wales	7–37	Australia
Tries: Brynmor Williams Goals: Steve Fenwick (1) Lynn Hopkins (1)	[12]	Tries: Steve Ella (4) John Ribot (2) Wally Lewis Mark Murray Don McKinnon Goals: Wally Lewis (4) Don McKinnon (1)

Ninian Park, Cardiff Attendance: 5,617 Referee: Gerry Kershaw Player of the Match: Steve Ella

Wales

Australia

FB 1 Lynn Hopkins RW 2 Chris Camilleri CE 3 Steve Fenwick CE 4 John Bevan (c) LW 5 Paul Prendiville SO 6 Lynn Hallett SH 7 Brynmor Williams PR 8 Glyn Shaw HK 9 Donald Parry PR 10 Tommy David SR 11 Martin Herdman SR 12 Brian Juliff LF 13 Paul Ringer Substitutions: IC 14 Mark McJennett IC 15 Coach: David Watkins

FB 1 Steve Ella LW 2 Chris Anderson CE 3 Gene Miles CE 4 Wally Lewis (c) RW 5 John Ribot FE 6 Mark Murray HB 7 Steve Mortimer PR 8 Rod Morris HK 9 Ray Brown PR 10 Don McKinnon SR 11 Paul McCabe SR 12 Rod Reddy LK 13 Ian Schubert Substitutions: IC 14 Kerry Boustead IC 15 Greg Conescu Coach: Frank Stanton

Playing fullback, Steve Ella pressed for test selection by scoring 4 tries in the game. Only two players from the team, second row forward Rod Reddy and reserve winger Kerry Boustead, were considered certainties for selection in the upcoming 1st Ashes test.

Due to sponsorship reasons, the 1982 Ashes was known as the "Dominion Insurance Test series".

While Australia's side for the opening Test was built around the new breed of young players such as Eric Grothe, Wayne Pearce, Mal Meninga, Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling mixing with veterans Craig Young, Les Boyd, Ray Price, Rod Reddy, Kerry Boustead, Steve Rogers and captain Max Krilich, Great Britain chose five players aged over 30. The only player over the age of 30 for the Kangaroos first test team was Krilich who had turned 33 only five days prior to the test. Great Britain were captained by veteran Leeds hooker David Ward. Making his debut for the Lions was Hull F.C. teenager Lee Crooks who was also handed the goal kicking duties in preference to George Fairbairn. Wayne Pearce was awarded the Man of the Match award after throwing the last pass for four tries and scoring a try himself.

Saturday, 30 October 1982

Great Britain	4–40	Australia
Tries Goals Lee Crooks (2/2)	[13]	Tries Mal Meninga Les Boyd Eric Grothe Ray Price Kerry Boustead Brett Kenny Wayne Pearce Rod Reddy Goals Mal Meninga (8/10)

Boothferry Park, Hull Attendance: 26,771 Referee: Julien Rascagneres Player of the Match: Wayne Pearce

Great Britain

Australia

FB 1 George Fairbairn RW 2 Des Drummond CE 3 Eric Hughes CE 4 Les Dyl LW 5 Steve Evans SO 6 John Woods SH 7 Steve Nash PR 8 Jeff Grayshon HK 9 David Ward (c) PR 10 Trevor Skerrett SR 11 Lee Crooks SR 12 Les Gorley LF 13 Steve Norton Substitutions: IC 14 IC 15 David Heron IC 16 IC 17 Coach: Johnny Whiteley

FB 1 Greg Brentnall LW 2 Eric Grothe CE 3 Mal Meninga CE 4 Steve Rogers RW 5 Kerry Boustead FE 6 Brett Kenny HB 7 Peter Sterling PR 8 Craig Young HK 9 Max Krilich (c) PR 10 Les Boyd SR 11 Wayne Pearce SR 12 Rod Reddy LK 13 Ray Price Substitutions: IC 14 Steve Ella IC 15 John Muggleton IC 16 Wally Lewis IC 17 Rod Morris Coach: Frank Stanton

Great Britain did well in the first half to trail by only 10–4 at half time, but the two penalty goals by debutante second rower Lee Crooks was as good as it got for the home side. In the second half the Kangaroos unleashed their skills and fitness, and blazed six tries to leave the British game, and most of the 26,771 strong crowd packed into Hull's Boothferry Park stunned. The game was Australia's 5th straight win over Great Britain, dating back to the final Test of the 1978 Kangaroo Tour and including the 3–0 whitewash of the Lions on their lacklustre 1979 Australasian tour.

In his test debut for Australia, back row forward Wayne Pearce was judged as the Man of the Match thanks to his defensive work and having a hand in a number of tries as well as backing up a break by Max Krilich and Craig Young to race away and score a 45-metre try with only French referee Julien Rascagneres anywhere near him. Centre Mal Meninga, playing his 4th test and the first of what would eventually be a record 17 Ashes tests against Great Britain, scored the opening try of the game after good lead up work by Peter Sterling and Pearce, then easily palming off Les Dyl and outpacing fullback George Fairbairn to score in the corner. Meninga also kicked 8 of 10 goals for a personal haul of 19 points. His 8 goals also broke the record number of goals for an Australian in a test in England, the old record of 7 had been set by Graeme Langlands in the second test of the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour (the famous "Swinton Massacre" test). It also equaled the most goals for an Australian in an Ashes test, the record was previously the sole property of Noel Pidding who kicked 8 in the first test of the 1954 series at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

In commentary for the BBC, former Great Britain and England dual-rugby international forward Ray French stated after the final siren "Well, I've got to eat a little humble pie. I thought Great Britain could do something, but with only those two penalty goals from Lee Crooks its back to the drawing board for the Great Britain selectors I'm afraid", while his commentary partner, Wigan coach, former Lions halfback and Kangaroos tormentor Alex Murphy said during the first half "We need something to combat this lot."

Wednesday, 3 November

Leigh	4–44	Australia
Tries: Goals: John Woods (2)	[14]	Tries: Chris Anderson (3), Paul McCabe (3), John Ribot (3), John Muggleton (2), Wally Lewis Goals: Mal Meninga (3/11) Wally Lewis (1/2)

Hilton Park, Leigh Attendance: 7,680 Referee: Trevor Court

Leigh

Australia

FB 1 Mick Hogan RW 2 Des Drummond CE 3 John Henderson CE 4 Steve Donlan LW 5 Graham Worgan SO 6 John Woods (c) SH 7 Ken Green PR 8 Alf Wilkinson HK 9 Ray Tabern PR 10 Derek Pyke SR 11 Eric Chisnall SR 12 Geoff Clarkson LF 13 Ian Potter Substitutions: IC 14 Steve Tomlinson IC 15 Edwin Hunter Coach: Colin Clarke

FB 1 Steve Ella RW 2 Chris Anderson CE 3 Mal Meninga CE 4 Gene Miles LW 5 John Ribot FE 6 Wally Lewis (c) HB 7 Steve Mortimer PR 8 Don McKinnon HK 9 Ray Brown PR 10 Rod Morris SR 11 Paul McCabe SR 12 John Muggleton LF 13 Ian Schubert Substitutions: IC 14 IC 15 Coach: Frank Stanton

Sunday, 7 November

Bradford Northern	6–13	Australia
Tries: Goals: Keith Mumby (3)	[15]	Tries: Greg Brentnall, Gene Miles, Paul McCabe Goals: Steve Rogers (2)

Odsal, Bradford Attendance: 10,506 Referee: Mick Beaumont Player of the Match: Jeff Grayshon

Bradford Northern

Australia

FB 1 John Green RW 2 David Barends CE 3 Keith Mumby CE 4 Richard Davies LW 5 Steve Pullen SO 6 Bill Kells SH 7 Alan Redfearn PR 8 Jeff Grayshon (c) HK 9 Brian Noble PR 10 Gary Van Bellen SR 11 Graham Idle SR 12 Dick Jasiewicz LF 13 Alan Rathbone Substitutions: IC 14 Dean Carroll IC 15 Chris Parrott Coach: Peter Fox

FB 1 Greg Brentnall RW 2 Chris Anderson CE 3 Gene Miles CE 4 Steve Rogers (c) LW 5 Eric Grothe FE 6 Brett Kenny HB 7 Mark Murray PR 8 Craig Young HK 9 Greg Conescu PR 10 Rohan Hancock SR 11 John Muggleton SR 12 Paul McCabe LF 13 Ray Price Substitutions: IC 14 Ray Brown IC 15 Coach: Frank Stanton

Tuesday, 9 November

Cumbria	2–41	Australia
Tries: Goals: Lyn Hopkins (1)	[16]	Tries: Mal Meninga (2), Kerry Boustead, Steve Ella, Don McKinnon, Wayne Pearce, John Ribot, Steve Rogers, Peter Sterling Goals: Mal Meninga (7)

Brunton Park, Carlisle Attendance: 5,748 Referee: Stan Wall

Cumbria

Australia