1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup

1985–1988 (1985–1988) World Cup  ()
Number of teams	5
Winner	Australia (6th title)
Matches played	18
Attendance	218,246 (12,125 per match)
Points scored	769 (42.72 per match)
Top scorer	Michael O'Connor (74)
Top try scorer	Michael O'Connor (6)
Tournaments  < 1977 1989–1992 >

The 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup was the ninth Rugby League World Cup tournament held and saw yet another change of format. The competition was stretched to cover almost three years (1985 to 1988), with teams playing each other on a home and away basis. These matches were fitted into the normal international programme of three-match test series between the nations, with a pre-designated match from each series counting as the world cup fixture.

The competition was further altered by the addition of a new nation, Papua New Guinea. The Kumuls performed creditably, particularly when playing in the front of their fiercely patriotic home crowd. Conversely, France were unable to fulfil their 1987 tour of Australasia due to financial difficulties, and had to forfeit away fixtures against Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

At the end of four years, Australia finished top of the table, and, through a victory over Great Britain in Christchurch, the Kiwis qualified to host the final. Unfortunately for them, home advantage was not enough for New Zealand, who went down 12–25 to the seemingly invincible Australians.

Results

1985

7 July

New Zealand	18–0	Australia

Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 15,327

9 November

Great Britain	6–6	New Zealand

Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 22,209

7 December

France	0–22	New Zealand

Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan Attendance: 5,000

1986

16 February

France	10–10	Great Britain

Parc des Sports, Avignon Attendance: 4,000

29 July

Australia	32–12	New Zealand

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 22,811

17 August

Papua New Guinea	24–22	New Zealand

Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 15,000

4 October

Papua New Guinea	12–62	Australia

Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 17,000

This match was the third Test of the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France's Ashes series.

22 November

Great Britain	15–24	Australia

Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 20,169 Referee: J. Rascagneres

This was the final Test match of the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

13 December

France	0–52	Australia

Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne Attendance: 5,000

1987

24 January

Great Britain	52–4	France

Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 6,567

24 October

Great Britain	42–0	Papua New Guinea

Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 9,121

15 November

France	21–4	Papua New Guinea

Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne Attendance: 5,000

1988

22 May

Papua New Guinea	22-42	Great Britain

Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 12,107

The victory lifted Great Britain above New Zealand into second place on the World Cup table on eight points – one ahead of the Kiwis.

9 July

Australia	12–26	Great Britain

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 15,944

This was the end of a 15-match winning streak for the Australians, and Great Britain's first Test victory over the Kangaroos since their 18–14 win at Odsal during the 1978 Kangaroo tour, as well as their first win in Australia for 18 years. It also put Great Britain on top of the World Cup points table.

10 July

New Zealand	66–14	Papua New Guinea

Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 8,392

17 July

New Zealand	12-10	Great Britain

Addington Showground, Christchurch Attendance: 8,525

The last group stage match for both teams turned out to be a sudden death battle for a spot in the final. For New Zealand nothing less than a win would get them to the Final while Great Britain only needed a draw. It was also the last Test match of the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour. The Kiwis victory meant they qualified to face Australia in the final at Eden Park, Auckland.

20 July

Australia	66–14	New Zealand

Eric Weissel Oval, Wagga Wagga Attendance: 11,685

Australia's 62-point win set a new record for largest winning margin in international rugby league. Winger Michael O'Connor also set a new record for most points scored by an individual in international rugby league. The sellout crowd of 11,685 also set a ground attendance record at Wagga Wagga's Eric Weissel Oval.

Tournament standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
Australia	7	5	0	2	252	91	+161	121
New Zealand	7	4	1	2	158	86	+72	111
Great Britain	8	4	2	2	203	90	+113	10
Papua New Guinea	7	1	0	6	84	325	−241	41
France	5	1	1	3	35	140	−105	3

¹Received two points for non-fulfilment of fixtures by France in 1987

World Cup Final

Main article: 1988 Rugby League World Cup Final

9 October 1988

New Zealand	12 – 25	Australia
Tries: Tony Iro Kevin Iro Goals: Peter Brown (2)		Tries: Allan Langer (2) Gavin Miller Dale Shearer Goals: Michael O'Connor (4) Field Goal: Ben Elias

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 47,363 Referee/s: Graham Ainui Man of the Match: Gavin Miller

New Zealand	Position	Australia
Gary Mercer	Fullback	Garry Jack
Tony Iro	Wing	Dale Shearer
Kevin Iro	Centre	Andrew Farrar
Dean Bell (c)	Centre	Mark McGaw
Mark Elia	Wing	Michael O'Connor
Gary Freeman	Five-Eighth	Wally Lewis (c)
Clayton Friend	Halfback	Allan Langer
Peter Brown	Prop	Paul Dunn
Wayne Wallace	Hooker	Ben Elias
Adrian Shelford	Prop	Steve Roach
Mark Graham	Second Row	Paul Sironen
Kurt Sorensen	Second Row	Gavin Miller
Mark Horo	Lock	Wayne Pearce
Shane Cooper	Res.	David Gillespie
Sam Stewart	Res.	Terry Lamb
Tony Gordon	Coach	Don Furner

The 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup saw New Zealand play Australia in the World Cup final, the culmination of four years of competition. The Final was played at the spiritual home of rugby union in New Zealand, Auckland's Eden Park. It was the first time that rugby league had been played at the ground since 1919. The final attracted the highest ever crowd for a rugby league match in New Zealand of 47,363 (only 672 less than had attended the 1987 Rugby World Cup Final at the venue). Australia had won the right to host the final, but in the interests of promoting the game, and because attendances for internationals played in Australia had been dwindling for over a decade due to the Kangaroos dominance, the ARL agreed to move the game to New Zealand. Prior to kick-off Graham Brazier performed the New Zealand national anthem.

Despite Australia's successful Ashes defence against Great Britain earlier in the year, the inexperience of the Australian World Cup Final team (and because NZ had defeated Australia in their previous encounter in a one-off test in Brisbane in 1987), saw the hosts actually go into the match as favourites in the eyes of many critics. However, the Wally Lewis led Kangaroos, boasting veteran test players Garry Jack, Dale Shearer, Michael O'Connor, Steve Roach, Paul Dunn, Wayne Pearce, and Terry Lamb, along with 1986 Kangaroos Ben Elias and Paul Sironen, mixed with newer international players Mark McGaw, Allan Langer, Gavin Miller, Andrew Farrar and David Gillespie, triumphed over the ill-disciplined Kiwis, who at least made sure the victorious Australians were bloodied and bruised for their victory lap. For the Kiwis, the Iro brothers Tony and Kevin, Gary Freeman, Clayton Friend, Mark Graham, Adrian Shelford, Kurt Sorensen and captain Dean Bell dished out the punishment.

Interestingly, despite Queensland having won the State of Origin series 3–0 over New South Wales earlier in the year, the Maroons only supplied three of Australia's 15 players for the World Cup Final. Captain Wally Lewis (who broke his right forearm in the 15th minute of the game while tackling Tony Iro), Dale Shearer and Allan Langer. Lewis later claimed that it was the same as had been the case since Origin started in 1980, Qld wins the series but it was mainly NSW players picked for Australia.

External links

• 1985–1988 World Cup at rlwc08.com
• 1985–1988 World Cup at rlhalloffame.org.uk
• 1985–1988 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject.com
• 1985–1988 World Cup data at hunterlink.net.au
• 1985–1988 World Cup at 188-rugby-league.co.uk