1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup Information & 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup Links at HealthHaven.com

1989–1992 World Cup
Number of teams	5
Winner	Australia (7th title)
Matches played	21
Attendance	300,059 (14,289 per match)
Points scored	835 (39.76 per match)
Top scorer	Mal Meninga (70)
Top try scorer	Mal Meninga (7)
	Tournaments < 1985–1988 1995 >

The tenth Rugby League World Cup continued to use the three-year format, stretching to cover the years 1989 to 1992. As with the previous competition teams played each other on a home and away basis. These matches were fitted into the normal international programme of three-match test series between the nations, with a pre-designated match from each series counting as the world cup fixture.

The matches went strictly to form, with Australia undefeated and certain to claim a world cup final berth as early as 1991. France and Papua New Guinea were uncompetitive, leading to a straight fight between New Zealand and Great Britain for the right to meet the Kangaroos in the final. In the event the Lions were able to just edge out the Kiwis on points difference.

The final, at Wembley, was a surprisingly close affair, with Great Britain leading with only 12 minutes to go. The game's only try was then scored by Steve Renouf and Australia were able to claim victory in front of a Rugby League World Cup record crowd of 73,631.

[edit] Tournament results

[edit] 1989

1989-07-23	New Zealand	14–22	Australia	Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 15,000
				Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 15,000

1989-11-11	Great Britain	10–6	New Zealand	Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 20,346
				Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 20,346

1989-12-03	France	0–34	New Zealand	Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne Attendance: 4,208
				Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne Attendance: 4,208

[edit] 1990

1990-06-02	Papua New Guinea	8–40	Great Britain	Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 7,837
				Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 7,837

1990-06-27	Australia	34–2	France	Pioneer Oval, Parkes, New South Wales Attendance: 12,384
				Pioneer Oval, Parkes, New South Wales Attendance: 12,384

1990-07-15	New Zealand	21–18	Great Britain	Addington Showground, Christchurch Attendance: 3,133
				Addington Showground, Christchurch Attendance: 3,133

1990-08-11	Papua New Guinea	10–18	New Zealand	Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 7,837
				Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 7,837

1990-11-24	Great Britain	0–14	Australia	Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 32,500
				Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 32,500

1990-12-09	France	10–34	Australia	Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan Attendance: 3,428
				Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan Attendance: 3,428

[edit] 1991

1991-01-27	France	10–45	Great Britain	Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan Attendance: 3,965
				Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan Attendance: 3,965

1991-06-23	New Zealand	32–10	France	Addington Showground, Christchurch Attendance: 2,000
				Addington Showground, Christchurch Attendance: 2,000

1991-07-07	Papua New Guinea	18–20	France	Danny Leahy Oval, Goroka Attendance: 11,485
				Danny Leahy Oval, Goroka Attendance: 11,485

1991-07-31	Australia	40–12	New Zealand	Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 29,139
				Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 29,139

1991-10-13	Papua New Guinea	6–40	Australia	Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 14,500
				Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby Attendance: 14,500

1991-11-09	Great Britain	56–4	Papua New Guinea	Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 4,193
				Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 4,193

1991-11-24	France	28–14	Papua New Guinea	Carcassonne Attendance: 1,440
				Carcassonne Attendance: 1,440

[edit] 1992

1992-03-07	Great Britain	36–0	France	The Boulevard, Kingston-upon-Hull Attendance: 5,250
				The Boulevard, Kingston-upon-Hull Attendance: 5,250

1992-07-03	Australia	16–10^[1]	Great Britain	Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 32,313
				Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 32,313

1992-07-05	New Zealand	66–10	Papua New Guinea	Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 3,000
				Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 3,000

1992-07-15	Australia	36–14	Papua New Guinea	Townsville Sports Reserve, Townsville, Queensland Attendance: 12,470

[edit] Final standings

Team	Played	Won	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
Australia	8	8	0	236	68	+168	16
Great Britain	8	5	3	221	79	+142	10
New Zealand	8	5	3	197	120	+77	10
France	8	2	6	80	247	−167	4
Papua New Guinea	8	0	8	84	304	−220	0

[edit] Final

AUSTRALIA:
1. Tim Brasher; 2. Willie Carne; 3. Steve Renouf; 4. Mal Meninga (c); 5. Michael Hancock; 6. Brad Fittler; 7. Allan Langer
8. Glenn Lazarus; 9. Steve Walters; 10. Mark Sargent; 11. Paul Sironen; 12. Bob Lindner; 13. Bradley Clyde
Replacements: Chris Johns, John Cartwright, David Gillespie & Kevin Walters
Coach: Bob Fulton

GREAT BRITAIN:
1. Joe Lydon; 2. Alan Hunte; 3. Gary Connolly; 4. Garry Schofield (c); 5. Martin Offiah; 6. Shaun Edwards; 7. Deryck Fox
8. Kevin Ward; 9. Martin Dermott; 10. Andy Platt; 11. Denis Betts; 12. Phil Clarke; 13. Ellery Hanley
Replacements: John Devereux, Alan Tait, Kelvin Skerrett & Richard Eyres
Coach: Mal Reilly

1992-10-24	Australia	10–6^[2]	Great Britain	Wembley Stadium, London Attendance: 73,631 Referee: Dennis Hale
	Try: Renouf^[3] Goals: Meninga (3)		Goals: Fox (3)

The hard-fought final was a one-try affair, with the two teams' kickers called upon to score most of the points. The rain started pouring in the second half and Australia was able to hold Great Britain out and maintain their lead until the final siren.

Australia's World Cup triumph ended a mini-hoodoo for them at London's Wembley Stadium. The Kangaroos left the arena 21-12 losers in 1973 and the 1990 tourists were outplayed by Great Britain 19-12, but when it mattered most this time around Australia proved themselves as worthy World champions to retain the crown they won against New Zealand in 1988.

The match, which was telecast late at night down under, broke Australia's midnight-to-dawn television ratings record which was set the previous year by rugby union's world cup final.^[4]

[edit] References

^ Meninga breaks Britain's resistance (independent.co.uk)
^ Britain's resources sold short - Rugby League World Cup Final (independent.co.uk)
^ Harms, John (2005). The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story. Australia: University of Queensland Press. pp. 88. ISBN 0702235369, 9780702235368. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OFE2EZ7JyEkC&source=gbs_navlinks_s.
^ Oliver, Robin (1992-10-27). "'Roos give 9 early-hours record". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Digital): pp. 6. http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news921027_0088_9090. Retrieved 2009-10-07.

[edit] External links

[0] Meninga breaks Britain's resistance (independent.co.uk)

[1] Britain's resources sold short - Rugby League World Cup Final (independent.co.uk)

[2] Harms, John (2005). The Pearl: Steve Renouf's Story. Australia: University of Queensland Press. pp. 88. ISBN 0702235369, 9780702235368. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OFE2EZ7JyEkC&source=gbs_navlinks_s.

[3] Oliver, Robin (1992-10-27). "'Roos give 9 early-hours record". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Digital): pp. 6. http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news921027_0088_9090. Retrieved 2009-10-07.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Contents