1986 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea

Australia was coached for the first time by 1956–57 Kangaroo Tourist Don Furner. Wally Lewis was the captain of the team with Wayne Pearce the team vice captain.

The players used by Australia in the series was: Wally Lewis (Wynnum Manly) (c), Wayne Pearce (Balmain) (vc), Noel Cleal (Manly Warringah), Steve Folkes (Canterbury-Bankstown), Garry Jack (Balmain), Brett Kenny (Parramatta), Les Kiss (North Sydney), Terry Lamb (Canterbury-Bankstown), Gene Miles (Wynnum Manly), Bryan Niebling (Redcliffe), Michael O'Connor (St George), Steve Roach (Balmain), Dale Shearer (Manly-Warringah), Royce Simmons (Penrith), Peter Sterling (Pattamatta), Peter Tunks (Canterbury-Bankstown).

Of the players used by Australia, only Wayne Pearce (injury) and Peter Tunks (personal reasons) did not go on the end of season 1986 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France.

The New Zealand test team was coached by Graham Lowe and captained by Mark Graham.

The Kiwis squad was: Mark Graham (North Sydney) (c), Dean Bell (Eastern Suburbs), Shane Cooper (Mt Albert), Mark Elia (Te Atatu), Olsen Filipaina (North Sydney), Gary Freeman (Northcote), Barry Harvey (Western Suburbs (Taranaki)), Gary Kemble (Hull), A'au Leulaui (Hull), Hugh McGahan (Eastern Suburbs), Dane O'Hara (Hull), Ron O'Regan (Mt Albert), Gary Prohm (Hull Kingston Rovers), Joe Ropati (Warrington), Kurt Sorensen (Widnes), Brent Todd (Linwood), Wayne Wallace (Hornby), Darrell Williams (Mt Albert), Owen Wright (Manukau).

Peter Brown, Tea Ropati, Marty Crequer, Dean Lonergan, Adrian Shelford, Sam Stewart, James Goulding, Glenn Donaldson and Gary Mercer also played for the Kiwis against Papua New Guinea.

After having been Sydney's main test match venue since 1914, this would be the 69th and final test played at the Sydney Cricket Ground until 2008. Gary Freeman, who would go on to play a total of 46 tests for New Zealand until 1995, made his test debut in this game while for Australia, North Sydney and Queensland winger Les Kiss made his test debut replacing an injured Dale Shearer.

19 July 1986

Australia	29 – 12	New Zealand
Tries: Garry Jack Brett Kenny Wally Lewis Gene Miles Wayne Pearce Goals: Michael O'Connor (4) Field Goals: Peter Sterling	[2]	Tries: Olsen Filipaina Dane O'Hara Goals: Olsen Filipaina (2)

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 34,302 Referee: Robin Whitfield Player of the Match: Steve Roach

Australia

New Zealand

FB 1 Garry Jack RW 2 Les Kiss RC 3 Brett Kenny LC 4 Gene Miles LW 5 Michael O'Connor FE 6 Wally Lewis (c) HB 7 Peter Sterling PR 8 Steve Roach HK 9 Royce Simmons PR 10 Peter Tunks SR 11 Noel Cleal SR 12 Steve Folkes LF 13 Wayne Pearce Substitutions: IC 14 Bryan Niebling IC 15 Terry Lamb Coach: Don Furner

FB 1 Gary Kemble LW 2 Dean Bell RC 3 Joe Ropati LC 4 Mark Elia RW 5 Dane O'Hara FE 6 Olsen Filipaina HB 7 Gary Freeman PR 8 Owen Wright HK 9 Barry Harvey PR 10 Kurt Sorensen SR 11 Mark Graham (c) SR 12 Hugh McGahan LK 13 Gary Prohm Substitutions: IC 14 Shane Cooper IC 15 Ron O'Regan Coach: Graham Lowe

Australian vice-captain Wayne Pearce tore the Anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the first half. Despite surgery and an intense rehabilitation, he was eventually ruled out of the 1986 Kangaroo Tour after failing a team medical.

Australia continued its international dominance and scored a clean sweep against the Kiwis with a 32–12, 6 tries to 2 win in front of almost 23,000 at Lang Park. The match was broadcast into NSW and Qld by the Nine Network and via relay into New Zealand. This game also counted towards the 1985-1988 Rugby League World Cup.[3]

29 July 1986

Australia	32 – 12	New Zealand
Tries: Brett Kenny (2) Peter Sterling Wally Lewis Gene Miles Michael O'Connor Goals: Michael O'Connor (4/6)	[4]	Tries: Darrell Williams (2) Goals: Olsen Filipaina (2/3)

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 22,811 Referee: Robin Whitfield Player of the Match: Wally Lewis

Australia

New Zealand

FB 1 Garry Jack RW 2 Les Kiss RC 3 Gene Miles LC 4 Brett Kenny LW 5 Michael O'Connor FE 6 Wally Lewis (c) HB 7 Peter Sterling PR 8 Steve Roach HK 9 Royce Simmons PR 10 Peter Tunks SR 11 Noel Cleal SR 12 Steve Folkes LF 13 Wayne Pearce Substitutions: IC 14 Bryan Niebling IC 15 Terry Lamb Coach: Don Furner

FB 1 Gary Kemble LW 2 Darrell Williams RC 3 Joe Ropati LC 4 Gary Prohm RW 5 Dane O'Hara FE 6 Olsen Filipaina HB 7 Gary Freeman PR 8 Brent Todd HK 9 Barry Harvey PR 10 Kurt Sorensen SR 11 Hugh McGahan SR 12 Mark Graham (c) LK 13 Ron O'Regan Substitutions: IC 14 Shane Cooper IC 15 Owen Wright Coach: Graham Lowe

This match counted towards the 1988 Rugby League World Cup.

17 August 1986

Papua New Guinea	24 – 22	New Zealand
Tries: Darius Haili (2) Bobby Ako Lauta Atoi Goals: Dairi Kovae (4)	[6]	Tries: Peter Brown Hugh McGahan Joe Ropati Wayne Wallace Goals: Peter Brown (3)

Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Kevin Roberts Player of the Match: Arebo Taumaku

Papua New Guinea

New Zealand

FB 1 Kungas Kuveu RW 2 Joe Katsir RC 3 Lauta Atoi (c) LC 4 Bal Numapo LW 5 Arnold Tivelit FE 6 Darius Haili HB 7 Gessau Gebob PR 8 Joe Tep HK 9 Roy Heni PR 10 Bobby Ako SR 11 Roy Loitive SR 12 Bernard Waketsi LF 13 Arebo Taumaku Substitutions: IC 14 Dairi Kovae IC 15 Peter Peng Coach: Barry Wilson

FB 1 Gary Kemble LW 2 Joe Ropati RC 3 Darrell Williams LC 4 Mark Elia RW 5 Dane O'Hara FE 6 James Leuluai HB 7 Gary Freeman PR 8 Adrian Shelford HK 9 Wayne Wallace PR 10 Peter Brown SR 11 Owen Wright SR 12 Hugh McGahan (c) LK 13 Ron O'Regan Substitutions: IC 14 Marty Crequer IC 15 Sam Stewart Coach: Graham Lowe

Papua New Guinea scored their first ever test match victory against New Zealand and their first test win since defeating France 37–6 in 1977. The Kumuls would not win another test until 1990.[7]