1984 Great Britain Lions tour

The 1984 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 17th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1984. A total of 24 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and New Zealand respectively, and one Test match against Papua New Guinea.

It was the first tour since 1950 in which Great Britain lost both series against Australia and New Zealand, and the first tour ever where they failed to win a Test against either team.

Touring squad

In preparation for the tour, Great Britain coach Frank Myler and tour manager Dick Gemmell invited a squad of 44 players to attend a series of training camps during the summer of 1983.[1] In February 1984, a squad of 41 players was named, which would participate in weekly training sessions at Fartown, Huddersfield.[1] Some clubs were unhappy with being asked to release players during the middle of the season, most notably Widnes, who had 10 players selected for the training squad. Prior to the second Test match against France on 17 February 1984, Widnes refused to make their players available for the training sessions – John Basnett was the only Widnes player who attended. Myler responded by excluding the absent players from Test selection, with Basnett being the only Widnes player named thus far.[2]

Prior to the final squad for the tour being named, a number of players became unavailable for selection for various reasons. Steve Evans was unavailable due to his wedding plans in the summer,[1] while John Woods withdrew due to "family and business commitments".[3] Peter Smith announced he would not be available due to a shoulder injury.[4] David Watkinson was also ruled out due to injury, suffering a broken leg in the first Test match against France.[5] David Hall had recently taken over a public house and asked not to be considered, while John Wood withdrew for family reasons.[1]

A 30-man squad for the tour was selected in April 1984.[6] The squad included 18-year-old Garry Schofield, who became Great Britain's youngest ever tourist. After the squad was named, Len Casey was dropped after receiving a six-month suspension,[7] while Great Britain captain Trevor Skerrett was ruled out due to injury. Wayne Proctor and Chris Arkwright were called up as replacements, and Brian Noble was named as team captain in place of the injured Skerrett.[8] Shortly before the tour departed, Arkwright was withdrawn from the squad on medical advice because of a damaged knee, and was replaced by Terry Flanagan.[9]

Name	Position	Club	Apps	Tests	Tries	Goals	Drop goals	Points	Notes
Mick Adams	Forward	Widnes	16	7	1	0	0	4
Ray Ashton	Half-back	Oldham	7	0	1	0	0	4
John Basnett	Threequarter	Widnes	9	0	6	0	0	24	[lower-alpha 1]
Kevin Beardmore	Forward	Castleford	11	1	7	0	0	28
Mick Burke	Fullback	Widnes	15	7	2	36	0	80
Chris Burton	Forward	Hull Kingston Rovers	12	5	0	0	0	0
Brian Case	Forward	Wigan	13	4	1	0	0	4
Garry Clark	Threequarter	Hull Kingston Rovers	10	0	7	0	0	28
Lee Crooks	Forward	Hull	10	2	1	3	0	10
Steve Donlan	Threequarter	Leigh	11	2	2	0	0	8
Des Drummond	Threequarter	Leigh	17	7	11	0	0	44
Ronnie Duane	Threequarter	Warrington	1	0	0	0	0	0	[lower-alpha 1]
Terry Flanagan	Forward	Oldham	9	2	0	0	0	8
Des Foy	Threequarter	Oldham	8	1	5	0	0	20
Andy Goodway	Forward	Oldham	13	7	5	0	0	20
Andy Gregory	Half-back	Widnes	14	4	3	0	1	13
Ellery Hanley	Half-back	Bradford Northern	17	7	12	3	0	54
David Hobbs	Forward	Featherstone Rovers	16	6	2	15	0	38
Neil Holding	Half-back	St Helens	10	4	3	0	1	13
John Joyner	Threequarter	Castleford	11	2	1	0	0	4
Joe Lydon	Threequarter	Widnes	14	4	4	26	0	68
Keith Mumby	Fullback	Bradford Northern	16	7	5	0	0	20
Tony Myler	Half-back	Widnes	10	5	1	0	0	4
Brian Noble (c)	Forward	Bradford Northern	14	7	6	0	0	24
Mike O'Neill	Forward	Widnes	11	0	0	0	0	0
Harry Pinner	Forward	St Helens	7	0	0	0	0	0
Wayne Proctor	Forward	Hull	11	1	6	0	0	24
Keith Rayne	Forward	Leeds	13	2	1	0	0	4
Garry Schofield	Threequarter	Hull	11	4	7	6	0	40
Mike Smith	Threequarter	Hull Kingston Rovers	11	1	6	0	0	24
Mick Worrall	Forward	Oldham	9	2	1	0	0	4

Results

Australia

18 May 1984

Northern Territory	13 – 40	Great Britain

Darwin

23 May 1984

Riverina	18 – 22	Great Britain

Wagga Wagga

25 May 1984

North Coast	6 – 56	Great Britain

Wauchope

27 May 1984

Western Division	30 – 36	Great Britain

Dubbo

30 May 1984

North Sydney	8 – 14	Great Britain

Sydney

First Test

9 June 1984

Australia	25 – 8	Great Britain
Tries: Boustead, Lewis, Murray, Price Goals: Conlon (4) Drop goals: Lewis	[11]	Tries: Schofield Goals: Burke (2)

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 30,190
Referee: Ray Shrimpton
Player of the Match: Wally Lewis

11 June 1984

Wide Bay	18 – 28	Great Britain

Bundaberg

15 June 1984

Central Queensland	12 – 44	Great Britain

Rockhampton

17 June 1984

North Queensland	20 – 38	Great Britain

Townsville

20 June 1984

Toowoomba	18 – 16	Great Britain

Toowoomba

Second Test

26 June 1984

Australia	18 – 6	Great Britain

Brisbane

1 July 1984

Northern Division NSW	18 – 32	Great Britain

Tamworth

Third Test

7 July 1984

Australia	20 – 7	Great Britain
Tries: Conescu, Grothe, Jack Goals: Meninga (4)	[12]	Tries: Hanley Goals: Burke Drop goals: Holding

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 18,756
Referee: Tony Drake
Player of the Match: Wayne Pearce

New Zealand

10 July 1984

Northern District	8 – 42	Great Britain

Whangārei

First Test

14 July 1984

New Zealand	12 – 0	Great Britain

Auckland

15 July 1984

NZ Maoris	8 – 19	Great Britain

Huntly

18 July 1984

Central Districts	6 – 38	Great Britain

Wellington

Second Test

22 July 1984

New Zealand	28 – 12	Great Britain
Tries: O'Hara (2), Ah Kuoi, Bell, Leuluai Goals: Filipaina (4)	[13]	Tries: Hanley, Myler Goals: Burke (2)

Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch
Attendance: 9,824
Referee: Barry Barnes
Player of the Match: Dane Sorensen

25 July 1984

South Island	14 – 36	Great Britain

Christchurch

Third Test

28 July 1984

New Zealand	32 – 16	Great Britain
Tries: Friend (2), Leuluai (2), O'Hara Goals: Filipaina (6)	[14]	Tries: Hanley, Mumby Goals: Burke (4)

Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 7,967
Referee: Kevin Roberts

31 July 1984

Auckland	18 – 16	Great Britain

Auckland

Papua New Guinea

5 August 1984

Papua New Guinea	20 – 38	Great Britain
Tries: Jakis, Noifa, Taumaku, Tolik Goals: Numapo (2)	[15]	Tries: Drummond (2), Burke, Hanley, Hobbs, Mumby, Rayne Goals: Burke (5)

Rebiamul Oval, Mount Hagen
Attendance: 7,510
Referee: Barry Gomersall

Notes

Ronnie Duane returned home from the tour early due to injury. He was replaced by John Basnett.[10]

References

Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1984). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1984-85. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 266. ISBN 978-0-356-10450-8.
Fitzpatrick, Paul (9 February 1984). "Myler's tough stand". The Guardian. London. p. 27. ProQuest 186456610.
Fitzpatrick, Paul (16 February 1984). "Cannon fodder". The Guardian. London. p. 26. ProQuest 186462796.
Fitzpatrick, Paul (29 March 1984). "Smith injury may let in Pinner". The Guardian. London. p. 24. ProQuest 186442260.
Fitzpatrick, Paul (30 January 1984). "Britain survive setback". The Guardian. London. p. 21. ProQuest 186390677.
Fitzpatrick, Paul (17 April 1984). "Donlan's tour spot". The Guardian. London. p. 26. ProQuest 186454525.
"Casey out as appeal fails". The Guardian. London. 2 May 1984. p. 22. ProQuest 186504229.
"Rugby League". The Guardian. London. 3 May 1984. p. 23. ProQuest 186421942.
"Arkwright Shock". Liverpool Echo. 9 May 1984. p. 34 – via British Newspaper Archive.
"Schofield steps up". The Guardian. London. 1 June 1984. p. 22. ProQuest 186564504.
"Ashes Series 1984 Series - Game 1". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
"Ashes Series 1984 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
"New Zealand vs Great Britain 1984 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
"New Zealand vs Great Britain 1984 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
"Lions Tour 1984 Series - Game 24". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 November 2022.

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[Duane-11] Ronnie Duane returned home from the tour early due to injury. He was replaced by John Basnett.[10]

[rothmans8485-1] Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1984). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1984-85. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 266. ISBN 978-0-356-10450-8.

[2] Fitzpatrick, Paul (9 February 1984). "Myler's tough stand". The Guardian. London. p. 27. ProQuest 186456610.

[3] Fitzpatrick, Paul (16 February 1984). "Cannon fodder". The Guardian. London. p. 26. ProQuest 186462796.

[4] Fitzpatrick, Paul (29 March 1984). "Smith injury may let in Pinner". The Guardian. London. p. 24. ProQuest 186442260.

[5] Fitzpatrick, Paul (30 January 1984). "Britain survive setback". The Guardian. London. p. 21. ProQuest 186390677.

[6] Fitzpatrick, Paul (17 April 1984). "Donlan's tour spot". The Guardian. London. p. 26. ProQuest 186454525.

[7] "Casey out as appeal fails". The Guardian. London. 2 May 1984. p. 22. ProQuest 186504229.

[8] "Rugby League". The Guardian. London. 3 May 1984. p. 23. ProQuest 186421942.

[9] "Arkwright Shock". Liverpool Echo. 9 May 1984. p. 34 – via British Newspaper Archive.

[10] "Schofield steps up". The Guardian. London. 1 June 1984. p. 22. ProQuest 186564504.

[12] "Ashes Series 1984 Series - Game 1". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 November 2022.

[13] "Ashes Series 1984 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 November 2022.

[14] "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1984 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 November 2022.

[15] "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1984 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 November 2022.

[16] "Lions Tour 1984 Series - Game 24". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 November 2022.