The 1984 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 17th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1984. A total of 24 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and New Zealand respectively, and one Test match against Papua New Guinea.
It was the first tour since 1950 in which Great Britain lost both series against Australia and New Zealand, and the first tour ever where they failed to win a Test against either team. They did however defeat Papua New Guinea in their only Test match.
Touring squad In preparation for the tour, Great Britain coach Frank Myler and tour manager Dick Gemmell invited a squad of 44 players to attend a series of training camps during the summer of 1983. In February 1984, a squad of 41 players was named, which would participate in weekly training sessions at Fartown, Huddersfield. Some clubs were unhappy with being asked to release players during the middle of the season, most notably Widnes, who had 10 players selected for the training squad. Prior to the second Test match against France on 17 February 1984, Widnes refused to make their players available for the training sessions – John Basnett was the only Widnes player who attended. Myler responded by excluding the absent players from Test selection, with Basnett being the only Widnes player named thus far.
Prior to the final squad for the tour being named, a number of players became unavailable for selection for various reasons. Steve Evans was unavailable due to his wedding plans in the summer, while John Woods withdrew due to "family and business commitments". Peter Smith announced he would not be available due to a shoulder injury. David Watkinson was also ruled out due to injury, suffering a broken leg in the first Test match against France. David Hall had recently taken over a public house and asked not to be considered, while John Wood withdrew for family reasons.
A 30-man squad for the tour was selected in April 1984. The squad included 18-year-old Garry Schofield, who became Great Britain's youngest ever tourist. After the squad was named, Len Casey was dropped after receiving a six-month suspension, while Great Britain captain Trevor Skerrett was ruled out due to injury. Wayne Proctor and Chris Arkwright were called up as replacements, and Brian Noble was named as team captain in place of the injured Skerrett. Shortly before the tour departed, Arkwright was withdrawn from the squad on medical advice because of a damaged knee, and was replaced by Terry Flanagan.
Name Position Club Apps Tests Tries Goals Drop goals Points Notes Forward Widnes 16 7 1 0 0 4 Half-back Oldham 7 0 1 0 0 4 Threequarter Widnes 9 0 6 0 0 24 Forward Castleford 11 1 7 0 0 28 Fullback Widnes 15 7 2 36 0 80 Forward Hull Kingston Rovers 12 5 0 0 0 0 Forward Wigan 13 4 1 0 0 4 Threequarter Hull Kingston Rovers 10 0 7 0 0 28 Forward Hull 10 2 1 3 0 10 Threequarter Leigh 11 2 2 0 0 8 Threequarter Leigh 17 7 11 0 0 44 Threequarter Warrington 1 0 0 0 0 0 Forward Oldham 9 2 0 0 0 8 Threequarter Oldham 8 1 5 0 0 20 Forward Oldham 13 7 5 0 0 20 Half-back Widnes 14 4 3 0 1 13 Half-back Bradford Northern 17 7 12 3 0 54 Forward Featherstone Rovers 16 6 2 15 0 38 Half-back St Helens 10 4 3 0 1 13 Threequarter Castleford 11 2 1 0 0 4 Threequarter Widnes 14 4 4 26 0 68 Fullback Bradford Northern 16 7 5 0 0 20 Half-back Widnes 10 5 1 0 0 4 (c) Forward Bradford Northern 14 7 6 0 0 24 Forward Widnes 11 0 0 0 0 0 Forward St Helens 7 0 0 0 0 0 Forward Hull 11 1 6 0 0 24 Forward Leeds 13 2 1 0 0 4 Threequarter Hull 11 4 7 6 0 40 Threequarter Hull Kingston Rovers 11 1 6 0 0 24 Forward Oldham 9 2 1 0 0 4
Results
Australia
Northern Territory: Brian Doyle, Trevor Given, Scott Masterson, Brian Smith, Roy Albion, Steve Larder, Robert Harrison (c), Wayne Brown, Ray Lumby, Mick Jaeger, Noel Simmonds, Bruce McGuire, Kim Blackburn. Reserves – Dave Ryan, Phil Brown, John Adler. Coach – Ernie Wanka.
Great Britain: Keith Mumby, Des Drummond, Ronnie Duane, Ellery Hanley, Des Foy, Steve Donlan, Ray Ashton, Keith Rayne, Brian Noble (c), Andy Goodway, Mick Worrall, David Hobbs, Harry Pinner. Reserves – John Joyner, Neil Holding, Lee Crooks
Riverina: John Maguire, Brian Dennis, Michael Rawiri, John Sellar (c), Brian Costello, Tony Trudgett, Duncan Ward, Noel Hogan, Tony Morgan, Mick Lewis, Michael Scarfone, Graham Stockton, Ron Pilon. Reserves – Cliff Lyons, Trevor Pryce. Coach – Geoff Foster
Great Britain: Mick Burke, Garry Clark, Joe Lydon, Ellery Hanley, Garry Schofield, Mike Smith, Andy Gregory, Brian Case, Kevin Beardmore, Lee Crooks, Terry Flanagan, Andy Goodway, Mick Adams (c). Reserves – Neil Holding, Chris Burton
North Coast: Andy Mulvany, Wayne Buckley, Chris Cordner, Gary Night, Greg Davis, Rocky Laurie (c), Tony Hinton, Matt Welsh, Andrew Key, Daryl Warwick, Terry Corfe, Mark Hurrell, Glen Anderson. Reserves – Steve Foley, Jim Coombes, Richard Laurie, Maurie Kelly. Coach – Kevin Hardy
Great Britain: Keith Mumby, Des Drummond, Joe Lydon, John Joyner, Garry Clark, Steve Donlan, Neil Holding, Keith Rayne, Brian Noble (c), Mike O'Neill, Wayne Proctor, Mick Worrall, Mick Adams. Reserves – Ray Ashton, David Hobbs, Chris Burton
Western Division: Marty Gordon, Les Haynes, Mark Smith, Ray Spurr, Wilfred Williams, Steve McWhirter (c), Lee Douglas, Colin Wright, Ian Jackson, Alan McPhail, Brad Jayett, Steve Miller, Mark Horton. Reserves – Neil Moy, Ken Fisher. Coach – Ted Goodwin
Great Britain: Mick Burke, Des Drummond, Joe Lydon, Keith Mumby, Des Foy, Tony Myler, Ray Ashton, Keith Rayne, Brian Noble (c), Lee Crooks, Chris Burton, Andy Goodway, Harry Pinner. Reserves – Garry Schofield, David Hobbs
North Sydney: Wayne Portlock, Alan Sheppard, Neigel Tait, Simon Brockwell, Andrew Simons, Wayne Lonergan, Laurie Spina, Lindsay Johnson, Phil Ritchie, Don McKinnon, Bob Cooper, Peter Cross, Graeme Jennings (c). Reserves – Stephen Casey, Chris Luckman, Errol Hillier. Coach – John Hayes
Great Britain: Mick Burke, Garry Clark, Garry Schofield, Keith Mumby, Des Foy, Steve Donlan, Andy Gregory, Keith Rayne, Kevin Beardmore, Lee Crooks, David Hobbs, Andy Goodway, Mick Adams (c). Reserves – Mick Worrall, Brian Case
Newcastle Firsts: Neville Elwin, Mark Bates, Kyle Connor, Craig Dedman, Glenn Murray, Greg Eager, Craig Higgins, Milton Burrows, Rex Wright, John Farrar, Mal Graham, Michael Pitman, Gary Martine (c). Reserves – Robert Taylor, Peter Garbutt. Coach – Terry Pannowitz
Great Britain: Mick Burke, Garry Clark, Ellery Hanley, Mike Smith, John Basnett, Garry Schofield, Neil Holding, Mike O'Neill, Brian Noble (c), Lee Crooks, David Hobbs, Mick Worrall, Terry Flanagan. Reserves – Joe Lydon, Harry Pinner
First Test Wally Lewis won a well publicised power struggle between the NSW Rugby League and their Queensland Rugby League counterparts for the vacated Australian captaincy. NSW wanted their captain Ray Price to have the Australian captaincy as he was retiring from representative football at the end of the series. Queensland naturally went for their State of Origin captain Lewis. With the 1986 Kangaroo Tour only just over 2 years away, the Australian Rugby League settled the issue by naming Lewis as the 12th Queenslander to captain Australia.
In scene's of poor sportsmanship, some elements of the 30,190 SCG crowd actually booed Wally Lewis when he was announced as he ran onto the field. With Queensland having dominated state football during the early 1980s, their captain and Kingpin Lewis was seen as the enemy to the Sydney crowds, even when wearing the Australian team colours.
AustraliaPositionGreat BritainGarry JackFBMick BurkeRoss ConlonWGDes DrummondGene MilesCEGarry SchofieldBrett KennyCEKeith MumbyKerry BousteadWGEllery HanleyWally Lewis (c)FE/SODes FoyMark MurrayHB/SHNeil HoldingDave BrownPRAndy GoodwayGreg ConescuHKBrian Noble (c)Greg DowlingPRLee CrooksBryan NieblingSRChris BurtonWayne PearceSRMick WorrallRay PriceLK/LFMick AdamsCraig YoungInt.Joe LydonChris CloseInt.David HobbsFrank StantonCoachFrank Myler
With less than 5 seconds remaining in the test, reserve Lions forward David Hobbs was sent off for a sickening hit on Australian hooker Greg Conescu. Television replays showed Conescu running from dummy half before Hobbs hit him with a raised elbow, hitting him in the mouth and resulting in the loss of some of his top teeth. Conescu was stretchered from the field and was still in the hands of the Australian team Dr. Bill Monoghan when local TV broadcaster Channel 9's Darrell Eastlake did his post match interview inside the SCG change rooms with the player of the match, new Australian captain Wally Lewis.
Hobbs had only been on the field for 8 minutes before his send-off.1984 Ashes 1st test highlights
Wide Bay: Gary Birmingham, Les Kiss, Paul Gorman, Mike Curran, Neville King, Jim Browning, Ray Ovens, Mike McDougall, David Gerrard, Steve Molineux, Ray Harch, Ray Berkery, Ron Slater (c). Reserves – Noel Glazier, Bill Dansey. Coach – John Reddy
Great Britain: Joe Lydon, Garry Clark, Mike Smith, Ellery Hanley, John Basnett, John Joyner (c), Andy Gregory, Mike O'Neill, Kevin Beardmore, Brian Case, Wayne Proctor, Terry Flanagan, Harry Pinner. Reserves – Tony Myler, Mick Worrall
Central Queensland: Shane Tupaea, Warren McLaughlin, Andrew McDonald, Russell Miller, Mike Curran, Jamie Jansen, Geoff Hunt, David Day, Craig Taylor, Peter Blackadder, Steve George, Michael Anderson, Ian Brazier. Reserves – Peter Golder, Tony Hansan. Coach – Bill Nosworthhy
Great Britain: Mick Burke, Des Drummond, Garry Schofield, Keith Mumby, Ellery Hanley, Tony Myler, Andy Gregory, Keith Rayne, Brian Noble (c), Andy Goodway, Wayne Proctor, Chris Burton, Mick Worrall. Reserves – Ray Ashton, Mick Adams
North Queensland: Rod Brunker, Larry Foran, Harry Deemal, Glen Pengelly, Dale Shearer, Darryl Duncan, Robbie Price, Marshall Colwell (c), Frank Baker, Mike Smith, Paul Bleakney, Les Morrissey, Kevin Bocos. Reserves – Bob Keogh, Bruce Barclay. Coach – Will Cordwell
Great Britain: Joe Lydon, Des Drummond, Ellery Hanley, Mike Smith, John Basnett, John Joyner (c), Ray Ashton, Lee Crooks, Kevin Beardmore, Brian Case, Wayne Proctor, Mike O'Neill, Harry Pinner. Reserves – Des Foy, Mick Adams
Toowoomba: Peter Gill, Steve Gibson, Greg Milne, Jeff Coutts, Bryan Tynan, Robbie Tew, Wayne Smith, Peter McKinnon, Paul Fitzgerald, Neil McCullagh, Mark Hohn, Robbert Hanna, Dan Stains. Reserves – Wayne Reis, Graham Smith. Coach – Don Oxenham
Great Britain: Steve Donlan, Garry Clark, Mike Smith, Des Foy, John Basnett, John Joyner (c), Andy Gregory, Mike O'Neill, Kevin Beardmore, Brian Case, Wayne Proctor, David Hobbs, Harry Pinner. Reserves – Ray Ashton, Mick Adams
Second Test Mal Meninga's selection ahead of Brett Kenny and goal kicking Ross Conlon for the test at Lang Park drew criticism from south of the border in Sydney. The future Australian team captain and Rugby League Immortal wasn't in great playing or goal kicking form either for Souths Magpies in the Brisbane premiership or Queensland earlier in the season and it was generally believed that his selection was only to have another Queenslander in the Australian team in Brisbane to draw a bigger crowd.
Meninga would go on to have a strong game in the Green and Gold, scoring a second half try (for which he copped knees in the back from Chris Burton after he scored), although his goal kicking was slightly off only kicking 3/7. This saw him retained for the third Test in Sydney.