2006 (2006) Tri-Nations  ()
Number of teams	3
Host countries	Australia  New Zealand
Winner	Australia (3rd title)
Matches played	7
Attendance	180,774 (25,825 per match)
Tries scored	45 (6.43 per match)
Top scorer	Johnathan Thurston[1] (34)
Top try scorers	Iosia Soliola[1] (4) Greg Inglis (4)
Tournaments  < 2005 2009 >

The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the final. Australia was to run out winners in a tight final. The team won in golden point extra time with Darren Lockyer scoring the winning try in the 87th minute.

Contents 1 The Teams 2 Results 2.1 Tournament matches 2.2 Tournament standings 2.3 Final 2.4 Non-series matches 3 Squads 3.1 Australia 3.2 Great Britain 3.3 New Zealand 4 See also 5 References

[edit] The Teams

Australia: As the best team in the world, Australia started the tournament as heavy favourites despite their loss in the 2005 Tri-Nations final to New Zealand. Australia already had a 50-12 dubbing of the Kiwis in the VB Anzac Test and were looking to gain momentum leading into the world cup in 2008. Additionally, Darren Lockyer was hoping to lead Australia to victory in his first Tri-Nations tournament as captain.

New Zealand: Had previously won the last Tri-Nations series with one of the biggest upsets in the past decade, defeating Australia 24-0 at Leeds. This time for the first time in the history of the tournament, New Zealand were out to defend their title as the Tri-Nations Champions and establish their own form of dominance in the rugby league world. Stace Jones, returned once again as captain to lead the Kiwi assault in their campaign.

Great Britain: The grandslam nations team, known as the "Lions" had being outside favourites in the past 2 tournaments, however always proved tough to beat in the tournament fixtures and this year was looking more promising. With an established squad of senior players and the emergence of younger superstars in Leon Pryce and Rob Burrow, Great Britain had a real chance to clinch the Tri-Nations trophy for the first time in history.

[edit] Results

[edit] Tournament matches

2006-10-14 20:00 NZST	New Zealand	18–30	Australia	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 20,000 [2]
	Tries: Nigel Vagana Jerome Ropati Manu Vatuvei Goals: Stacey Jones 3/3		Tries: Karmichael Hunt 2 Mark Gasnier Mark O'Meley Greg Inglis Goals: Johnathan Thurston 5/6

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2006-10-21 20:00 AEST	Australia	20–15	New Zealand	Telstra Dome, Melbourne Attendance: 30,732
	Tries: Greg Inglis 2 Mark Gasnier Goals: Johnathan Thurston 4/4		Tries: Iosia Soliola 2 Shontayne Hape Goals: Stacey Jones 1/3 Field Goal: Stacey Jones

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2006-10-28 20:00 NZST	New Zealand	18–14	Great Britain	Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 17,005
	Tries: Brent Webb Motu Tony Iosia Soliola Goals: Stacey Jones 3/3		Tries: Paul Wellens Gareth Ellis Goals: Sean Long 2/2 Danny McGuire 1/1

This match was discounted after New Zealand were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player.

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2006-11-04 20:00 AEDT	Australia	12–23	Great Britain	Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 24,953
	Tries: Greg Inglis Darren Lockyer Goals: Darren Lockyer 2/2		Tries: Paul Wellens Jamie Peacock Lee Gilmour Gareth Raynor Goals: Sean Long 3/5 Field Goal: Sean Long

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2006-11-11 20:00 NZST	New Zealand	34–4	Great Britain	Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 16,401
	Tries: Brent Webb 2 Nigel Vagana Ruben Wiki Nathan Cayless Manu Vatuvei Goals: Stacey Jones 5/6		Tries: Gareth Ellis

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2006-11-18 20:00 AEST	Australia	33–10	Great Britain	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 44,358
	Tries: Darren Lockyer Mark Gasnier Karmichael Hunt Justin Hodges Anthony Tupou Brent Tate Goals: Johnathan Thurston 4/6 Field Goal: Darren Lockyer		Tries: Keith Senior Danny McGuire Goals: Paul Wellens 1/1

[edit] Tournament standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
Australia	4	3	0	1	95	66	+29	6
New Zealand	4	2	0	2	85	68	+19	4
Great Britain	4	1	0	3	51	97	−46	21

[edit] Final

2006-11-25 20:00 AEDT	Australia	16–12 (after Golden Point)	New Zealand	Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 27,325
	Tries: Brent Tate Darren Lockyer Goals: Johnathan Thurston 4/4		Tries: Frank Pritchard Iosia Soliola Goals: Stacey Jones 2/4

The second half ended with the scores locked up at 12 all. The match entered golden point extra time, during which time any score would end the match having decided the winner. Golden point extra time was played for a five minute period beginning with a Stacey Jones kick-off for Australia to receive the ball. Both sides had failed attempts at a drop goal, Australia's kicked by Lockyer and charged down by defenders, seconds later as the hooter signalled the end of the first period of extra time, Stacey Jones' attempt was wide of the goal. With no score, the game re-started after the teams had changed ends and continued until one of the teams scored.

In the 87th minute, Australia gained possession of the ball. The Australian captain, Darren Lockyer, finished a runaway move to score a try to give Australia a 16-12 golden-point victory over New Zealand.^[3].

“	Kangaroos' ball twenty metres out from their own line, tackle number two. We play until we get points, there is no stoppage from here on in. We're into the 87th minute of play, Smith with the ball, now for Thurston, dummy, Thurston's through. There's support left and right, Lockyer's on the inside, Lockyer...scores the try. The Golden Boot winner, the Brisbane captain, the Queensland captain, the Australian captain has scored the try to win the Tri-Nations final. What a sensational finish sixteen points to twelve.	”
—Andrew Voss, commentator, Channel 9 (host broadcaster), [4]

2006 Tri-Nations Champions
Australia Third title

[edit] Non-series matches

During the series, Great Britain and New Zealand played additional matches to maintain their level of fitness.[1]

2006-10-20	Newcastle Division	6–40	Great Britain	EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle Attendance: 6235

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2006-11-04	New Zealand Kiwis	34–4	New Zealand Residents	Wingham Park, Greymouth Attendance: 4000

[edit] Squads

[edit] Australia

Coach: Ricky Stuart (Cronulla Sharks)

Club Team	Players
Brisbane Broncos	Shaun Berrigan, Tonie Carroll, Petero Civoniceva, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Darren Lockyer (captain), Brent Tate and Sam Thaiday.
St George Illawarra Dragons	Mark Gasnier and Ben Hornby.
Manly Sea Eagles	Brent Kite.
Sydney Roosters	Anthony Tupou.
St Helens RLFC	Jamie Lyon .
Bulldogs	Willie Mason, Mark O'Meley, Andrew Ryan, and Reni Maitua.
North Queensland Cowboys	Luke O'Donnell, Johnathan Thurston.
Melbourne Storm	Greg Inglis, Matt King, Cameron Smith and Antonio Kaufusi.
Parramatta Eels	Nathan Hindmarsh and Jarryd Hayne.

[edit] Great Britain

Coach: Brian Noble (Wigan Warriors)

Club Team	Players
Leeds Rhinos	Rob Burrow, Gareth Ellis, Danny McGuire, Jamie Peacock (c), Keith Senior
Newcastle Knights	Brian Carney (vc)
St Helens RLFC	Lee Gilmour, Leon Pryce, James Roby, Paul Wellens, Jon Wilkin
Bradford Bulls	Terry Newton
Wigan Warriors	Stuart Fielden, Gareth Hock, Sean O'Loughlin
Warrington Wolves	Martin Gleeson, Paul Wood
Hull FC	Richard Horne, Gareth Raynor, Kirk Yeaman, Gareth Carvell
Sydney Roosters	Adrian Morley
Salford City Reds	Andy Coley
Huddersfield Giants	Martin Aspinwall

[edit] New Zealand

Coach: Brian McClennan (Auckland Lions)

Club Team	Players
Bulldogs	Roy Asotasi
Melbourne Storm	Adam Blair, David Kidwell
St Helens RLFC	Jason Cayless
Parramatta Eels	Nathan Cayless
South Sydney Rabbitohs	David Fa'alogo
New Zealand Warriors	Awen Guttenbeil, Brent Webb, Ruben Wiki (Captain), Epalahame Lauaki, Simon Mannering, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Nathan Fien and Lance Hohaia.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats	David Solomona
Sydney Roosters	Iosia Soliola
Les Catalans	Stacey Jones
Bradford Bulls	Shontayne Hape
Wests Tigers	Dene Halatau
Penrith Panthers	Frank Pritchard, Tony Puletua
Manly Sea Eagles	Steve Matai
Cronulla Sharks	Nigel Vagana
Hull FC	Motu Tony
Brisbane Broncos	Tame Tupou

[edit] See also

• Rugby League Tri-Nations
• National Rugby League season 2006
• 2006 State of Origin series

[edit] References

v • d • e Rugby League Four Nations Teams Australia • New Zealand • England • France • Papua New Guinea Tri-Nations Seasons 1999 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 Four Nations Seasons 2009 • 2010 Squads 1999 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2009 Qualifying 2009 Pacific Cup • 2010 European Cup