| Tour: | 1956 |
| Team: | New Zealand |
| Yearstart: | 1956 |
| Yearfinish: | 1956 |
| Destination: | Australia |
| Manager: | Ron McGregor |
| Coach: | Bill Telford |
| Captain: | Tommy Baxter |
| Top Point Scorer: | Des White 88 |
| Top Try Scorer: | Rex Percy 12 |
| Top Test Point Scorer: | Des White 10 Don Adams 15 |
| Top Test Try Scorer: | Vern Bakalich 2 Don Adams 5 |
| Matchplayed: | 15 |
| Matchwon: | 9 |
| Matchdraw: | 0 |
| Matchlost: | 6 |
| Testplayed: | 3 |
| Testwon: | 0 |
| Testdraw: | 0 |
| Testlost: | 3 |
| Played1: | 3 |
| Won1: | 0 |
| Draw1: | 0 |
| Lost1: | 3 |
| Previous: | 1952 by to 1955 by 1955-56 to |
| Next: | 1956 by to 1958 by to 1959 by to |
The 1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the eighteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the thirteenth tour to visit Australia. The fifteen-match tour included three Test Matches.
The touring team began with a pair of wins but then lost the next two, against Newcastle and the First Test in Sydney. Five strong performances in Queensland followed, with wins by wide margins in high-scoring matches. In contrast, the Second Test was a low-scoring match, Australia winning 8 to 2 to secure their first Trans-Tasman series win since 1935. New Zealand lost the Third Test, and thus the series three-nil, and also the two tour matches that followed.
The team was captained by Tommy Baxter.[1]
The touring team was managed by Ron McGregor.[2]
The Rugby League News published a Team Photo, Player Details (Occupation, Age, Height and Weight) and pen portraits of the tourists: Backs and Forwards which listed their provincial team.
| Player | Age | Weight | Province | Tests on Tour | Games | Tries | Goals | FG | Points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | 21 | 13. 4 (84) | align=left | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 12 | ||||
| align=left | 26 | 12. 2 (77) | align=left | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 21 | ||||
| align=left | 26 | 12. 12 (82) | align=left | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 3 | ||||
| align=left | 25 | 11. 2 (71) | align=left | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 3 | ||||
| align=left | , | 24 | 14. 8 (93) | align=left | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 6 | |||
| align=left | , | 22 | 14. 4 (91) | align=left | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 0 | |||
| align=left | , | 24 | 14. 0 (89) | align=left | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 3 | |||
| align=left | 28 | 12. 5 (78) | align=left | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | align=right | 11 | ||||
| align=left | Utility Back | 25 | 11. 7 (73) | align=left | 3 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 0 | align=right | 18 | |||
| align=left | , | 22 | 10. 11 (68) | align=left | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 21 | |||
| align=left | , | 18 | 12. 3 (78) | align=left | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 12 | |||
| align=left | , | 21 | 12. 0 (76) | align=left | 1 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 12 | |||
| align=left | 27 | 15. 2 (96) | align=left | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 3 | ||||
| align=left | 23 | 12. 12 (82) | align=left | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 9 | ||||
| align=left | 22 | 15. 4 (97) | align=left | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 0 | ||||
| align=left | 24 | 15. 10 (100) | align=left | 3 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 9 | ||||
| align=left | 25 | 11. 5 (72) | align=left | 3 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 6 | ||||
| align=left | Gordon Moncur | 23 | 11. 2 (71) | align=left | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 3 | |||
| align=left | 27 | 13. 0 (83) | align=left | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 9 | ||||
| align=left | Mauriohooho Murray | 23 | 14. 5 (91) | align=left | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 9 | |||
| align=left | 22 | 13. 7 (86) | align=left | 0 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 36 | ||||
| align=left | 26 | 13. 8 (86) | align=left | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 0 | ||||
| align=left | 24 | 11. 12 (75) | align=left | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 15 | ||||
| align=left | , | 24 | 13. 4 (84) | align=left | 3 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 0 | align=right | 40 | |||
| align=left | 29 | 11. 13 (76) | align=left | 3 | 10 | 0 | 44 | 0 | align=right | 88 | ||||
| align=left | , | 25 | 15. 2 (96) | align=left | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | align=right | 3 |
| Western NSW: FB: Barry Russell (age 22), WG: William Miller (23) (Parkes), CE: Ray Quinnell (23), CE: Alex Whitby (23), WG: Joseph Cohen (23), FE: Jack McIntosh (25), HB: William Roberts (26) (Orange), LK: John Gain (23) (Parkes), SR: Jack Perrin (24) (Parkes), SR: Patrick Weldon (21) (Orange), PR: Hilton Bonham (20) (Bathurst), HK: John Kelly (24), PR: Laurie Bennett (26) (Lithgow). Ken Van Heekeren (24) and Frank Border (27) were selected as reserves, but did not play. New Zealand: FB: Pat Creedy, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Ron Ackland, CE: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Reese Griffiths, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Jim Riddell, SR: Cliff Johnson, PR: John Bond, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: John Yates. |
| New South Wales: FB: Ron Willey (age 28) (Manly), WG: Ross Kite (24) (St George), CE: Dick Poole (25) (Newtown), CE: Tony Paskins (27) (Easts), WG: Don Adams (22) (Maitland), FE: Graham Laird (22) (Parramatta), HB: Col Donohoe (26) (Souths), LK: Peter O'Connor (25) (Young), SR: Don Schofield (25) (Cessnock), SR: Henry Holloway (25) (Newtown), PR: Roy Bull (26) (Manly), HK: Ken Kearney (30) (St George), PR: Les Hampson (22) (Newtown). Bryan Orrock (25) (St George) and Keith Holman (28) (Wests) were selected as reserves but did not play. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Bill Sorensen, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Henry Maxwell. |
| Newcastle: FB: Russ Naughton (Lakes United), WG: Don Adams (Maitland), CE: J. Fitzpatrick, CE: Neil McDonnell (Lakes United), WG: Brian Carlson (Souths), FE: Warren Foley (Waratah Mayfield), HB: Bobby Banks (Waratah Mayfield), LK: Bill Smith (Waratah Mayfield), SR: Kurri Chapple (Kurri), SR: Don Schofield (Cessnock), PR: Doug Hawke (Norths), HK: Ken Fogarty (Maitland), PR: Fred Brown (Maitland). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Gordon Moncur, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Tom Hadfield, WG: Arnold Green, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Pat Creedy, LK: Rex Percy, SR: John Yates, SR: Duncan MacRae, PR: Mauriohooho Murray, HK: John Lasher, PR: Henry Maxwell. |
| Australia: FB: Ken McCrohon (23) (Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Don Adams (Maitland), CE: Alex Watson (23) (Brisbane Western Suburbs), CE: Dick Poole (25) (Newtown), WG: Ian Moir (24) (South Sydney), FE: Cyril Connell Jr (26) (North Rockhampton), HB: Keith Holman (28) (Western Suburbs), LK: Ian Doyle (24) (Toowoomba All Whites), SR: Ignatius Tyquin (23) (South Brisbane), SR: Kel O'Shea (22) (Western Suburbs), PR: Roy Bull (26) (Manly-Warringah), HK: Ken Kearney (30) (St George), PR: Brian Davies (25) (Brisbane Brothers). Tom Payne (21) (Toowoomba All Whites) and Don Furner (23) (Toowoomba Souths) were selected as reserves but did not play. Brian Carlson (23) (South Newcastle) was selected for this match but withdrew. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Henry Maxwell. |
| Brisbane: FB: Ken McCrohon (Wests), WG: B. Pryor (Souths), CE: J. Mulgrew (Valleys), CE: Norm Pope (Valleys), WG: Bill Monkland (Wests), FE: Norm Reynolds (Wests), HB: Darcy Ryan (Wests), LK: John Bruton (Brothers), SR: J. Duncan (Brothers), SR: Tom Tyquin (Souths), PR: Brian. Davies (Brothers), HK: Alan Hornery (Wests), PR: Norm McFadden (Valleys). New Zealand: FB: Pat Creedy, WG: Ron Ackland, CE: Bill Sorensen, CE: Arnold Green, WG: Tom Hadfield, FE: Cyril Eastlake, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: John Yates, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Mauriohooho Murray, HK: John Lasher, PR: John Bond. |
| Queensland: FB: Ken McCrohon (age 23) (Wests), WG: Des McGovern (28) (Toowoomba All Whites), CE: Alex Watson (23) (Wests), CE: Tom Payne (21) (Toowoomba All Whites), WG: Bob Buckley (Toowoomba All Whites), FE: Cyril Connell Jr (26) (North Rockhampton), HB: Sammy Hunter (25) (Toowoomba Souths), LK: Tom Tyquin (23) (Souths), SR: Gary Parcell (Ipswich Brothers), SR: Don Furner (23) (Toowoomba Souths), PR: Brian Davies (25) (Brisbane Brothers), HK: Alan Hornery (Wests), PR: Ron Proudfoot (22) (Toowoomba Newtown). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Tom Hadfield, CE: Bill Sorensen, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Vern Bakalich, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Jim Riddell, SR: Cliff Johnson, PR: Henry Maxwell, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Duncan MacRae, RF: Mauriohooho Murray, RB: Ron Ackland. |
| Central Queensland: FB: Ray Robinson (Railways), WG: Allan Rycen (Railways), CE: Ray Thomas (Fitzroys), CE: G. Little (Brothers), WG: Malcolm Spencer (Railways), FE: Bob Banks (Norths), HB: Ken Jenkins (Norths), LK: Ollie Smith (Brothers), SR: Nev Callaghan (Fitzroys), SR: Pat Sear (Norths), PR: C. Harkin (Brothers), HK: P. Millroy (Norths), PR: Brian Cridland (Norths). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Tom Hadfield, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Reese Griffiths, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Jock Butterfield, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: John Bond, HK: John Lasher, PR: Mauriohooho Murray. |
| North Queensland: FB: Bevan Hoyle (Townsville), WG: Albert Roberts (Townsville), CE: Len Blaik (Townsville), CE: Ron Tait (Innisfail), WG: Morry Breen (Innisfail), FE: Thorpe Scott (Townsville), HB: Ken Woodward (Cairns), LK: Hugh Kelly (age 23) (Cairns), SR: Danny Clifford (Tully), SR: Elton Rasmussen (Mackay Magpies), PR: John Blankensee (Cairns), HK: Ron Griffiths (Cairns), PR: Ken Herbert (Townsville). New Zealand: FB: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Gordon Moncur, CE: Reese Griffiths, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Arnold Green, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Jock Butterfield, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: John Lasher, PR: Henry Maxwell. |
| Australia: FB: Gordon Clifford (Newtown), WG: Don Adams (Maitland), CE: Dick Poole (Newtown), CE: Alex Watson (Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Des McGovern (Toowoomba All Whites), FE: Cyril Connell Jr (North Rockhampton), HB: Keith Holman (Western Suburbs), LK: Ian Doyle (Toowoomba All Whites), SR: Tom Tyquin (South Brisbane), SR: Kel O'Shea (Western Suburbs), PR: Brian Davies (Brisbane Brothers), HK: Ken Kearney (St George), PR: Roy Bull (Manly-Warringah). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Cyril Eastlake, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Tom Hadfield, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Henry Maxwell, SR: Cliff Johnson, PR: Jim Riddell, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Duncan MacRae. |
| Wide Bay: FB: A. Brunkie, WG: L. Kavanagh, CE: W. Beck, CE: P. Clarke, WG: W. Hannen, FE: B. Sherwood, HB: G. Norris, LK: L. Hooper, SR: R. Marles, SR: T. Drysdale, PR: R. King, HK: Keith Weston, PR: M. Ziebath. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Cyril Eastlake, CE: Reese Griffiths, CE: Gordon Moncur, WG: Arnold Green, FE: George Menzies, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Jim Riddell, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: Mauriohooho Murray, HK: John Lasher, PR: John Bond. |
| Northern NSW: FB: C. Robinson, WG: J. Gurd, CE: R. Lumsden (Urunga), CE: J. Daly, WG: J. Wood, FE: A. Davidson, HB: C. Kelly, LK: G. Smith, SR: Arthur Collinson (Port Macquarie), SR: Guy Brazier (Dorrigo), PR: Lloyd Hudson (Kempsey), HK: Allan Ferguson (Armidale), PR: P. Purchase. New Zealand: FB: Gordon Moncur, WG: Arnold Green, CE: Reese Griffiths, CE: Tom Hadfield, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: John Bond, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: Henry Maxwell, HK: John Lasher, PR: Mauriohooho Murray. |
| Australia: FB: Norm Pope (24) (Brisbane Valleys), WG: Don Adams (22) (Maitland), CE: Dick Poole (25) (Newtown), CE: Alex Watson (23) (Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Des McGovern (28) (Toowoomba All Whites), FE: Darcy Henry (24) (Western Suburbs), HB: Keith Holman (28) (Western Suburbs), LK: Ian Doyle (24) (Toowoomba All Whites), SR: Tom Tyquin (23) (South Brisbane), SR: Kel O'Shea (22) (Western Suburbs), PR: Roy Bull (27) (Manly-Warringah), HK: Ken Kearney (30) (St George), PR: Brian Davies (25) (Brisbane Brothers). Ian Moir (24) (South Sydney) and Don Furner (23) (Toowoomba Souths) were selected as reserves, but did not play. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Henry Maxwell. |
| Southern Division: FB: Darcy Russell (Wests), WG: Jack Lumsden, CE: Matt Graham (Dapto), CE: Les Jones (Jamberoo), WG: Don Spence, FE: Stuart Chase (Berry), HB: Mick Brennan, LK: Mat Grenfell (Wollongong), SR: Angus Miller (Berry), SR: Pat Quinn (Gerringong), PR: Bruce Noble (Jamberoo), HK: Ted Johnson, PR: Bill Poland (Corrimal), Coach: Leo Doyle. New Zealand: FB: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Gordon Moncur, CE: Arnold Green, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Reese Griffiths, FE: George Menzies, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Mauriohooho Murray, SR: John Bond, PR: Ossie Butt, HK: John Lasher, 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 | Test Match teams & scorers. | |
| 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, Point Scorers, Report. 1953 Yearbook covers the 1952 tour. | ||
| QRLG | Queensland Rugby League Gazette | 1950-1955 | align=left | Program for matches in Brisbane. Collection is predominantly of representative matches. | ||
| 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[3] | 1913-1975 | align=left | Match Report, Given Names & Club of Ipswich Players | ||
| - | The Bulimba Cup Era[4] | 1925-1972 | align=left | Clubs of Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane players. This book includes Bulimba Cup match reports and team lists. | ||
| - | A History of Mackay Rugby League[5] | 1919-2015 | Author's Website | align=left | Given Names & Club of Mackay Players | |
| - | More Than The Foley Shield[6] | 1908-2014 | Author's Website | align=left | Match report, team photos. Given Names & Club of North Queensland Players | |