1956 New Zealand Māori rugby league tour of Australia explained

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]

Leadership

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]

Squad

The Rugby League News published a Team Photo, Player Details (Age, Height and Weight) and Pen Portraits of the tourists.

PlayerAgeWeightProvince
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

Matches

Team list:
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.
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Team list:
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.
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Team list:
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.
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Team list:
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.
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Team list:
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.
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Sources

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.

Notes and References

  1. New South Wales Rugby Football League. . The Rugby League News. Sydney . N.S.W. Rugby Football League . Trove . Maoris After Tours. 36. 34. 1 October 1955. nla.obj-642190345. 16 Feb 2021.
  2. New South Wales Rugby Football League. . The Rugby League News. Sydney . N.S.W. Rugby Football League . Trove . Māoris Games In Sydney. 36. 36. 1 December 1955. nla.obj-642195544. 16 Feb 2021.
  3. New South Wales Rugby Football League. . The Rugby League News. Sydney . N.S.W. Rugby Football League . Trove . Wilf Davies Has Fine R.L. Record. 37. 27. 1 September 1956. nla.obj-760487902. 12 Feb 2021.
  4. New South Wales Rugby Football League. . The Rugby League News. Sydney . N.S.W. Rugby Football League . Trove . Leads Maoris. 37. 27. 1 September 1956. nla.obj-760487842. 16 Feb 2021.
  5. Book: Christison, J.E.. Ipswich Versus International Teams. 2012. J.E. Christison. 978-0-98060-74-2-0.
  6. Book: Christison, J.E.. Ipswich Rugby League - The Bulimba Cup Era. 2012. J.E. Christison. 978-0-98060-74-0-6.