2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations

Infobox Rugby League Tri-Nations
year = 2006
country =


imagesize = 125x125px
caption =
winners = Australia
count = 3rd
matches = 7
tries = 45
attendance = 180774
top point scorer = flagicon|AUS Johnathan Thurston (32)
top try scorer = flagicon|AUS Greg Inglis (4)

The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the final. Australia were to run out winners in a tight final. The team won in golden point extra time with Darren Lockyer scoring the winning try in the 87th minute.

election controversy

Mt Isa born player Nathan Fien was selected to play for New Zealand in their first match against Great Britain under the "grandparent rule", which allowed a player to represent a nation if he had a grandparent born there. After the match was played it was revealed that it is was great-grandmother, as opposed to his grandmother, that had been born in New Zealand. The Tri-nations subcommittee of the Rugby League International Federation subsequently annulled New Zealand's points for the match, and Fien has been banned from the tournament. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/grannygate-costs-kiwis-dearly/2006/11/02/1162339974136.html]

Results

Tournament matches

rugbybox
date = 2006-10-14 20:00 NZST
home = rl-rt|New Zealand
score = 18–30
away = rl|Australia
homescore = Tries: Nigel Vagana Jerome Ropati Manu Vatuvei Goals: Stacey Jones 3/3
awayscore = Tries: Karmichael Hunt 2 Mark Gasnier Mark O'Meley Greg Inglis Goals: Johnathan Thurston 4/6
stadium = Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
attendance = 20,000 [http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/the-fat-controllers-keep-eyes-trained-on-series-cashflow/2006/10/22/1161455610643.html]
----rugbybox
date = 2006-10-21 20:00 AEST
home = rl-rt|Australia
score = 20–15
away = rl|New Zealand
homescore = Tries: Greg Inglis 2 Mark Gasnier Goals: Johnathan Thurston 4/4
awayscore = Tries: Iosia Soliola 2 Shontayne Hape Goals: Stacey Jones 1/3 Field Goal: Stacey Jones
stadium = Telstra Dome, Melbourne
attendance = 30,732
----rugbybox
date = 2006-10-28 20:00 NZST
home = rl-rt|New Zealand
score = 18–14
away = rl|Great Britain
homescore = Tries: Brent Webb Motu Tony Iosia Soliola Goals: Stacey Jones 3/3
awayscore = Tries: Paul Wellens Gareth Ellis Goals: Sean Long 2/2 Danny McGuire 1/1
stadium = Jade Stadium, Christchurch
attendance = 17,005
:This match was discounted after New Zealand were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player.----rugbybox
date = 2006-11-04 20:00 AEDT
home = rl-rt|Australia
score = 12–23
away = rl|Great Britain
homescore = Tries: Greg Inglis Darren Lockyer Goals: Darren Lockyer 2/2
awayscore = Tries: Paul Wellens Jamie Peacock Lee Gilmour Gareth Raynor Goals: Sean Long 3/5 Field Goal: Sean Long
stadium = Aussie Stadium, Sydney
attendance = 24,953
----rugbybox
date = 2006-11-11 20:00 NZST
home = rl-rt|New Zealand
score = 34–4
away = rl|Great Britain
homescore = Tries: Brent Webb 2 Nigel Vagana Ruben Wiki Nathan Cayless Manu Vatuvei Goals: Stacey Jones 5/6
awayscore = Tries: Gareth Ellis
stadium = Westpac Stadium, Wellington
attendance = 16,401
----rugbybox
date = 2006-11-18 20:00 AEST
home = rl-rt|Australia
score = 33–10
away = rl|Great Britain
homescore = Tries: Darren Lockyer Mark Gasnier Karmichael Hunt Justin Hodges Anthony Tupou Brent Tate Goals: Johnathan Thurston 4/6 Field Goal: Darren Lockyer
awayscore = Tries: Keith Senior Danny McGuire Goals: Paul Wellens 1/1
stadium = Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
attendance = 44,358

Tournament standings

New Zealand

Coach: Brian McClennan (Auckland Lions)

ee also

*Rugby League Tri-Nations
*National Rugby League season 2006
*2006 State of Origin series