The 1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the eighteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the thirteenth tour to visit Australia. The fifteen-match tour included three Test Matches. The touring team began with a pair of wins but then lost the next two, against Newcastle and the First Test in Sydney. Five strong performances in Queensland followed, with wins by wide margins in high-scoring matches. In contrast, the Second Test was a low-scoring match, Australia winning 8 to 2 to secure their first Trans-Tasman series win since 1935. New Zealand lost the Third Test, and thus the series three-nil, and also the two tour matches that followed.
The team was captained by Tommy Baxter.[1]
The touring team was managed by Ron McGregor.[2]
The Rugby League News published a Team Photo, Player Details (Occupation, Age, Height and Weight) and pen portraits of the tourists: Backs and Forwards which listed their provincial team.
Western NSW: FB: Barry Russell (age 22), WG: William Miller (23) ( Parkes), CE: Ray Quinnell (23), CE: Alex Whitby (23), WG: Joseph Cohen (23), FE: Jack McIntosh (25), HB: William Roberts (26) (Orange), LK: John Gain (23) ( Parkes), SR: Jack Perrin (24) ( Parkes), SR: Patrick Weldon (21) (Orange), PR: Hilton Bonham (20) (Bathurst), HK: John Kelly (24), PR: Laurie Bennett (26) (Lithgow). Ken Van Heekeren (24) and Frank Border (27) were selected as reserves, but did not play. New Zealand: FB: Pat Creedy, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Ron Ackland, CE: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Reese Griffiths, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Jim Riddell, SR: Cliff Johnson, PR: John Bond, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: John Yates.
New South Wales: FB: Ron Willey (age 28) ( Manly), WG: Ross Kite (24) ( St George), CE: Dick Poole (25) ( Newtown), CE: Tony Paskins (27) ( Easts), WG: Don Adams (22) ( Maitland), FE: Graham Laird (22) ( Parramatta), HB: Col Donohoe (26) ( Souths), LK: Peter O'Connor (25) ( Young), SR: Don Schofield (25) ( Cessnock), SR: Henry Holloway (25) ( Newtown), PR: Roy Bull (26) ( Manly), HK: Ken Kearney (30) ( St George), PR: Les Hampson (22) ( Newtown). Bryan Orrock (25) ( St George) and Keith Holman (28) ( Wests) were selected as reserves but did not play. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Bill Sorensen, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Henry Maxwell.
Newcastle: FB: Russ Naughton ( Lakes United), WG: Don Adams ( Maitland), CE: J. Fitzpatrick, CE: Neil McDonnell ( Lakes United), WG: Brian Carlson ( Souths), FE: Warren Foley ( Waratah Mayfield), HB: Bobby Banks ( Waratah Mayfield), LK: Bill Smith ( Waratah Mayfield), SR: Kurri Chapple ( Kurri), SR: Don Schofield ( Cessnock), PR: Doug Hawke ( Norths), HK: Ken Fogarty ( Maitland), PR: Fred Brown ( Maitland). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Gordon Moncur, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Tom Hadfield, WG: Arnold Green, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Pat Creedy, LK: Rex Percy, SR: John Yates, SR: Duncan MacRae, PR: Mauriohooho Murray, HK: John Lasher, PR: Henry Maxwell.
Australia: FB: Ken McCrohon (23) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Don Adams ( Maitland), CE: Alex Watson (23) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), CE: Dick Poole (25) ( Newtown), WG: Ian Moir (24) ( South Sydney), FE: Cyril Connell Jr (26) ( North Rockhampton), HB: Keith Holman (28) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Ian Doyle (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites), SR: Ignatius Tyquin (23) ( South Brisbane), SR: Kel O'Shea (22) ( Western Suburbs), PR: Roy Bull (26) ( Manly-Warringah), HK: Ken Kearney (30) ( St George), PR: Brian Davies (25) ( Brisbane Brothers). Tom Payne (21) ( Toowoomba All Whites) and Don Furner (23) ( Toowoomba Souths) were selected as reserves but did not play. Brian Carlson (23) ( South Newcastle) was selected for this match but withdrew. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Henry Maxwell.
Brisbane: FB: Ken McCrohon ( Wests), WG: B. Pryor ( Souths), CE: J. Mulgrew ( Valleys), CE: Norm Pope ( Valleys), WG: Bill Monkland ( Wests), FE: Norm Reynolds ( Wests), HB: Darcy Ryan ( Wests), LK: John Bruton ( Brothers), SR: J. Duncan ( Brothers), SR: Tom Tyquin ( Souths), PR: Brian. Davies ( Brothers), HK: Alan Hornery ( Wests), PR: Norm McFadden ( Valleys). New Zealand: FB: Pat Creedy, WG: Ron Ackland, CE: Bill Sorensen, CE: Arnold Green, WG: Tom Hadfield, FE: Cyril Eastlake, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: John Yates, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Mauriohooho Murray, HK: John Lasher, PR: John Bond.
Toowoomba: FB: Athol Halpin ( All Whites), WG: Des McGovern (age 28) ( All Whites), CE: Tom Payne (21) ( All Whites), CE: Les Hardy ( Souths), WG: Bob Buckley ( All Whites), FE: H. Walker ( Souths), HB: Sammy Hunter (25) ( Souths), LK: Ian Doyle (24) ( All Whites), SR: Jim Payne (19) ( All Whites), SR: Don Furner (23) ( Souths), PR: Ron Proudfoot (22) ( Newtown), HK: Leo Johnson ( Newtown), PR: Kev Boshammer ( All Whites), Coach: Duncan Thompson (Toowoomba ). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Ron Ackland, CE: Tom Hadfield, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Gordon Moncur, FE: Cyril Eastlake, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: John Yates, PR: Henry Maxwell, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Duncan MacRae.
Queensland: FB: Ken McCrohon (age 23) ( Wests), WG: Des McGovern (28) ( Toowoomba All Whites), CE: Alex Watson (23) ( Wests), CE: Tom Payne (21) ( Toowoomba All Whites), WG: Bob Buckley ( Toowoomba All Whites), FE: Cyril Connell Jr (26) ( North Rockhampton), HB: Sammy Hunter (25) ( Toowoomba Souths), LK: Tom Tyquin (23) ( Souths), SR: Gary Parcell ( Ipswich Brothers), SR: Don Furner (23) ( Toowoomba Souths), PR: Brian Davies (25) ( Brisbane Brothers), HK: Alan Hornery ( Wests), PR: Ron Proudfoot (22) ( Toowoomba Newtown). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Tom Hadfield, CE: Bill Sorensen, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Vern Bakalich, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Jim Riddell, SR: Cliff Johnson, PR: Henry Maxwell, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Duncan MacRae, RF: Mauriohooho Murray, RB: Ron Ackland.
Central Queensland: FB: Ray Robinson ( Railways), WG: Allan Rycen ( Railways), CE: Ray Thomas ( Fitzroys), CE: G. Little ( Brothers), WG: Malcolm Spencer ( Railways), FE: Bob Banks ( Norths), HB: Ken Jenkins ( Norths), LK: Ollie Smith ( Brothers), SR: Nev Callaghan ( Fitzroys), SR: Pat Sear ( Norths), PR: C. Harkin ( Brothers), HK: P. Millroy ( Norths), PR: Brian Cridland ( Norths). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Tom Hadfield, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Reese Griffiths, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Jock Butterfield, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: John Bond, HK: John Lasher, PR: Mauriohooho Murray.
North Queensland: FB: Bevan Hoyle (Townsville), WG: Albert Roberts (Townsville), CE: Len Blaik (Townsville), CE: Ron Tait ( Innisfail), WG: Morry Breen ( Innisfail), FE: Thorpe Scott (Townsville), HB: Ken Woodward (Cairns), LK: Hugh Kelly (age 23) (Cairns), SR: Danny Clifford (Tully), SR: Elton Rasmussen ( Mackay Magpies), PR: John Blankensee (Cairns), HK: Ron Griffiths (Cairns), PR: Ken Herbert (Townsville). New Zealand: FB: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Gordon Moncur, CE: Reese Griffiths, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Arnold Green, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Jock Butterfield, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: John Lasher, PR: Henry Maxwell.
Australia: FB: Gordon Clifford ( Newtown), WG: Don Adams ( Maitland), CE: Dick Poole ( Newtown), CE: Alex Watson ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Des McGovern ( Toowoomba All Whites), FE: Cyril Connell Jr ( North Rockhampton), HB: Keith Holman ( Western Suburbs), LK: Ian Doyle ( Toowoomba All Whites), SR: Tom Tyquin ( South Brisbane), SR: Kel O'Shea ( Western Suburbs), PR: Brian Davies ( Brisbane Brothers), HK: Ken Kearney ( St George), PR: Roy Bull ( Manly-Warringah). New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Cyril Eastlake, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Tom Hadfield, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Henry Maxwell, SR: Cliff Johnson, PR: Jim Riddell, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Duncan MacRae.
Wide Bay: FB: A. Brunkie, WG: L. Kavanagh, CE: W. Beck, CE: P. Clarke, WG: W. Hannen, FE: B. Sherwood, HB: G. Norris, LK: L. Hooper, SR: R. Marles, SR: T. Drysdale, PR: R. King, HK: Keith Weston, PR: M. Ziebath. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Cyril Eastlake, CE: Reese Griffiths, CE: Gordon Moncur, WG: Arnold Green, FE: George Menzies, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Jim Riddell, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: Mauriohooho Murray, HK: John Lasher, PR: John Bond.
Northern NSW: FB: C. Robinson, WG: J. Gurd, CE: R. Lumsden (Urunga), CE: J. Daly, WG: J. Wood, FE: A. Davidson, HB: C. Kelly, LK: G. Smith, SR: Arthur Collinson (Port Macquarie), SR: Guy Brazier (Dorrigo), PR: Lloyd Hudson ( Kempsey), HK: Allan Ferguson ( Armidale), PR: P. Purchase. New Zealand: FB: Gordon Moncur, WG: Arnold Green, CE: Reese Griffiths, CE: Tom Hadfield, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: Bill Sorensen, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: John Bond, SR: Ossie Butt, PR: Henry Maxwell, HK: John Lasher, PR: Mauriohooho Murray.
Australia: FB: Norm Pope (24) ( Brisbane Valleys), WG: Don Adams (22) ( Maitland), CE: Dick Poole (25) ( Newtown), CE: Alex Watson (23) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Des McGovern (28) ( Toowoomba All Whites), FE: Darcy Henry (24) ( Western Suburbs), HB: Keith Holman (28) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Ian Doyle (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites), SR: Tom Tyquin (23) ( South Brisbane), SR: Kel O'Shea (22) ( Western Suburbs), PR: Roy Bull (27) ( Manly-Warringah), HK: Ken Kearney (30) ( St George), PR: Brian Davies (25) ( Brisbane Brothers). Ian Moir (24) ( South Sydney) and Don Furner (23) ( Toowoomba Souths) were selected as reserves, but did not play. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Vern Bakalich, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Cyril Eastlake, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Frank Mulcare, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Henry Maxwell.
Southern Division: FB: Darcy Russell ( Wests), WG: Jack Lumsden, CE: Matt Graham ( Dapto), CE: Les Jones ( Jamberoo), WG: Don Spence, FE: Stuart Chase ( Berry), HB: Mick Brennan, LK: Mat Grenfell ( Wollongong), SR: Angus Miller ( Berry), SR: Pat Quinn ( Gerringong), PR: Bruce Noble ( Jamberoo), HK: Ted Johnson, PR: Bill Poland ( Corrimal), Coach: Leo Doyle. New Zealand: FB: Cyril Eastlake, WG: Gordon Moncur, CE: Arnold Green, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Reese Griffiths, FE: George Menzies, HB: Keith Roberts, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Mauriohooho Murray, SR: John Bond, PR: Ossie Butt, HK: John Lasher, PR: Henry Maxwell.
Southern NSW: FB: J. O'Connell, WG: D. Goldspink, CE: W. Garvin, CE: Brian Clay ( Griffith), WG: Barry Stenhouse, FE: P. Byrne, HB: Doug Cameron ( Young), LK: Peter O'Connor ( Tumbarumba), SR: P. Rankin, SR: Alan Glover, PR: T. McDonald, HK: J. Castles, PR: Ron Crowe, RB: Burns. New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Tom Hadfield, CE: Tommy Baxter, CE: Bill Sorensen, WG: Reese Griffiths, FE: George Menzies, HB: Sel Belsham, LK: Rex Percy, SR: Cliff Johnson, SR: Jim Riddell, PR: Duncan MacRae, HK: Jock Butterfield, PR: Mauriohooho Murray, RB: Arnold Green.
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