| Tour: | 1956 |
| Team: | New Zealand Māori |
| Yearstart: | 1956 |
| Yearfinish: | 1956 |
| Destination: | Australia |
| Manager: | Ernie Asher and Wilf Davies |
| Coach: | Travers Hardwick |
| Captain: | Henry Maxwell |
| Matchplayed: | 14 |
| Matchwon: | 6 |
| Matchdraw: | 0 |
| Matchlost: | 8 |
| Previous: | 1922 by to 1956 by to |
| Next: | 1957 RLWC in 1958 by to 1983 by to |
The 1956 New Zealand Māori rugby league tour of Australia was the fourth overseas tour by a Māori rugby league team. The previous three tours were also to Australia. There had been tours in both 1908 and 1909 during the code’s formative years. The third tour occurred in 1922.
In the rival code, New Zealand Māori Rugby Union teams had undertaken taken three tours since the conclusion of World War II: to Fiji in 1948 and 1954, and to Australia in 1949.
In Rugby League, Māori teams had played touring teams in 1946, 1949, 1953, 1954 and 1955.
This Māori tour, which began on August 1, followed a tour by the New Zealand national team which had concluded in early July. Two players, Henry Maxwell and Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray participated in both tours. Simon Yates was on the Māori tour, whilst his brother John Yates had been on the Kiwis tour.
The October 1955 issue of the Rugby League News mentioned the prospect of a Māori tour to Australia.[1] The December 1955 issue included a draft itinerary.[2]
The Māori team was managed by Ernie Asher who had been a player on the 1908 and 1909 tours, and Wilf Davies.[3]
Travers Hardwick coached the team. Hardwick had toured Australia with the New Zealand national team in 1948 and 1952.
The team was captained by Henry Maxwell, with George Turner serving as vice-captain.[4]
The Rugby League News published a Team Photo, Player Details (Age, Height and Weight) and Pen Portraits of the tourists.
| Player | Age | Weight | Province | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | George Bell | 26 | 13. 10 (87) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | Andrew Berryman | , | 25 | 13. 2 (83) | align=left | South Auckland | |
| align=left | Jim Cassidy | 27 | 16. 7 (105) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | Ted Cook | 24 | 13. 0 (83) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | Darby Diamond | Utility Back | 27 | 13. 10 (87) | align=left | Auckland | |
| align=left | Joe Gibbons | 25 | 12. 6 (79) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | Ron Goodin | 25 | 13. 0 (83) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | Denis Hansen | 22 | 14. 3 (90) | align=left | |||
| align=left | Arney Hawkes | 21 | 13. 7 (86) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | Russell Herawini | , | 26 | 11. 7 (73) | align=left | Auckland | |
| align=left | Barry Maddigan | 19 | 12. 3 (78) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | 24 | 15. 0 (95) | align=left | Auckland | |||
| align=left | Hugh McKinnon | 20 | 12. 7 (79) | align=left | South Auckland | ||
| align=left | Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray | 24 | 12. 6 (79) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | Bill Paki | , | 27 | 13. 7 (86) | align=left | South Auckland | |
| align=left | Ted Penney | Utility Back | 23 | 12. 4 (78) | align=left | Auckland | |
| align=left | Vic Pirihi | 19 | 12. 10 (81) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | 28 | 16. 10 (106) | align=left | Auckland | |||
| align=left | Kingi Tamati | 22 | 12. 3 (78) | align=left | Taranaki | ||
| align=left | Bill Tauru | Utility Back | 23 | 13. 6 (85) | align=left | Wellington | |
| align=left | Jack Te Kawa | , | 23 | 12. 8 (80) | align=left | Auckland | |
| align=left | Utility Back | 24 | 12. 0 (76) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | Joe Wright | 28 | 12. 6 (79) | align=left | Auckland | ||
| align=left | Simon Yates | 20 | 13. 4 (84) | align=left | Auckland |
| North Coast: FB: C. Robinson (Nambucca), WG: S. Notaris (Upper Clarence), CE: E. Carney (Wauchope), CE: Ray Lumsden (Urunga), WG: B. Johnson (Coffs), FE: J. Daley (Lismore), HB: O. Steele (Nambucca), LK: George Smith (Glenreagh), SR: Arthur Collinson (Port Macquarie), SR: Guy Brazier (Dorrigo), PR: Lloyd Hudson (Central Kempsey), HK: Percy Purchase (Kempsey CYM), PR: W. Rann (Richmond), Coach: Des Ponchard (Kempsey CYM). New Zealand Māori: FB: Ron Goodin, WG: Hugh McKinnon, CE: Andrew Berryman, CE: George Turner, WG: Vic Pirihi, FE: Joe Gibbons, HB: Russell Herawini, LK: Arney Hawkes, SR: Simon Yates, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, PR: Joe Rātima, HK: Kingi Tamati, PR: Henry Maxwell. |
| Ipswich: FB: Jim Holbeck (Booval Swifts), WG: Denis Flannery (Brothers), CE: Les Duncan (West End), CE: Barry Brennan (West End), WG: Jim Pegg (Brothers), FE: Don Barrett (Booval Swifts), HB: Des Brown (Railways), LK: Stan Walker (Booval Swifts), SR: Jim Breslin (Brothers), SR: Mick Scully (West End), PR: Dud Beattie (Railways), HK: Denis Jackwitz (Railways), PR: Gary Parcell (Brothers), Coach: Dan Dempsey (Ipswich). New Zealand Māori: FB: Andrew Berryman, WG: Hugh McKinnon, CE: Ted Penney, CE: George Turner, WG: Barry Maddigan, FE: Jack Te Kawa, HB: Joe Wright, LK: Bill Paki, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, SR: Simon Yates, PR: Joe Rātima, HK: Ted Cook, PR: Jim Cassidy. |
| Southern Division: FB: Darcy Russell (Wests), WG: Jack Cuneo, CE: Tony Turner, CE: Les Jones (Jamberoo), WG: Don Spence, FE: K. Keech, HB: Ron Smith, LK: Paul Broughton (Corrimal), SR: Angus Miller (Berry), SR: Pat Quinn (Gerringong), PR: Bruce Noble (Jamberoo), PR: Bill Poland (Corrimal), HK: Ron Hopper, Coach: Leo Doyle. New Zealand Māori: FB: Ron Goodin, WG: Barry Maddigan, CE: Andrew Berryman, CE: George Turner, WG: Vic Pirihi, FE: Ted Penney, HB: Joe Wright, LK: Arney Hawkes, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, SR: Simon Yates, PR: Henry Maxwell, HK: Kingi Tamati, PR: Joe Rātima. |
| Metropolis: FB: Doug Fleming (St George), WG: Ray Burke (Parramatta), CE: Merv Lees (St George), CE: John Hobbs (Manly), WG: Ray Ritchie (Manly), FE: Ian Johnston (Wests), HB: Peter Burke (Manly), LK: Dick See (Easts), SR: Jack (Buddy) Bowman (Canterbury), SR: Henry Holloway (Newtown), PR: Mark Patch (Wests), HK: Norm Strong (Norths), PR: Roy Fisher (Parramatta). Ray Cardilini (Norths) and Bruce Sullivan (Easts) were selected as reserves but did not play. New Zealand Māori: FB: Andrew Berryman, WG: Hugh McKinnon, CE: George Turner, CE: Joe Gibbons, WG: Barry Maddigan, FE: Jack Te Kawa, HB: Joe Wright, LK: Arney Hawkes, SR: Bill Paki, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, PR: Joe Rātima, HK: Kingi Tamati, PR: Henry Maxwell. |
| Sydney: FB: Gordon Clifford (Newtown), WG: Ray Cardilini (Norths), CE: Bob Honeysett (Souths), CE: Harry Wells (Wests), WG: Ray Ritchie (Manly), FE: Ian Johnston (Wests), HB: Col Donohoe (Souths), LK: Dick See (Easts), SR: Bernie Purcell (Souths), SR: Bruce Sullivan (Easts), PR: Don Evenden (Norths), HK: Norm Strong (Norths), PR: Les Hampson (Newtown). John Hobbs (Manly) and Roy Fisher (Parramatta) were selected as reserves but did not play. Ernie Hammerton (Souths) was originally selected but withdrew. New Zealand Māori: FB: Andrew Berryman, WG: Hugh McKinnon, CE: George Turner, CE: Ron Goodin, WG: Barry Maddigan, FE: Jack Te Kawa, HB: Joe Wright, LK: Arney Hawkes, SR: Bill Paki, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, PR: Joe Rātima, HK: Kingi Tamati, PR: Henry Maxwell. |
| Acronym | Item | Years | Database App | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Online Access | ||||||
| RLN | Rugby League News | 1920-1973 | align=left | Match Program in Sydney, Team Lists, Team Photos, Articles | ||
| RLP | Rugby League Project | 1907–present | RLP Website | align=left | Tour itinerary. | |
| CQH | The Central Queensland Herald | 1930-1956 | align=left | Short match reports. | ||
| CT | The Canberra Times | 1926-1995 | align=left | Short match reports. | ||
| Offline Resources | ||||||
| EECYB | E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book | 1946-1978 | align=left | Teams and Point Scorers for the two matches in Sydney. 1957 Yearbook covers the 1956 tour. | ||
| RRLG | Rockhampton Rugby League Gazette | 1951-1968 | align=left | Program for matches in Rockhampton. Collection includes club as well as Rockhampton and Central Queensland representative matches. | ||
| - | Ipswich Versus International Teams[5] | 1913-1975 | align=left | Match Report, Given Names & Club of Ipswich Players | ||
| - | The Bulimba Cup Era[6] | 1925-1972 | align=left | Clubs of Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane players. This book includes Bulimba Cup match reports and team lists. | ||