2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations

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.

Officials

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

• AUS Tim Mander (2 matches)
• ENG Russell Smith (3 matches)
• NZL Glen Black (2 matches)

Venues

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

Final

The tournament final was played in Leeds.

Results

Tournament matches

Vinnie Anderson Louis Anderson Francis Meli Goals: Brent Webb 2/3 Luke Rooney (2) Anthony Minichiello Goals: Darren Lockyer 2/3 |

Luke Rooney Darren Lockyer Willie Tonga Shaun Berrigan Petero Civoniceva Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (3/4) Darren Lockyer (2/2) Shaun Berrigan (1/1) Brent Webb Lesley Vainikolo Vinnie Anderson Goals: Brent Webb (0/3)

Martin Gleeson Brian Carney Goals: Andy Farrell (0/2) Willie Mason Luke Rooney (2) Goals: Brett Kimmorley (0/3)

Terry Newton Stuart Reardon (2) Goals: Andy Farrell (2/2) Iestyn Harris (2/2) Paul Sculthorpe (1/3) Ali Lauiti'iti Sonny Bill Williams Goals: Brent Webb (2/2)

Terry Newton Stuart Reardon Stuart Fielden Keith Senior Goals: Andy Farrell (4/4) Luke Rooney Mark O'Meley Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (1/1) Brett Kimmorley (1/1)

Keith Senior Brian Carney (2) Andy Farrell Paul Johnson Goals: Andy Farrell (3/5) Vinnie Anderson Nigel Vagana Alex Chan Shontayne Hape Goals: Brent Webb (4/5)

Tournament standings

Final

Stuart Reardon

Goals: Andy Farrell (0/1) Anthony Minichiello (2) Willie Tonga (2) Matt Sing Darren Lockyer Willie Mason Goals: Darren Lockyer (6/6) Craig Fitzgibbon (2/2)

Player statistics

Non-series Tests

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

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.

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.

References

References

1. "Tri-Nations 2004". Rugby League Project.
2. (2004-09-03). "Gillette extend rugby ties". SportBusiness.
3. Hughes, Ed. (28 November 2004). "Great Britain 4 Australia 44: Kangaroos crush Lions' pride". Times Newspapers.
4. [http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/1.342066 Three-Try Heroes] ''Whitehaven News'', 29 October 2004. Accessed 2009-08-14. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110807174126/http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/1.342066 Archived] 2009-08-16.
5. [http://www.allerdale.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news/news-releases.aspx?prid=334&period=allnews Fans to meet Anzacs players] ''Allerdale Borough Council'', 6 October 2004. Accessed 2009-08-14. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110613205321/http://www.allerdale.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news/news-releases.aspx?prid=334&period=allnews Archived] 2009-08-16.
6. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7235/is_200410/ai_n29709756/ Kimmorley to captain Anzac team] ''AAP'', 26 October 2004
7. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0uLfihhco8 USA vs Australia 1st half]