1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations

1999 (1999) Tri-Nations  ()
Number of teams3
Winner Australia (1st title)

Matches played4
Attendance70,295 (17,574 per match)
Tries scored26 (6.5 per match)
Top scorerAustralia Mat Rogers[1] (36)
Top try scorerNew Zealand Nigel Vagana[1] (4)
2004

The 1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations series was contested by Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand in 1999. It was the first multi-national rugby league tournament to feature the sport's three world powers since the 1989–92 World Cup (the 1995 World Cup featured England and Wales separately). Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand played in the final, which was narrowly won by the Kangaroos. Great Britain didn't win a game of the tournament.

After the Lions narrowly defeated the Queensland Cup premiers, Burleigh Bears, a poor crowd attended their match against Australia at Suncorp Stadium. Fearing a similar attendance for the series final, the tournament organisers relocated the match to Ericsson Stadium.

With the Rugby League World Cup to be staged the following year, and tours of Great Britain by Australia in 2001 and 2003 and New Zealand in 2002, the Tri-nations was not held again until 2004.

Venues

[edit]

The games were played at the following venues in Australia and New Zealand. The tournament final was played in Auckland.

Auckland Brisbane
Mount Smart Stadium Suncorp Stadium
Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 52,500

Results

[edit]

Tournament matches

[edit]
15 October
New Zealand 24–22 Australia
Tries:
Stephen Kearney
Jason Lowrie
Willie Talau
Nigel Vagana
Goals:
Henry Paul (4/4)
Tries:
Brad Fittler (2)
Matt Gidley
Russell Richardson
Mat Rogers
Goals:
Mat Rogers (3/4)
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 22,540[1]
Referee: Russel Smith England
New Zealand
Australia
FB 1 Richie Barnett (c)
RW 2 Nigel Vagana
RC 3 Ruben Wiki
LC 4 Willie Talau
LW 5 Lesley Vainikolo
FE 6 Robbie Paul
HB 7 Stacey Jones
PR 8 Craig Smith
HK 9 Henry Paul
PR 10 Joe Vagana
SR 11 Matt Rua
SR 12 Stephen Kearney
LK 13 Logan Swann
Substitutions:
IC 14 David Kidwell
IC 15 Jason Lowrie
IC 16 Nathan Cayless
IC 17 Richard Swain
Coach:
New Zealand Frank Endacott
FB 1 Robbie Ross
RW 2 Mat Rogers
RC 3 Matthew Gidley
LC 4 Russell Richardson
LW 5 Wendell Sailor
FE 6 Brad Fittler (c)
HB 7 Brett Kimmorley
PR 8 Darren Britt
HK 9 Craig Gower
PR 10 Rodney Howe
SR 11 Bryan Fletcher
SR 12 Nik Kosef
LK 13 Jason Smith
Substitutions:
IC 14 Darren Lockyer
IC 15 Darren Smith
IC 16 Jason Stevens
IC 17 Michael Vella
Coach:
Australia Chris Anderson

22 October
Australia 42–6 Great Britain
Tries:
Darren Lockyer (2)
Brad Fittler
Matt Gidley
Brett Kimmorley
Wendell Sailor
Jason Smith
Goals:
Mat Rogers (6/6)
Ryan Girdler (1/2)
Tries:
Iestyn Harris





Goals:
Andy Farrell (1/1)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 12,511[1]
Referee: David Pakieto New Zealand
Australia
Great Britain
FB 1 Darren Lockyer
RW 2 Mat Rogers
RC 3 Shaun Timmins
LC 4 Matthew Gidley
LW 5 Wendell Sailor
FE 6 Matthew Johns
HB 7 Brett Kimmorley
PR 8 Darren Britt
HK 9 Craig Gower
PR 10 Rodney Howe
SR 11 Bryan Fletcher
SR 12 Nik Kosef
LK 13 Brad Fittler (c)
Substitutions:
IC 14 Ryan Girdler
IC 15 Darren Smith
IC 16 Jason Smith
IC 17 Michael Vella
Coach:
Australia Chris Anderson
FB 1 Kris Radlinski
RW 2 Jason Robinson
RC 3 Gary Connolly
LC 4 Keith Senior
LW 5 Anthony Sullivan
SO 6 Iestyn Harris
SH 7 Ryan Sheridan
PR 8 Dale Laughton
HK 9 Keiron Cunningham
PR 10 Barrie McDermott
SR 11 Denis Betts
SR 12 Adrian Morley
LF 13 Andy Farrell (c)
Substitutions:
IC 14 Sean Long
IC 15 Paul Anderson
IC 16 Paul Sculthorpe
IC 17 Andy Hay
Coach:
England Andy Goodway

29 October
New Zealand 26–4 Great Britain
Tries:
Nigel Vagana (2)
Matt Rua
Joe Vagana
Goals:
Henry Paul (5/5)
Tries:
Sean Long


Goals:
Andy Farrell (0/1)
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 14,040[1]
Referee: Tim Mander Australia
New Zealand
Great Britain
FB 1 Richie Barnett (c)
RW 2 Nigel Vagana
RC 3 Ruben Wiki
LC 4 Willie Talau
LW 5 Lesley Vainikolo
FE 6 Henry Paul
HB 7 Robbie Paul
PR 8 Joe Vagana
HK 9 Richard Swain
PR 10 Craig Smith
SR 11 Matt Rua
SR 12 Stephen Kearney
LK 13 Logan Swann
Substitutions:
IC 14 Gene Ngamu
IC 15 Jason Lowrie
IC 16 Nathan Cayless
IC 17 David Kidwell
Coach:
New Zealand Frank Endacott
FB 1 Kris Radlinski
RW 2 Jason Robinson
RC 3 Gary Connolly
LC 4 Keith Senior
LW 5 Francis Cummins
SO 6 Iestyn Harris
SH 7 Ryan Sheridan
PR 8 Dale Laughton
HK 9 Keiron Cunningham
PR 10 Barrie McDermott
SR 11 Adrian Morley
SR 12 Chris Joynt
LF 13 Andy Farrell (c)
Substitutions:
IC 14 Sean Long
IC 15 Denis Betts
IC 16 Mike Forshaw
IC 17 Andy Hay
Coach:
England Andy Goodway

Tournament standings

[edit]
Team Played Won Drew Lost For Against Difference Points
 New Zealand 2 2 0 0 50 26 +24 4
 Australia 2 1 0 1 64 30 +34 2
 Great Britain 2 0 0 2 10 68 −58 0

Final

[edit]
5 November
New Zealand  20–22  Australia
Tries:
Robbie Paul
Nigel Vagana

Goals:
Henry Paul (6/7)
Tries:
Mat Rogers (2)
Matthew Johns
Wendell Sailor
Goals:
Mat Rogers (3/5)
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 21,204[1]
Referee: Russell Smith England
New Zealand
Australia
FB 1 Richie Barnett (c)
RW 2 Nigel Vagana
RC 3 Ruben Wiki
LC 4 Willie Talau
LW 5 Lesley Vainikolo
FE 6 Henry Paul
HB 7 Robbie Paul
PR 8 Joe Vagana
HK 9 Richard Swain
PR 10 Craig Smith
SR 11 Matt Rua
SR 12 Stephen Kearney
LK 13 Logan Swann
Substitutions:
IC 14 Gene Ngamu
IC 15 Jason Lowrie
IC 16 Nathan Cayless
IC 17 David Kidwell
Coach:
New Zealand Frank Endacott
FB 1 Darren Lockyer
RW 2 Mat Rogers
RC 3 Matthew Gidley
LC 4 Darren Smith
LW 5 Wendell Sailor
FE 6 Matthew Johns
HB 7 Brett Kimmorley
PR 18 Jason Stevens
HK 9 Craig Gower
PR 10 Darren Britt
SR 11 Bryan Fletcher
SR 12 Nik Kosef
LK 13 Brad Fittler (c)
Substitutions:
IC 14 Jason Smith
IC 15 Ryan Girdler
IC 16 Michael Vella
IC 17 Shaun Timmins
Coach:
Australia Chris Anderson

Non-series Test

[edit]

During the series, New Zealand also played a Test against Tonga. This was the last test match to be held at Auckland's Carlaw Park.

27 October
New Zealand  74–0  Tonga
Tries:
Brian Jellick (4)
Nigel Vagana (3)
David Kidwell
Jason Lowrie
Henry Paul
Tony Puletua
Richard Swain
Lesley Vainikolo
Goals:
Henry Paul (11/13)
Tries:








Goals:
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 4,528
Referee: Andy Cook New Zealand
New Zealand
Tonga
FB 1 Richie Barnett (c)
LW 2 Brian Jellick
RC 3 David Kidwell
LC 4 Ruben Wiki
RW 5 Lesley Vainikolo
FE 6 Henry Paul
HB 7 Stacey Jones
PR 8 Joe Vagana
HK 9 Richard Swain
PR 10 Terry Hermansson
SR 11 Tony Puletua
SR 12 Stephen Kearney
LK 13 Logan Swann
Substitutions:
IC 14 Willie Talau
IC 15 Nathan Cayless
IC 16 Jason Lowrie
IC 17 Nigel Vagana
Coach:
New Zealand Frank Endacott
FB 1 Paul Koloi
LW 2 Tevita Ole'o
RC 3 Phil Howlett (c)
LC 4 Greg Wolfgramm
RW 5 Kotoni Seleti
FE 6 Tevita Vaikona
HB 7 Lani Filiai
PR 8 Nelson Lomi
HK 9 Esau Mann
PR 10 Liuaki Hansen
SR 11 Andrew Lomu
SR 12 Alfons Masella
LK 13 Sione Marima
Substitutions:
IC 14 Fili Lolohea
IC 15 Tu'ihaka Valu Afungia
IC 16 Chief Lee
IC 17 Viliami Soni
Coach:

Non-series Match

[edit]

As a curtain raiser to the final, New Zealand Māori played Great Britain.[2]

5 November
 Māori 12–22  Great Britain
Tries:
Alex Chan
Darren Rameka

Goals:
Luke Goodwin (1)
Willie Rangi (1)
Tries:
Sean Long (2)
James Lowes
Anthony Sullivan
Goals:
Andy Farrell (3)
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 21,204[1]
Referee: David Pakieto New Zealand
Māori
Great Britain
FB 1 Alex Chan
LW 2 Steve Matthews
RC 3 Peter Lewis
LC 4 Steve Berryman
RW 5 Jared Mills
FE 6 Luke Goodwin
HB 7 Willie Rangi
PR 8 Paul Rauhihi
HK 9 Tukere Barlow (c)
PR 10 John Edmonds
SR 11 Robert Henare
SR 12 Darren Rameka
LK 13 Andrew Wynyard
Substitutions:
IC 14 Gavin Bailey
IC 15 Martin Moana
IC 16 Frank Watene
IC 17 Wairangi Koopu
Coach:
New Zealand Cameron Bell
FB 1 Kris Radlinski
RW 2 Jason Robinson
RC 3 Keith Senior
LC 4 Anthony Sullivan
LW 5 Francis Cummins
SO 6 Andy Farrell (c)
SH 7 Sean Long
PR 8 Paul Anderson
HK 9 Keiron Cunningham
PR 10 Dale Laughton
SR 11 Adrian Morley
SR 12 Paul Sculthorpe
LF 13 Chris Joynt
Substitutions:
IC 14 Stuart Fielden
IC 15 Barrie McDermott
IC 16 Mike Forshaw
IC 17 Andy Hay
Coach:
England Andy Goodway

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Tri-Nations 1999". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  2. ^ Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8