International RL Blog

7th November 2003     Great Britain  18  v  Australia  22     Wigan Adrian Morley had a reputation as the best forward in the world and he had played a big part for the Sydney Roosters in their drive to consecutive NRL Grand Finals. He was expected to continue in this vein for the GB Lions but to the home supporter’s dismay he was sent off by referee Steve Ganson after only twelve seconds of the first match at  Wigan . The performance that followed from the twelve remaining GB players was top class. Phil Bailey and Trent Waterhouse scored tries for the Kangaroos and Brian Carney replied for the Lions to give them an 8-4 half time lead. A Keith Senior try and two Sean Long goals gave GB a 12-8 lead before a Craig Gower try and a brilliant conversion by Craig Fitzgibbon from the touchline put Australia ahead but another Brian Carney try put the twelve man Lions 18-14 in front with less than ten minutes to go. Australia e...

July 1992           Australia    10 v Great Britain    33                                      Melbourne After losing the first test 22-6 in  Sydney  and with injuries to key players Ellery Hanley and Andy Gregory The Lions were not given much chance. They chose an all  Wigan  pack and Shaun Edwards came in at half back for his first match against  Australia Despite their injuries and the poor weather, The Lions raced into a 22-0 lead with tries from Clark, Newlove and Schofield. The expected Kangaroo comeback saw tries from Lindner and Johns but the Lions pack held firm giving Graham Steadman and Martin Offiah the opportunity to score great tries. They lost the decider 16-10 but the glorious night in  Melbour...

November 10th 1990      Great Britain    10    Australia  14                 Manchester The Lions won the first test 19-12 at Wembley to end  Australia ’s unbroken run of consecutive victories stretching back two tours. With injuries to key Australian players Bradley Clyde and Brad Fittler the Lions entered the second test with their best chance in twenty years to regain the Ashes. The Kangaroos led 4-2 at half time following a Dale Shearer try with Paul Eastwood replying for the Lions with a penalty.  Dixon  scored for GB shortly after the break and they held onto this 6-4 lead until Cliff Lyon scored a great try with twelve minutes to go. The Kanagaroos led 10-6 and were controlling the game until a Ricky Stuart pass to Dale Shearer was intercepted by substitute Paul Loughlin who raced the length of the field to score. It was 10-10 with a kick to come ...

14 th  July 1962                Australia    18    v    Great Britain  17       Sydney “1962 was a great side. Even the Australians said it was the best side for years. We wrapped up the Ashes in the second test at Brisbane with a 17-10 win despite losing Alex Murphy early on which was a blow but Poynton came on and did very well. In the third, we were robbed. We were 17-11 up and had Mick Sullivan and Derek Turner sent off. We were penalised under the posts for 17-13 then they went in at the corner and converted to win by a point and the game didn’t even kick off again. We would have been the only ever side to win a series 3-0 in Australia. However, that tour was the highlight of my career. To captain an Ashes winning side down under was fantastic.”   – Great Britain captain Eric Ashton. It was payback time as Australian referee Darcy Lawler...