The Invincibles (rugby league)

The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 (barring wartime) toured Great Britain, often including France every four years. This touring side (and in recent years all Australian representative sides) are known as the Kangaroos. The 1982 Kangaroos coached by Frank Stanton were the first such side to go through the tour unbeaten in 22 games and have become known as "The Invincibles" .

The 28 players were captained by Max Krilich, with Wally Lewis his deputy. Before flying to England, half the squad went to Perth to play Western Australia, while the other half travelled to Papua New Guinea for a match against the Kumuls.

Once on English soil, controversy surfaced when the incumbent Test halves Steve Mortimer and Wally Lewis were not chosen for the opening match. Instead, Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny took the field against Hull KR and set about locking up their positions for the First Test.

While Australia's side for the opening Test was built around the new breed of young players such as team Grothe, Pearce, Meninga, Kenny and Sterling, the Brits chose five players who were 30 plus.

Still the homeside did well in the first half and were down by 10-4 at the break. In the 2nd half the Kangaroos unleashed their skills - pace, guile, teamwork and fitness - and blazed six stunning tries to leave the British game stunned (Australia 40 - Britain 4).

Despite ten changes to the Lions' side the 2nd Test was hardly an improvement as the Kangaroos won by 27-6. A measure of the Kangaroos' ability was the fact that they played with only 12 men for over half the match after Boyd was sent off.

With the Ashes decided, the 3rd Test turned out to be a contest - well until the final ten minutes. At that point the Aussies were holding-off Britain by 14-8 and an intense finish loomed. It seemed Britain had not been so far behind Australia's standard after all.

However, Lee Crooks was sent off for fighting and the Kangaroos ripped the home side apart with 4 tries to win by 32-8.

The tourists found the French Tests more of a challenge than the British, but in the end the Kangaroos prevailed and finished their tour unbeaten.

Club Representatives

The touring side was represented by 17 New South Welshman and 11 Queenslanders (Q).

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Max Krilich (captain), Kerry Boustead (Q), John Ribot (Q), Les Boyd, Paul McCabe (Q), Ian Schubert, Ray Brown

Parramatta Eels
Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Steve Ella, Eric Grothe, Sr., Ray Price, John Muggleton

Wynnum-Manly Seagulls
Wally Lewis (vice-captain) (Q), Gene Miles (Q), Rod Morris (Q)

Canterbury Bulldogs
Greg Brentnall, Chris Anderson, Steve Mortimer

Norths Devils
Greg Conescu (Q), Mark Murray (Q)

St George Dragons
Rod Reddy (Q), Craig Young

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Steve Rogers

North Sydney Bears
Don McKinnon

Balmain Tigers
Wayne Pearce

Souths Magpies
Mal Meninga (Q)

Warwick
Rohan Hancock (Q)

External links

* [http://rl1908.com/Kangaroos/1982.htm Tour details from rl1908.com]