1956 New Zealand Māori rugby league tour of Australia

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1956 New Zealand Māori rugby league tour of Australia
ManagerErnie Asher and
Wilf Davies
Coach(es)Travers Hardwick
Tour captain(s)Henry Maxwell
Summary
P W D L
Total
14 06 00 08
Tour chronology
Previous tour by to Australian colours.svg
1956 by New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg to Australian colours.svg
Next tour1957 RLWC in Australian colours.svg
1958 by to Australian colours.svg
by to

The 1956 New Zealand Māori rugby league tour of Australia was the fourth overseas tour by a Māori rugby league team. The previous three tours were also to Australia. There had been tours in both 1908 and 1909 during the code’s formative years. The third tour occurred in 1922.
In the rival code, New Zealand Māori Rugby Union teams had undertaken taken three tours since the conclusion of World War II:— to Fiji in 1948 and 1954, and to Australia in 1949.
In Rugby League, Māori teams had played touring teams in 1946, 1949, 1953, 1954 and 1955.
This Māori tour, which began on August 1, followed a tour by the New Zealand national team which had concluded in early July. Two players, Henry Maxwell and Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray participated in both tours. Simon Yates was on the Māori tour, whilst his brother John Yates had been on the Kiwis tour.
The October 1955 issue of the Rugby League News mentioned the prospect of a Māori tour to Australia.[1] The December 1955 issue included a draft itinerary. [2]


Leadership[]

The Māori team was managed by Ernie Asher who had been a player on the 1908 and 1909 tours, and Wilf Davies. [3]
Travers Hardwick coached the team. Hardwick had toured Australia with the New Zealand national team in 1948 and 1952.
The team was captained by Henry Maxwell, with George Turner serving as vice-captain. [4]

Squad[]

The Rugby League News published a Team Photo, Player Details (Age, Height and Weight) and Pen Portraits of the tourists.

Player Position Age[5] Weight Province
George Bell Centre 26 13. 10 (87) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Andrew Berryman Fullback, Centre 25 13. 2 (83) Balmain colours.svg South Auckland
Jim Cassidy Prop 27 16. 7 (105) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Ted Cook Hooker 24 13. 0 (83) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Darby Diamond Utility Back 27 13. 10 (87) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Joe Gibbons Centre 25 12. 6 (79) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Ron Goodin Fullback 25 13. 0 (83) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Denis Hansen Second-row 22 14. 3 (90)
Arney Hawkes Lock 21 13. 7 (86) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Russell Herawini Five-eighth, Halfback 26 11. 7 (73) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Barry Maddigan Wing 19 12. 3 (78) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Henry Maxwell Prop 24 15. 0 (95) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Hugh McKinnon Wing 20 12. 7 (79) Balmain colours.svg South Auckland
Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray Second-row 24 12. 6 (79) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Bill Paki Lock, Second-row 27 13. 7 (86) Balmain colours.svg South Auckland
Ted Penney Utility Back 23 12. 4 (78) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Vic Pirihi Wing 19 12. 10 (81) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Joe Rātima Prop 28 16. 10 (106) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Kingi Tamati Hooker 22 12. 3 (78) Sunshine Coast Colours.svg Taranaki
Bill Tauru Utility Back 23 13. 6 (85) Wellington colours.svg Wellington
Jack Te Kawa Five-eighth, Halfback 23 12. 8 (80) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
George Turner Utility Back 24 12. 0 (76) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Joe Wright Halfback 28 12. 6 (79) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
Simon Yates Second-row 20 13. 4 (84) Canterbury colours.svg Auckland

Matches[]

August 1 North Coast 8–10 Black V on White.png Māori Kempsey  
Tries: 2
B. Johnson
E. Carney
Goals: 1
J. Daley 		Teams[6]
Report[7] 		Tries: 2
Joe Rātima
Vic Pirihi
Goals: 2
Ron Goodin (2)
Attendance: 7,126
Referee: L. McCrae
Team list:

North Coast: FB: C. Robinson (Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Nambucca), WG: S. Notaris (Upper Clarence), CE: E. Carney (Newcastle colours.svg Wauchope), CE: Ray Lumsden (Urunga), WG: B. Johnson (Coffs), FE: J. Daley (Lismore), HB: O. Steele (Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Nambucca), LK: George Smith (Glenreagh), SR: Arthur Collinson (Port Macquarie), SR: Guy Brazier (Dorrigo), PR: Lloyd Hudson (Australian colours.svg Central Kempsey), HK: Percy Purchase (Kempsey CYM), PR: W. Rann (Richmond), Coach: Des Ponchard (Kempsey CYM).
New Zealand Māori: FB: Ron Goodin, WG: Hugh McKinnon, CE: Andrew Berryman, CE: George Turner, WG: Vic Pirihi, FE: Joe Gibbons, HB: Russell Herawini, LK: Arney Hawkes, SR: Simon Yates, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, PR: Joe Rātima, HK: Kingi Tamati, PR: Henry Maxwell.

August 4 Brisbane St. George colours.svg 32–23 Black V on White.png Māori Brisbane  
Tries:

Goals:

Report[8] Tries:

Goals:

Attendance: 9,756
August 5 Central Queensland Balmain colours.svg 24–38 Black V on White.png Māori Rockhampton  
Tries:

Goals:

Tries:

Goals:

Attendance: 6,000
August 8 Ipswich Ireland colours.svg 21–11 Black V on White.png Māori North Ipswich Reserve  
Tries: 5
Denis Jackwitz (2)
Barry Brennan (2)
Jim Pegg
Goals: 3
Jim Holbeck (3)
Tries: 3
Jack Te Kawa
Jim Cassidy
Hugh McKinnon
Goals: 1
Ted Penney
Attendance: 2,000
Gate: AU£ 370
Referee: Nev Kelly
Team list:

Ipswich: FB: Jim Holbeck (Newcastle colours.svg Booval Swifts), WG: Denis Flannery (Brothers Colours.svg Brothers), CE: Les Duncan (Mackay Cutters colours.svg West End), CE: Barry Brennan (Mackay Cutters colours.svg West End), WG: Jim Pegg (Brothers Colours.svg Brothers), FE: Don Barrett (Newcastle colours.svg Booval Swifts), HB: Des Brown (Parramatta colours.svg Railways), LK: Stan Walker (Newcastle colours.svg Booval Swifts), SR: Jim Breslin (Brothers Colours.svg Brothers), SR: Mick Scully (Mackay Cutters colours.svg West End), PR: Dud Beattie (Parramatta colours.svg Railways), HK: Denis Jackwitz (Parramatta colours.svg Railways), PR: Gary Parcell (Brothers Colours.svg Brothers), Coach: Dan Dempsey (Ipswich Ireland colours.svg).
New Zealand Māori: FB: Andrew Berryman, WG: Hugh McKinnon, CE: Ted Penney, CE: George Turner, WG: Barry Maddigan, FE: Jack Te Kawa, HB: Joe Wright, LK: Bill Paki, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, SR: Simon Yates, PR: Joe Rātima, HK: Ted Cook, PR: Jim Cassidy.

August 11 Wide Bay St. George colours.svg 6–31 Black V on White.png Māori Bundaberg  
Tries:

Goals:

Result[9] Tries:

Goals:

Attendance: 2,630
August 15 Northern Division Balmain colours.svg 17–15 Black V on White.png Māori Armidale  
Tries:

Goals:

Tries:

Goals:

Attendance: 3,000
August 18 Newcastle Newcastle foundation colours.svg 19–15 Black V on White.png Māori Newcastle Sports Ground  
Tries:

Goals:

Report[10] Tries:

Goals:

Attendance: 9,918
August 22 Western Division Australian colours.svg 5–0 Black V on White.png Māori Dubbo  
Tries: 1
Goals: 1
 Tries: 0
Goals: 0
 Attendance: 2,500
Referee: C. Smith
August 26 Southern Division Dora Creek.png 17–16 Black V on White.png Māori Wollongong  
Tries: 3
Ron Smith
Bill Poland
Don Spence
Goals: 4
Darcy Russell (4)
Report[11] Tries: 2
Arney Hawkes
George Turner
Goals: 5
Ron Goodin (5)
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: H. Barwick
Team list:

Southern Division: FB: Darcy Russell (Newcastle colours.svg Wests), WG: Jack Cuneo, CE: Tony Turner, CE: Les Jones (South Sydney colours.svg Jamberoo), WG: Don Spence, FE: K. Keech, HB: Ron Smith, LK: Paul Broughton (South Sydney colours.svg Corrimal), SR: Angus Miller (Western Suburbs colours.svg Berry), SR: Pat Quinn (Great Britain colours.svg Gerringong), PR: Bruce Noble (South Sydney colours.svg Jamberoo), PR: Bill Poland (South Sydney colours.svg Corrimal), HK: Ron Hopper, Coach: Leo Doyle.
New Zealand Māori: FB: Ron Goodin, WG: Barry Maddigan, CE: Andrew Berryman, CE: George Turner, WG: Vic Pirihi, FE: Ted Penney, HB: Joe Wright, LK: Arney Hawkes, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, SR: Simon Yates, PR: Henry Maxwell, HK: Kingi Tamati, PR: Joe Rātima.

August 29 Group 9 21–19 Black V on White.png Māori Young  
Tries:

Goals:

Tries:

Goals:

Attendance: 3,000
Referee: D. Smith
September 2 Metropolis North Sydney colours.svg 20–22 Black V on White.png Māori Sydney Sports Ground  
3pm
 Tries: 4
Ray Ritchie (2)
Norm Strong
Ian Johnston
Goals: 4
Doug Fleming (4)
Program
Report[12] 		Tries: 4
Barry Maddigan (2)
Arney Hawkes
Kingi Tamati
Goals: 5
Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray (5)
Attendance: 13,148
Referee: Col Pearce
Team list:

Metropolis: FB: Doug Fleming (St. George colours.svg St George), WG: Ray Burke (Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta), CE: Merv Lees (St. George colours.svg St George), CE: John Hobbs (Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly), WG: Ray Ritchie (Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly), FE: Ian Johnston (Western Suburbs colours.svg Wests), HB: Peter Burke (Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly), LK: Dick See (Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Easts), SR: Jack (Buddy) Bowman (Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury), SR: Henry Holloway (Newtown colours.svg Newtown), PR: Mark Patch (Western Suburbs colours.svg Wests), HK: Norm Strong (North Sydney colours.svg Norths), PR: Roy Fisher (Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta).
Ray Cardilini (North Sydney colours.svg Norths) and Bruce Sullivan (Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Easts) were selected as reserves but did not play.
New Zealand Māori: FB: Andrew Berryman, WG: Hugh McKinnon, CE: George Turner, CE: Joe Gibbons, WG: Barry Maddigan, FE: Jack Te Kawa, HB: Joe Wright, LK: Arney Hawkes, SR: Bill Paki, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, PR: Joe Rātima, HK: Kingi Tamati, PR: Henry Maxwell.

September 6 Monaro Faxcolours.svg 13–67 Black V on White.png Māori Goulburn  
Tries:

Goals:

Team[13] Tries:

Goals:

Attendance: 1,200
Referee: W. Grugan
September 9 Sydney City colours.svg 37–7 Black V on White.png Māori Sydney Sports Ground  
3pm
 Tries: 7
Ray Ritchie
Bob Honeysett
Ray Cardilini
Bernie Purcell
Dick See
Harry Wells
Ian Johnston
Goals: 8
Gordon Clifford (6)
Bernie Purcell (2)
Program Tries: 1
Joe Rātima
Goals: 2
Andrew Berryman (2)
Attendance: 11,619
Referee: Col Pearce
Team list:

Sydney: FB: Gordon Clifford (Newtown colours.svg Newtown), WG: Ray Cardilini (North Sydney colours.svg Norths), CE: Bob Honeysett (South Sydney colours.svg Souths), CE: Harry Wells (Western Suburbs colours.svg Wests), WG: Ray Ritchie (Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly), FE: Ian Johnston (Western Suburbs colours.svg Wests), HB: Col Donohoe (South Sydney colours.svg Souths), LK: Dick See (Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Easts), SR: Bernie Purcell (South Sydney colours.svg Souths), SR: Bruce Sullivan (Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Easts), PR: Don Evenden (North Sydney colours.svg Norths), HK: Norm Strong (North Sydney colours.svg Norths), PR: Les Hampson (Newtown colours.svg Newtown).
John Hobbs (Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly) and Roy Fisher (Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta) were selected as reserves but did not play.
Ernie Hammerton (South Sydney colours.svg Souths) was originally selected but withdrew.
New Zealand Māori: FB: Andrew Berryman, WG: Hugh McKinnon, CE: George Turner, CE: Ron Goodin, WG: Barry Maddigan, FE: Jack Te Kawa, HB: Joe Wright, LK: Arney Hawkes, SR: Bill Paki, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, PR: Joe Rātima, HK: Kingi Tamati, PR: Henry Maxwell.

September 13 Group 20 17–22 Black V on White.png Māori Griffith Ex-Servicemen's Oval  
Tries: 3
Laurie Foley (2)
A. Campbell
Goals: 4
Fred Maxwell (4)
Teams[14]
Report[15] 		Tries: 4
Ted Penney
George Turner
Vic Pirihi
Joe Rātima
Goals: 5
Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray (5)
Attendance: 2,460
Referee: Ray Ward
Team list:

Group 20: FB: Fred Maxwell (Australian colours.svg Narrandera), WG: Laurie Foley (Canterbury colours.svg Yenda), WG: A. Campbell (Wagga Magpies.png Wagga Magpies), CE: Brian Clay (New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Griffith), CE: Peter Payne (New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Griffith), FE: A. Staunton (Wagga Magpies.png Wagga Magpies), HB: D. Tucker (Ireland colours.svg Leeton), LK: Ossie Reberger (Wamoon), SR: B. Elliott (Wagga Magpies.png Wagga Magpies), SR: Keith Kesby (New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Griffith), PR: Keith Jack (Ireland colours.svg Leeton), HK: J. Castles (Wagga Magpies.png Wagga Magpies), PR: Billy Watson (Wamoon).
L. Williams (Wamoon) and L. Grosso (Canterbury colours.svg Yenda) were selected as reserves. George Phillips (Ireland colours.svg Leeton) was not in the selected team but is mentioned as playing in the match report of the local Griffith newspaper, The Area News.
New Zealand Māori: FB: Ron Goodin, WG: Vic Pirihi, WG: Ted Penney, CE: George Turner, CE: George Bell, FE: Russell Herawini, HB: Jack Te Kawa, LK: Bill Paki, SR: Denis Hansen, SR: Mauriohooho (Joe) Murray, PR: Joe Rātima, HK: Ted Cook, PR: Henry Maxwell.

Sources[]

Acronym Item Years Database App Notes
Direct Online Access
RLN Rugby League News 1920-1973 Trove Match Program in Sydney, Team Lists, Team Photos, Articles
RLP Rugby League Project 1907–present RLP Website Tour itinerary.
CQH The Central Queensland Herald 1930-1956 Trove Short match reports.
CT The Canberra Times 1926-1995 Trove Short match reports.
Offline Resources
EECYB E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book 1946-1978 Copies at
State Library of NSW		 Teams and Point Scorers for the two matches in Sydney. 1957 Yearbook covers the 1956 tour.
RRLG Rockhampton Rugby League Gazette 1951-1968 Copies at
State Library of Qld		 Program for matches in Rockhampton. Collection includes club as well as Rockhampton and Central Queensland representative matches.
- Ipswich Versus International Teams[16] 1913-1975 Copies at
SLQ & NLA		 Match Report, Given Names & Club of Ipswich Players
- The Bulimba Cup Era[17] 1925-1972 Copies at
SLQ & NLA		 Clubs of Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane players. This book includes Bulimba Cup match reports and team lists.

References[]

  1. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Maoris After Tours". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 36 No. 34 (1 October 1955)). nla.obj-642190345. Retrieved 16 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
  2. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Māoris Games In Sydney". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 36 No. 36 (1 December 1955)). nla.obj-642195544. Retrieved 16 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
  3. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Wilf Davies Has Fine R.L. Record". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 37 No. 27 (1 September 1956)). nla.obj-760487902. Retrieved 12 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
  4. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Leads Maoris". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 37 No. 27 (1 September 1956)). nla.obj-760487842. Retrieved 16 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
  5. ^ Age as given in the ‘’Rugby League News’’ for the match against Metropolis
  6. ^ "Teams In Big Match". Macleay Argus. 2 Aug 1956. p. 5.
  7. ^ "Māoris Won-Hard Game". Macleay Argus. 2 Aug 1956. p. 5.
  8. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Māori Centre Berryman A Dazzler". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 37 No. 23 (11 August 1956)). nla.obj-760110876. Retrieved 12 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
  9. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Turner Stars For Māoris". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 37 No. 24 (18 August 1956)). nla.obj-760416760. Retrieved 12 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
  10. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Maoris' Brilliant Form At Newcastle". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 37 No. 25 (25 August 1956)). nla.obj-760421295. Retrieved 12 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
  11. ^ Stretch, Roger (27 Aug 1956). "Big League match disappoints - Southern Defeats Māoris". Illawarra Mercury. p. 8.
  12. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Pleaseing Display By Māoris". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 37 No. 28 (8 September 1956)). nla.obj-760498786. Retrieved 12 Feb 2021 – via Trove.
  13. ^ "Canberra League Followers Confident of Win". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 29 Aug 1956. p. 15. Retrieved 7 Feb 2021.
  14. ^ "Big Football Here Tomorrow - 5,000 May Watch Māori Play". The Area News. 12 Sep 1956. p. 1.
  15. ^ "New Zealand Beat Group 20 - Big Crowd Saw the Māori play". The Area News. 14 Sep 1956. p. 1.
  16. ^ Christison, J.E. (2012). Ipswich Versus International Teams. J.E. Christison. ISBN 978-0-98060-74-2-0.
  17. ^ Christison, J.E. (2012). Ipswich Rugby League - The Bulimba Cup Era. J.E. Christison. ISBN 978-0-98060-74-0-6.
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