1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations Explained

Year:1999
Tri-Nations
Finalists:3
Winners:Australia
Count:1
Matches:4
Attendance:70295
Tries:26
Topscorer-Flag:AUS
Topscorer:Mat Rogers[1] (36)
Top Try Scorer-Flag:NZ
Top Try Scorer:Nigel Vagana (4)
Tournaments:Rugby League Tri-Nations
Next: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

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

AucklandBrisbane
Suncorp Stadium
Capacity: 30,000Capacity: 52,500

Results

Tournament matches

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:
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:
Chris Anderson

----

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:
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:
Andy Goodway

----

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:
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:
Andy Goodway

Tournament standings

Team Played Won Drew Lost For Against Difference Points
2 2 0 0 50 26 +24 4
2 1 0 1 64 30 +34 2
2 0 0 2 10 68 −58 0

Final

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:
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:
Chris Anderson

Non-series Test

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.

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:
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

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

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:
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:
Andy Goodway

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tri-Nations 1999 . 2008-12-05 . Rugby League Project .
  2. Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League