2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations

The second Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament (known as the Gillette Tri-Nations due to sponsorship[2]) was contested between 16 October and 27 November of 2004. The format of the competition differed from the previous event in that the teams played each other twice, rather than once, prior to the final.

2004 (2004) Tri-Nations  ()
2004 Tri-Nations logo
Number of teams3
Host country United Kingdom
Winner Australia (2nd title)

Matches played7
Attendance182,288 (26,041 per match)
Tries scored47 (6.71 per match)
Top scorerAustralia Darren Lockyer[1] (28)
Top try scorerAustralia Luke Rooney[1] (6)
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2005 > 

The tournament final of the tournament was predicted by some to be a close affair, with the British team heralded as slight favourites after finishing at the top of the league table. Instead, it was a one-sided match as Australia produced their best performance of the tournament. The game was effectively over by half-time when Australia led by 38–0.

Participating teams

Each team was to play the other three twice during the round robin tournament. The top two finishing teams would then contest the final.

Team Nickname Coach Captain RLIF Rank
Australia Australia The Kangaroos Wayne Bennett Darren Lockyer 1
New Zealand New Zealand The Kiwis Daniel Anderson Ruben Wiki 2
United Kingdom Great Britain The Lions Brian Noble Andy Farrell 3

Officials

One referee from each participating nation was appointed to control matches in the Tri-Nations:

Venues

The games were played at the following venues in New Zealand and England.

Auckland London Manchester
North Harbour Stadium Loftus Road City of Manchester Stadium
Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 18,439 Capacity: 47,726
Huddersfield Wigan Hull
Galpharm Stadium JJB Stadium KC Stadium
Capacity: 24,500 Capacity: 25,138 Capacity: 25,400

Final

The tournament final was played in Leeds.

Leeds
Elland Road
Capacity: 37,890

Results

Tournament matches

16 October
New Zealand 16–16 Australia
Tries:
Vinnie Anderson
Louis Anderson
Francis Meli
Goals:
Brent Webb 2/3
ReportTries:
Luke Rooney (2)
Anthony Minichiello
Goals:
Darren Lockyer 2/3
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 19,118[1]
Referee: Russel Smith (England)


NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Francis Meli · 3. Nigel Vagana · 4. Paul Whatuira · 5. Matt Utai · 6. Vinnie Anderson · 7. Thomas Leuluai · 8. Jason Cayless · 9. Louis Anderson · 10. Ruben Wiki (c) · 11. Tony Puletua · 12. Joe Galuvao · 13. Sonny Bill Williams
Interchange: 14. Motu Tony · 15. Roy Asotasi · 16. Nathan Cayless · 17. David Kidwell
Coach: Daniel Anderson

AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Luke Rooney · 3. Shaun Berrigan · 4. Willie Tonga · 5. Matt Sing · 6. Darren Lockyer (c) · 7. Craig Gower · 8. Shane Webcke · 9. Danny Buderus · 10. Jason Ryles · 11. Willie Mason · 12. Nathan Hindmarsh · 13. Tonie Carroll
Interchange: 14. Craig Wing · 15. Petero Civoniceva · 16. Ben Kennedy · 17. Andrew Ryan
Coach: Wayne Bennett



AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Luke Rooney · 3. Shaun Berrigan · 4. Willie Tonga · 5. Matt Sing · 6. Darren Lockyer (c) · 7. Craig Gower · 8. Shane Webcke · 9. Danny Buderus · 10. Jason Ryles · 11. Craig Fitzgibbon · 12. Nathan Hindmarsh · 13. Tonie Carroll
Interchange: 14. Craig Wing · 15. Petero Civoniceva · 16. Willie Mason · 17. Shaun Timmins
Coach: Wayne Bennett

NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Francis Meli · 3. Nigel Vagana · 4. Paul Whatuira · 5. Lesley Vainikolo · 6. Vinnie Anderson · 7. Thomas Leuluai · 8. Jason Cayless · 9. Louis Anderson · 10. Nathan Cayless · 11. Logan Swann · 12. Ruben Wiki (c) · 13. Sonny Bill Williams
Interchange: 14. Robbie Paul · 15. Roy Asotasi · 16. Paul Rauhihi · 17. David Kidwell
Coach: Daniel Anderson


30 October
Australia 12–8 Great Britain
Tries:
Willie Mason
Luke Rooney (2)
Goals:
Brett Kimmorley (0/3)
ReportTries:
Martin Gleeson
Brian Carney
Goals:
Andy Farrell (0/2)
City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
Attendance: 38,572[1]
Referee: Glen Black (New Zealand)


AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Luke Rooney · 3. Shaun Berrigan · 4. Willie Tonga · 5. Matt Sing · 6. Craig Gower · 7. Brett Kimmorley · 8. Shane Webcke · 9. Danny Buderus (c) · 10. Jason Ryles · 11. Andrew Ryan · 12. Nathan Hindmarsh · 13. Tonie Carroll
Interchange: 14. Craig Wing · 15. Petero Civoniceva · 16. Willie Mason · 17. Shaun Timmins
Coach: Wayne Bennett

GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Stuart Reardon · 6. Paul Sculthorpe · 7. Sean Long · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Terry Newton · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Jamie Peacock · 12. Andy Farrell (c) · 13. Gareth Ellis
Interchange: 14. Chev Walker · 15. Stephen Wild · 16. Ryan Bailey · 17. Danny McGuire
Coach: Brian Noble


6 November
Great Britain 22–12 New Zealand
Tries:
Terry Newton
Stuart Reardon (2)
Goals:
Andy Farrell (2/2)
Iestyn Harris (2/2)
Paul Sculthorpe (1/3)
ReportTries:
Ali Lauiti'iti
Sonny Bill Williams
Goals:
Brent Webb (2/2)
Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 20,372[1]
Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)


GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Stuart Reardon · 6. Danny McGuire · 7. Sean Long · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Terry Newton · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Jamie Peacock · 12. Andy Farrell (c) · 13. Paul Sculthorpe
Interchange: 14. Gareth Ellis · 15. Ryan Bailey · 16. Paul Johnson · 17. Iestyn Harris
Coach: Brian Noble

NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Francis Meli · 3. Nigel Vagana · 4. Clinton Toopi · 5. Shontayne Hape · 6. Vinnie Anderson · 7. Thomas Leuluai · 8. Jason Cayless · 9. Louis Anderson · 10. Ruben Wiki (c) · 11. Logan Swann · 12. David Kidwell · 13. Sonny Bill Williams
Interchange: 14. Robbie Paul · 15. Nathan Cayless · 16. Paul Rauhihi · 17. Ali Lauiti'iti
Coach: Daniel Anderson


13 November
Great Britain 24–12 Australia
Tries:
Terry Newton
Stuart Reardon
Stuart Fielden
Keith Senior
Goals:
Andy Farrell (4/4)
ReportTries:
Luke Rooney
Mark O'Meley
Goals:
Craig Fitzgibbon (1/1)
Brett Kimmorley (1/1)
JJB Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 25,004[1]
Referee: Glen Black (New Zealand)


GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Stuart Reardon · 6. Danny McGuire · 7. Sean Long · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Terry Newton · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Jamie Peacock · 12. Andy Farrell (c) · 13. Paul Sculthorpe
Interchange: 14. Gareth Ellis · 15. Ryan Bailey · 16. Paul Johnson · 17. Iestyn Harris
Coach: Brian Noble

AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Matt Sing · 3. Shaun Berrigan · 4. Willie Tonga · 5. Luke Rooney · 6. Scott Hill · 7. Brett Kimmorley · 8. Shane Webcke · 9. Danny Buderus (c) · 10. Petero Civoniceva · 11. Craig Fitzgibbon · 12. Nathan Hindmarsh · 13. Tonie Carroll
Interchange: 14. Craig Wing · 15. Andrew Ryan · 16. Willie Mason · 17. Mark O'Meley
Coach: Wayne Bennett


20 November
Great Britain 26–24 New Zealand
Tries:
Keith Senior
Brian Carney (2)
Andy Farrell
Paul Johnson
Goals:
Andy Farrell (3/5)
ReportTries:
Vinnie Anderson
Nigel Vagana
Alex Chan
Shontayne Hape
Goals:
Brent Webb (4/5)
KC Stadium, Hull
Attendance: 23,377 [1]
Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)


GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Stuart Reardon · 6. Iestyn Harris · 7. Danny McGuire · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Matt Diskin · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Gareth Ellis · 12. Andy Farrell (c) · 13. Sean O'Loughlin
Interchange: 14. Mickey Higham · 15. Chev Walker · 16. Paul Johnson · 17. Danny Ward
Coach: Brian Noble

NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Francis Meli · 3. Nigel Vagana · 4. Clinton Toopi · 5. Shontayne Hape · 6. Vinnie Anderson · 7. Thomas Leuluai · 8. Jason Cayless · 13. Louis Anderson · 10. Paul Rauhihi (c) · 11. Logan Swann · 12. Ali Lauiti'iti · 17. Wairangi Koopu
Interchange: 9. Dene Halatau · 15. Roy Asotasi · 16. Nathan Cayless · 19. Alex Chan
Coach: Daniel Anderson

Tournament standings

TeamPlayedWonDrewLostForAgainstDifferencePoints
 Great Britain43018060+206
 Australia42117260+125
 New Zealand40136495−321

Final

27 November
Great Britain  4–44  Australia
Tries:
Stuart Reardon




Goals:
Andy Farrell (0/1)
Report
Tries:
Anthony Minichiello (2)
Willie Tonga (2)
Matt Sing
Darren Lockyer
Willie Mason
Goals:
Darren Lockyer (6/6)
Craig Fitzgibbon (2/2)
Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 39,120[3]
Referee: Russell Smith (England)
Player of the Match: Darren Lockyer (Australia)
Great Britain Position Australia
Paul WellensFBAnthony Minichiello
Brian CarneyWGLuke Rooney
Martin GleesonCEShaun Berrigan
Keith SeniorCEWillie Tonga
Stuart ReardonWGMatt Sing
Iestyn HarrisFEDarren Lockyer (c)
Sean LongHBBrett Kimmorley
Stuart FieldenPRShane Webcke
Terry NewtonHKDanny Buderus
Adrian MorleyPRPetero Civoniceva
Jamie PeacockSRAndrew Ryan
Andy Farrell (c)SRNathan Hindmarsh
Paul SculthorpeLFTonie Carroll
Danny McGuireInt.Craig Wing
Paul JohnsonInt.Mark O'Meley
Ryan BaileyInt.Craig Fitzgibbon
Sean O'LoughlinInt.Willie Mason
Brian NobleCoachWayne Bennett

Player statistics

Non-series Tests

During the series, Australia and New Zealand both played an additional test match against France.

2004-11-12
France 20–24 New Zealand
Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 8000

2004-11-21
France 30–52 Australia
Stade Ernest Wellon, Toulouse
Attendance: 10,000

Additional Matches

A one-off match was also played between an ANZAC side made up of touring Australian and New Zealand players and a Cumbria side.[4][5][6]

2004-10-27
Cumbria 12–64ANZAC Combination
Derwent Park, Workington
Attendance: 4,203

On their way back to Australia just four days after the Tri-Nations Final, the Kangaroos played a match, known as the Liberty Bell Cup against the USA at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Played in quarters instead of halves, and on a synthetic field that was the size of a Grid iron field, the American's shocked the Australians by racing to an 18–0 lead nearing half time and actually went into the long break with a 24–6 lead. They managed to keep their lead until late in the game when the fitness of the Australians, who had bombed numerous try scoring opportunities through the game, told and the Kangaroos overhauled the home team to win 36–24.[7]

2004-12-1
United States 24–36 Australia
Franklin Field, Philadelphia
Attendance: N/A

References

  1. "Tri-Nations 2004". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
  2. "Gillette extend rugby ties". SportBusiness. 2004-09-03. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  3. Hughes, Ed (28 November 2004). "Great Britain 4 Australia 44: Kangaroos crush Lions' pride". The Sunday Times. UK: Times Newspapers. p. 2. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  4. Three-Try Heroes Whitehaven News, 29 October 2004. Accessed 2009-08-14. Archived 2009-08-16.
  5. Fans to meet Anzacs players Allerdale Borough Council, 6 October 2004. Accessed 2009-08-14. Archived 2009-08-16.
  6. Kimmorley to captain Anzac team AAP, 26 October 2004
  7. USA vs Australia 1st half
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