2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations

2004 (2004) Tri-Nations ()
2004 Tri-Nations
Number of teams	3
Host country	United Kingdom
Winner	Australia (2nd title)
Matches played	7
Attendance	182,288 (26,041 per match)
Tries scored	47 (6.71 per match)
Top scorer	Darren Lockyer (28)
Top try scorer	Luke Rooney (6)
	Tournaments < 1999 2005 >

The second Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament (known as the Gillette Tri-Nations due to sponsorship^[2]) was contested between 16 October and 27 November of 2004. The format of the competition differed from the previous event in that the teams played each other twice, rather than once, prior to the final.

The tournament final of the tournament was predicted by some to be a close affair, with the British team heralded as slight favourites after finishing at the top of the league table. Instead, it was a one-sided match as Australia produced their best performance of the tournament. The game was effectively over by half-time when Australia led by 38–0.

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.

Team	Nickname	Coach	Captain	RLIF Rank
Australia	The Kangaroos	Wayne Bennett	Darren Lockyer	1
New Zealand	The Kiwis	Daniel Anderson	Ruben Wiki	2
Great Britain	The Lions	Brian Noble	Andy Farrell	3

Officials

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

Tim Mander (2 matches)
Russell Smith (3 matches)
Glen Black (2 matches)

Venues

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

Auckland	London	Manchester
North Harbour Stadium	Loftus Road	City of Manchester Stadium
Capacity: 25,000	Capacity: 18,439	Capacity: 47,726

Huddersfield	Wigan	Hull
Galpharm Stadium	JJB Stadium	KC Stadium
Capacity: 24,500	Capacity: 25,138	Capacity: 25,400

Final

The tournament final was played in Leeds.

Leeds
Elland Road
Capacity: 37,890

Results

Tournament matches

16 October

New Zealand	16–16	Australia
Tries: Vinnie Anderson Louis Anderson Francis Meli Goals: Brent Webb 2/3	Report	Tries: Luke Rooney (2) Anthony Minichiello Goals: Darren Lockyer 2/3

North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 19,118^[1]
Referee: Russel Smith (England)

NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Francis Meli · 3. Nigel Vagana · 4. Paul Whatuira · 5. Matt Utai · 6. Vinnie Anderson · 7. Thomas Leuluai · 8. Jason Cayless · 9. Louis Anderson · 10. Ruben Wiki (c) · 11. Tony Puletua · 12. Joe Galuvao · 13. Sonny Bill Williams
Interchange: 14. Motu Tony · 15. Roy Asotasi · 16. Nathan Cayless · 17. David Kidwell
Coach: Daniel Anderson

AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Luke Rooney · 3. Shaun Berrigan · 4. Willie Tonga · 5. Matt Sing · 6. Darren Lockyer (c) · 7. Craig Gower · 8. Shane Webcke · 9. Danny Buderus · 10. Jason Ryles · 11. Willie Mason · 12. Nathan Hindmarsh · 13. Tonie Carroll
Interchange: 14. Craig Wing · 15. Petero Civoniceva · 16. Ben Kennedy · 17. Andrew Ryan
Coach: Wayne Bennett

23 October

Australia	32–12	New Zealand
Tries: Luke Rooney Darren Lockyer Willie Tonga Shaun Berrigan Petero Civoniceva Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (3/4) Darren Lockyer (2/2) Shaun Berrigan (1/1)	Report	Tries: Brent Webb Lesley Vainikolo Vinnie Anderson Goals: Brent Webb (0/3)

Loftus Road, London
Attendance: 16,725^[1]
Referee: Russel Smith (England)

AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Luke Rooney · 3. Shaun Berrigan · 4. Willie Tonga · 5. Matt Sing · 6. Darren Lockyer (c) · 7. Craig Gower · 8. Shane Webcke · 9. Danny Buderus · 10. Jason Ryles · 11. Craig Fitzgibbon · 12. Nathan Hindmarsh · 13. Tonie Carroll
Interchange: 14. Craig Wing · 15. Petero Civoniceva · 16. Willie Mason · 17. Shaun Timmins
Coach: Wayne Bennett

NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Francis Meli · 3. Nigel Vagana · 4. Paul Whatuira · 5. Lesley Vainikolo · 6. Vinnie Anderson · 7. Thomas Leuluai · 8. Jason Cayless · 9. Louis Anderson · 10. Nathan Cayless · 11. Logan Swann · 12. Ruben Wiki (c) · 13. Sonny Bill Williams
Interchange: 14. Robbie Paul · 15. Roy Asotasi · 16. Paul Rauhihi · 17. David Kidwell
Coach: Daniel Anderson

30 October

Australia	12–8	Great Britain
Tries: Willie Mason Luke Rooney (2) Goals: Brett Kimmorley (0/3)	Report	Tries: Martin Gleeson Brian Carney Goals: Andy Farrell (0/2)

City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
Attendance: 38,572^[1]
Referee: Glen Black (New Zealand)

AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Luke Rooney · 3. Shaun Berrigan · 4. Willie Tonga · 5. Matt Sing · 6. Craig Gower · 7. Brett Kimmorley · 8. Shane Webcke · 9. Danny Buderus (c) · 10. Jason Ryles · 11. Andrew Ryan · 12. Nathan Hindmarsh · 13. Tonie Carroll
Interchange: 14. Craig Wing · 15. Petero Civoniceva · 16. Willie Mason · 17. Shaun Timmins
Coach: Wayne Bennett

GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Stuart Reardon · 6. Paul Sculthorpe · 7. Sean Long · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Terry Newton · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Jamie Peacock · 12. Andy Farrell (c) · 13. Gareth Ellis
Interchange: 14. Chev Walker · 15. Stephen Wild · 16. Ryan Bailey · 17. Danny McGuire
Coach: Brian Noble

6 November

Great Britain	22–12	New Zealand
Tries: Terry Newton Stuart Reardon (2) Goals: Andy Farrell (2/2) Iestyn Harris (2/2) Paul Sculthorpe (1/3)	Report	Tries: Ali Lauiti'iti Sonny Bill Williams Goals: Brent Webb (2/2)

Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 20,372^[1]
Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)

GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Stuart Reardon · 6. Danny McGuire · 7. Sean Long · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Terry Newton · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Jamie Peacock · 12. Andy Farrell (c) · 13. Paul Sculthorpe
Interchange: 14. Gareth Ellis · 15. Ryan Bailey · 16. Paul Johnson · 17. Iestyn Harris
Coach: Brian Noble

NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Francis Meli · 3. Nigel Vagana · 4. Clinton Toopi · 5. Shontayne Hape · 6. Vinnie Anderson · 7. Thomas Leuluai · 8. Jason Cayless · 9. Louis Anderson · 10. Ruben Wiki (c) · 11. Logan Swann · 12. David Kidwell · 13. Sonny Bill Williams
Interchange: 14. Robbie Paul · 15. Nathan Cayless · 16. Paul Rauhihi · 17. Ali Lauiti'iti
Coach: Daniel Anderson

13 November

Great Britain	24–12	Australia
Tries: Terry Newton Stuart Reardon Stuart Fielden Keith Senior Goals: Andy Farrell (4/4)	Report	Tries: Luke Rooney Mark O'Meley Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (1/1) Brett Kimmorley (1/1)

JJB Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 25,004^[1]
Referee: Glen Black (New Zealand)

GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Stuart Reardon · 6. Danny McGuire · 7. Sean Long · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Terry Newton · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Jamie Peacock · 12. Andy Farrell (c) · 13. Paul Sculthorpe
Interchange: 14. Gareth Ellis · 15. Ryan Bailey · 16. Paul Johnson · 17. Iestyn Harris
Coach: Brian Noble

AUSTRALIA
1. Anthony Minichiello · 2. Matt Sing · 3. Shaun Berrigan · 4. Willie Tonga · 5. Luke Rooney · 6. Scott Hill · 7. Brett Kimmorley · 8. Shane Webcke · 9. Danny Buderus (c) · 10. Petero Civoniceva · 11. Craig Fitzgibbon · 12. Nathan Hindmarsh · 13. Tonie Carroll
Interchange: 14. Craig Wing · 15. Andrew Ryan · 16. Willie Mason · 17. Mark O'Meley
Coach: Wayne Bennett

20 November

Great Britain	26–24	New Zealand
Tries: Keith Senior Brian Carney (2) Andy Farrell Paul Johnson Goals: Andy Farrell (3/5)	Report	Tries: Vinnie Anderson Nigel Vagana Alex Chan Shontayne Hape Goals: Brent Webb (4/5)

KC Stadium, Hull
Attendance: 23,377 ^[1]
Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)

GREAT BRITAIN
1. Paul Wellens · 2. Brian Carney · 3. Martin Gleeson · 4. Keith Senior · 5. Stuart Reardon · 6. Iestyn Harris · 7. Danny McGuire · 8. Stuart Fielden · 9. Matt Diskin · 10. Adrian Morley · 11. Gareth Ellis · 12. Andy Farrell (c) · 13. Sean O'Loughlin
Interchange: 14. Mickey Higham · 15. Chev Walker · 16. Paul Johnson · 17. Danny Ward
Coach: Brian Noble

NEW ZEALAND
1. Brent Webb · 2. Francis Meli · 3. Nigel Vagana · 4. Clinton Toopi · 5. Shontayne Hape · 6. Vinnie Anderson · 7. Thomas Leuluai · 8. Jason Cayless · 13. Louis Anderson · 10. Paul Rauhihi (c) · 11. Logan Swann · 12. Ali Lauiti'iti · 17. Wairangi Koopu
Interchange: 9. Dene Halatau · 15. Roy Asotasi · 16. Nathan Cayless · 19. Alex Chan
Coach: Daniel Anderson

Tournament standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
Great Britain	4	3	0	1	80	60	+20	6
Australia	4	2	1	1	72	60	+12	5
New Zealand	4	0	1	3	64	95	−32	1

Final

27 November

Great Britain	4–44	Australia
Tries: Stuart Reardon Goals: Andy Farrell (0/1)	Report	Tries: Anthony Minichiello (2) Willie Tonga (2) Matt Sing Darren Lockyer Willie Mason Goals: Darren Lockyer (6/6) Craig Fitzgibbon (2/2)

Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 39,120^[3]
Referee: Russell Smith (England)
Player of the Match: Darren Lockyer (Australia)

Great Britain	Position	Australia
Paul Wellens	FB	Anthony Minichiello
Brian Carney	WG	Luke Rooney
Martin Gleeson	CE	Shaun Berrigan
Keith Senior	CE	Willie Tonga
Stuart Reardon	WG	Matt Sing
Iestyn Harris	FE	Darren Lockyer (c)
Sean Long	HB	Brett Kimmorley
Stuart Fielden	PR	Shane Webcke
Terry Newton	HK	Danny Buderus
Adrian Morley	PR	Petero Civoniceva
Jamie Peacock	SR	Andrew Ryan
Andy Farrell (c)	SR	Nathan Hindmarsh
Paul Sculthorpe	LF	Tonie Carroll
Danny McGuire	Int.	Craig Wing
Paul Johnson	Int.	Mark O'Meley
Ryan Bailey	Int.	Craig Fitzgibbon
Sean O'Loughlin	Int.	Willie Mason
Brian Noble	Coach	Wayne Bennett

Player statistics

Top point scorers
	Player	Team	T	G	FG	Pts
1	Darren Lockyer	Australia	2	10	0	28
2	Luke Rooney	Australia	6	0	0	24
3	Andy Farrell	Great Britain	1	9	0	22
4	Brent Webb	New Zealand	1	8	0	20
5	Stuart Reardon	Great Britain	4	0	0	16

Top try scorers
	Player	Team	T
1	Luke Rooney	Australia	6
2	Stuart Reardon	Great Britain	4
3	Anthony Minichiello	Australia	3
	Willie Tonga	Australia
	Brian Carney	Great Britain
	Vinnie Anderson	New Zealand

Non-series Tests

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

2004-11-12

France	20–24	New Zealand

Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 8000

2004-11-21

France	30–52	Australia

Stade Ernest Wellon, Toulouse
Attendance: 10,000

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.^[4]^[5]^[6]

2004-10-27

Cumbria	12–64	ANZAC Combination

Derwent Park, Workington
Attendance: 4,203

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.^[7]

2004-12-1

United States	24–36	Australia

Franklin Field, Philadelphia
Attendance: N/A

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Tri-Nations 2004". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
^ "Gillette extend rugby ties". SportBusiness. 2004-09-03. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
^ Hughes, Ed (28 November 2004). "Great Britain 4 Australia 44: Kangaroos crush Lions' pride". The Sunday Times. UK: Times Newspapers. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
^ Three-Try Heroes Whitehaven News, 29 October 2004. Accessed 2009-08-14. Archived 2009-08-16.
^ Fans to meet Anzacs players Allerdale Borough Council, 6 October 2004. Accessed 2009-08-14. Archived 2009-08-16.
^ Kimmorley to captain Anzac team AAP, 26 October 2004
^ USA vs Australia 1st half

External links

2004 Tri-Nations, Information

[RLP2-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Tri-Nations 2004". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2008-12-05.

[SB-gillettesponsor2004-3N-03-09-04-2] "Gillette extend rugby ties". SportBusiness. 2004-09-03. Retrieved 20 November 2009.

[3] Hughes, Ed (28 November 2004). "Great Britain 4 Australia 44: Kangaroos crush Lions' pride". The Sunday Times. UK: Times Newspapers. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.

[4] Three-Try Heroes Whitehaven News, 29 October 2004. Accessed 2009-08-14. Archived 2009-08-16.

[5] Fans to meet Anzacs players Allerdale Borough Council, 6 October 2004. Accessed 2009-08-14. Archived 2009-08-16.

[6] Kimmorley to captain Anzac team AAP, 26 October 2004

[7] USA vs Australia 1st half

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