Australian Kangaroos.

[baggygreen man]

The 'Roos have had some strong series wins over Ashes history but probably the two that stand out are the 1982 and the 1963 tours. The legend was probably born back in the cold north of England in 1963 where they gave the Pommies an awful hiding in the town of Swinton in Manchester on a cool Autumn day. It was the second match of the tour and that day the Kangaroos were unstoppable smashing into the British Lions like a juggernaut and walking away with a morale destroying 50-12 victory. A match that has gone down in rugby league folklore as the "Swinton Massacre". Driving the 'Roos was the man they called "chook" the inimitable Johnny Raper. The great man had a blinder setting up most of the moves that led to tries. The 'man in the bowler hat' played arguably his greatest ever game of rugby league that day.
Australian hooker, Noel Kelly wrote in his biography “It was Johnny Raper’s great day. 'Chook’ has never played better."

 

[Perth Red]

Was lucky enough to go to the ashes games in UK in 90 and 94. Both great series but 1990 was amazing. Tight games and massive crowds. and both squads full of talent. The glory years of modern day test matches imo.

 

[baggygreen man]

I missed the 1983 Ashes in England by a year as I had taken the Aussie 'rite of passage' to the Old Dart and Europe in 1982.

 

[baggygreen man]

Tight games and massive crowds. and both squads full of talent.

Has the fact the Ashes has not been played for 19 years because the Poms tired of repeated thrashings they copped from us. Time the IRL insisted on a return of the iconic series and for it to be played consecutively in each country. Also a return of the tri series.

 

[The_Frog]

Has the Ashes not been played for 19 years because the Poms tired of repeated thrashings they copped from us. Time the IRL insisted on a return of the iconic series and for it to be played consecutively in each country. Also a return of the tri series.

If they ever play it again they should drop the Ashes. It belongs to another sport and IMHO is a bit cringeworthy. Like playing for the Davis Cup or Bledisloe Cup.

 

[baggygreen man]

Not sure where to put this rare piece of nostalgia.
First time I have seen it.
St George v GB Lions 1962 Ashes tour..

 

[baggygreen man]

If they ever play it again they should drop the Ashes.

cringeworthy? What would you rename it.
...drop it and break a tradition forged the year the sport was born in this country.

 

[Perth Red]

Has the fact the Ashes has not been played for 19 years because the Poms tired of repeated thrashings they copped from us. Time the IRL insisted on a return of the iconic series and for it to be played consecutively in each country. Also a return of the tri series.

No, Australia didnt want to play it anymore. Sadly after 94 SL broke out and that all but destroyed the good will between the nations and took 7 years before another Ashes series took place.
Even the 2001 tour the ARL wanted to pull out but got so much backlash they went ahead with it, without any club games or French games. It was the beginning of the end of Ashes tours as we knew them and that was down to the ARL.
Shame as the 2003 tour was a close contest even though it ended up 3-0.

Game 1 18-22
Game 2 20-23
Game 3 12-18

 

[Coastbloke]

Let’s not forget that yes, The Ashes haven’t but most of those post Ashes years have been taken up by Tri Nations, Four Nations and World Cups...

I like the tours FWIW and now that Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and PNG are at a reasonable level there could be multiple tours..

Australia to England
Tonga to NZ
Samoa to Wales and France
Fiji to PNG then winners of Tonga to NZ and Fiji to PNG to play?

 

[The_Frog]

cringeworthy? What would you rename it.
...drop it and break a tradition forged the year the sport was born in this country.

I'll have to give that some thought, just as they didn't when they pinched the name from cricket,

 

[Bobby DIGital]

No, Australia didnt want to play it anymore. Sadly after 94 SL broke out and that all but destroyed the good will between the nations and took 7 years before another Ashes series took place.
Even the 2001 tour the ARL wanted to pull out but got so much backlash they went ahead with it, without any club games or French games. It was the beginning of the end of Ashes tours as we knew them and that was down to the ARL.
Shame as the 2003 tour was a close contest even though it ended up 3-0.

Game 1 18-22
Game 2 20-23
Game 3 12-18

A good series but a lot of aussie players pulled out of that tour which was a bit disrespectful to the international game. Bennett got them back on board the following year.

03 was arguably Lockyer's finest hour (along with 06). He became captain on that tour and emerged as a good leader. Kimmorley was outstanding too, but they struggled to fill the 6 jersey. I recall Crocker playing there in one game. Craig Wing a hooker played in the centres.

 

[Perth Red]

A good series but a lot of aussie players pulled out of that tour which was a bit disrespectful to the international game. Bennett got them back on board the following year.

Pretty much same scenario as last years RLWC. In 2001 it was 9/11 scaring them, last year it was covid. They at least a bit more balls back then and some of them went.

 

[baggygreen man]

without any club games or French games.

I dont follow sports politics so how did S L affect England/Kangaroo tours. Surely the two boards have settled their differences by now, so no reason why they can not reintroduce some club games on the itinerary.

France was a league 'has been' for many years after their glory days of the 50 and 60s but now they are rated the seventh league nation, ahead even of one or two of the Oceania teams. Be good to see them tour here again and the Kangaroos to once again tour France after the England leg. Rugby League needs a rebirth badly to get somewhere near where Rugby Union is today. Compare the number of tours and home series we have in Rah Rah to league. We have the best product but are by far the poor cousin and should be ashamed.

 

[baggygreen man]

I'll have to give that some thought, just as they didn't when they pinched the name from cricket,

No doubt about that.

 

[LeagueXIII]

The 'Roos have had some strong series wins over Ashes history but probably none more convincing than the 1963 tour where they won two thirds of their warm up games against local English sides and 2-1 in the Ashes. It was in the second match at a freezing Swinton, Manchester that the Kangaroos had their finest hour with a 50-12 walloping of the Lions. A match that has gone down in rugby league folklore as the "Swinton Massacre". Driving the 'Roos was the man they called "chook" the inimitable Johnny Raper. The great man had a blinder setting up most of the moves that led to tries. The 'man in the bowler hat' was unstoppable that day in arguably his greatest ever game of rugby league.

Most stories on this game forget to mention that GB played most of the game with 11 men as no replacements were allowed back then, including the loss of their inspirational captain Eric Ashton in the opening minutes. The replacement rule was duly changed soon after as a result.

 

[LeagueXIII]

I dont follow sports politics so how did S L affect England/Kangaroo tours. Surely the two boards have settled their differences by now, so no reason why they can not reintroduce some club games on the itinerary.

France was a league 'has been' for many years after their glory days of the 50 and 60s but now they are rated the seventh league nation, ahead even of one or two of the Oceania teams. Be good to see then tour here again and us to play then again after the England series. Rugby League needs a rebirth badly to get somewhere near where Rugby Union is today. Compare the number of tours and home series we have in Rah Rah to league. We are by far the poor cousin.

We ie. the media and NRL dont care for the Australian team as a priority they are pushing the narrative that the be all and end all is playing for NSW or QLD.

 

[baggygreen man]

let them play for whoever they like in Internationals.

I agree. If they are born in one country but feel a stronger allegiance to another then allow them to play for that country.

 

[baggygreen man]

Most stories on this game forget to mention that GB played most of the game with 11 men as no replacements were allowed back then, including the loss of their inspirational captain Eric Ashton in the opening minutes. The replacement rule was duly changed soon after as a result.

Not entirely correct. They played with 11 men for only the second half, but Australia had the match in the bag by then with a smothering 31-8 lead at the break. The 'Roos lost their inspirational captain/coach Arthur Summons for the match too. That kinda aids in evening the ledger.

 

[Perth Red]

I dont follow sports politics so how did S L affect England/Kangaroo tours. Surely the two boards have settled their differences by now, so no reason why they can not reintroduce some club games on the itinerary.

France was a league 'has been' for many years after their glory days of the 50 and 60s but now they are rated the seventh league nation, ahead even of one or two of the Oceania teams. Be good to see them tour here again and the Kangaroos to once again tour France after the England leg. Rugby League needs a rebirth badly to get somewhere near where Rugby Union is today. Compare the number of tours and home series we have in Rah Rah to league. We have the best product but are by far the poor cousin and should be ashamed.

Yeh now its not such an issue but after 94 tour SL hit and the game split and wasnt till 2001 that the Kangaroos were coxed back to tour but even then it was reluctantly and half arsed and only lasted twice before tours were abandoned for four nations and no virtually nothing. The move of the English game in '97 to the same months as the Australian game also had a big impact on club availability to play a touring side.

As said above the narrative in Australia has now become Origin is the pinnacle for Australian players and the ARLC seem to have little interest in changing that and putting back the emphasis on International RL.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Was lucky enough to go to the ashes games in UK in 90 and 94. Both great series but 1990 was amazing. Tight games and massive crowds. and both squads full of talent. The glory years of modern day test matches imo.

Having watched the replay of the 2nd test so many times, how was the atmosphere at Old Trafford?

The crowd seemed so loud and its rated as one the greatest tests off all time.