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2002 Great Britain women's rugby league tour of Australia

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2002 Great Britain women's rugby league tour of Australia
ManagerAndrew MacDonald and Roland Davis
Coach(es)Jackie Sheldon
Tour captain(s)Brenda Dobek and Lisa McIntosh
Top point scorer(s)Gemma Walsh 26
Top try scorer(s)Teresa Bruce 5
Top test point scorer(s)Sally Milburn 16
Top test try scorer(s)Sally Milburn 4
Summary
P W D L
Total
5 3 0 2
Test match
3 1 0 2
Opponent
P W D L
 Australia
3 1 0 2
Tour chronology
Previous tour1998

The Great Britain women's rugby league tour of Australia was their second tour to Australia, following on from a two to one test series victory in 1996. It was also their third overall, having visited New Zealand in 1998. The tour was the fourth by a national women's rugby league team into Australia, with visits by New Zealand in 1995 and 1999 in addition to Great Britain's 1996 tour. Three of the five matches were full internationals.

Background

[edit]

Great Britain entered into this tour with a record of four wins from five matches against Australia, having won the 1996 three-match series by two to one, and both matches played in the 2000 World Cup.

Australia had played one match since the 2000 World Cup, a loss to New Zealand in Auckland. The team would be selected from small club competitions in two centres – Brisbane and Canberra. The Sydney club competition of the 1990s had collapsed by 2001, with a twelve-team rugby union competition cited as one reason for the decline in playing numbers.[1]

Players from both sides were obligated to self-fund their travel and accommodation expenses for the tour, and several engaged in fund raising activities.[2] Great Britain players were asked to find £1,000 in sponsorship as well as raising or making an individual contribution of £1,300.[3] Collectively, the squad raised over £60,000.[4]

Great Britain squad

[edit]

An extended squad of 34 players met for a training camp on the weekend of 8 and 9 December 2001.[5] The final Great Britain squad of 25 players went into camp prior to departing London on Sunday, 7 July 2002.[6] The team arrived in Sydney on Tuesday, 9 July ahead of their first match, the First Test.[7]

Team leadership

[edit]

Great Britain was led by joint captains Brenda Dobek and Lisa McIntosh, and by coach Jackie Sheldon.[8][9][10] In the absence of the joint-captains in the tour game against Queensland, Gemma Walsh was captain.[11] Support staff included assistant coaches John Mitchell (Bradford Thunderbirds) and Dylan Reynard (Milford Storm), physiotherapist Elaine Kirton (Whitehaven), and managers Andrew McDonald (Keighley Albion Cats) and Roland Davis.[5]

Player’s tour record

[edit]
J# Player Position(s) Club H# Test Matches Tour Matches
Debut M T G D P M T G D P
23 Samantha Bailey Loose forward Sheffield 40 2000 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 12
11 Jane Banks Second-row Bradford Thunderbirds 17 1998 3 1 0 0 4 3 1 0 0 4
19 Nicola Benstead Wing Hull Dockers 53 2003 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 4
1 Teresa Bruce Fullback, Wing, Second-row Bradford Thunderbirds 27 1998 3 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 20
15 Sue Cochrane Prop Wakefield Townville Panthers 47 2000 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0
6 Brenda Dobek Stand-off Wakefield Townville Panthers 6 1996 3 0 4 1 9 3 0 4 1 9
25 Rebecca Jones Hooker Hillside Hawks 57 2002 2 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 4
18 Alex Knight Second-row Keighley Albion Cats 44 — 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
9 Michelle Land Hooker Wakefield Townville Panthers 9 1996 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 4
21 Paula McCourt Second-row Wakefield Townville Panthers 54 2002 3 1 0 0 4 5 2 0 0 8
8 Lisa McIntosh Prop Bradford Thunderbirds 13 1996 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
4 Sally Milburn Centre Barrow 25 1996 3 4 0 0 16 4 4 0 0 16
16 Nikki O'Donnell Prop Hull Dockers 51 2002 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
17 Natalie Parsons Stand-off Bradford Thunderbirds 52 2003 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 8
5 Chantelle Patrick Wing Bradford Thunderbirds 2 1996 3 1 0 0 4 4 2 0 0 8
10 Nicholette Postlethwaite Prop Wigan 50 2002 3 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 4
3 Donna Prime Wing, Centre Hull Dockers 48 2002 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0
13 Debbie Rice Centre Hull Dockers 41 2000 3 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 4
7 Amy Robinson Scrum-half Hull Dockers 49 2002 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
20 Kirsty Robinson Scrum-half Bradford Thunderbirds 32 1998 2 1 0 0 4 4 4 0 0 16
24 Nicola Simpson Centre Milford Storm 56 2002 1 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 12
12 Rebecca Stevens Second-row Sheffield 33 1998 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0
5 Dannielle Titterington Wing, Hooker Wakefield Townville Panthers 39 2000 3 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 4
14 Gemma Walsh Stand-off Wakefield Townville Panthers 45 2000 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 9 0 26
22 Rachael Wilson Second-row Wakefield Townville Panthers 55 2002 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0

Notes:

  • Great Britain players were assigned a jersey number for the duration of the tour. For example, Paula McCourt appeared in jersey number 21 in the three Tests, as well as the matches against Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
  • The match report for the Queensland game listed 19 players, with six on the interchange bench. The tally of appearances reflects this extension beyond the then standard 17 players.
  • Jane Banks toured Australia in 1996 and played in tour matches, but did not make her Test debut until the 1998 tour of New Zealand.
  • Samantha Brook was selected in the squad but withdrew from the tour due to deep vein thrombosis (DVT).[4]
  • Natalie Parsons, at age 17, was the second youngest member of the squad.[12]

Australia squad

[edit]

The Australian squad was selected after the national championships on the June long weekend. This tournament featured two teams from Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, and despite the lack of a club competition in Sydney, New South Wales.[13][14] Ten members of the Queensland A team were included in the squad, and one member from the Queensland Barbarians team.[14] Three members of the Australian Capital Territory team were selected to in both the Australian squad and to play for NSW in the interstate game, held in Brisbane on 23 June 2002.[15]

Team leadership

[edit]

Australia was led by captain Natalie Dwyer and coach Terry Boland.[13] Karyn Murphy was unavailable to play in the series due to injury, but filled the role of assistant coach.[16] Support staff included manager Jeanette Luker and trainers Tudor Young, Angela Street, and Kate Field.[17]

Player’s test record

[edit]
J# Player Position(s) Club State /
Territory 		H# Test Matches
Debut M T G D P
1 Teresa Anderson Fullback North Aspley Qld 39 1998 3 0 0 0
2 Erin Elliott Wing — Qld 65 2002 3 0 0 0
3, 16 Neena Fraser Centre — Qld 66 2002 2 0 0 0
4 Samantha Ramsamy Centre Toowoomba Qld 60 2001 3 0 0 0
5 Nicole Pollard Wing Gungahlin Bulls ACT 59 2001 2 0 0 0
6 Tracy Bailey Five-eighth North Aspley Qld 63 2002 3 0 0 0
7 Natalie Dwyer Halfback Brothers Ipswich Qld 1 1995 3 3 0 6
8, 15 Katrina Fanning Prop — ACT 6 1995 3 0 0 0
9 Tammy Pohatu Hooker Brothers Ipswich Qld 58 2001 3 0 0 4
10, 15, 8 Melissa Edwards Prop Toowoomba Qld 55 2001 3 1 0 2
11 Loretta O'Neill Second-row Brothers Ipswich Qld 18 1995 3 0 0 12
12 Veronica White Second-row Brothers Ipswich Qld 19 1995 3 0 0 0
13 Tahnee Norris Lock Brothers Ipswich Qld 42 1998 3 0 0 0
14 Rebecca Tavo Centre Toowoomba Qld 68 2002 3 0 0 8
15, 17 Karley Banks Wing, Five-eighth Toowoomba Qld 64 2002 3 0 0 0
16 Tracey Musgrove Toowoomba Qld 67 2002 1 0 0 0
17 Annie Banks Hooker — Qld 54 1999 1 0 0 0
18 Rommillia Emanuel — ACT 5 1995 0 0 0 0
3 Tracey Thompson Centre Brothers Ipswich Qld 46 1999 2 0 0 4
5 Kelly O'Doherty Wing Brothers Ipswich Qld 51 2000 2 0 0 8
10 Debbie Merritt Prop Brothers Ipswich Qld 22 1996 2 0 0 0

Notes:

  • Australia allocated jersey numbers fresh for each Test Match.
  • Members of the Australian squad did not play for Queensland or the ACT against Great Britain.

Results

[edit]
First Test
Sunday, 14 July 2002
Australia  16 — 26  Great Britain
Tries: 3
Tammy Pohatu rugby ball 3'
Loretta O'Neill rugby ball 73'
Rebecca Tavo rugby ball 79'
Goals: 2
Natalie Dwyer 1/1 rugby goalposts icon 5'
Melissa Edwards 1/2 rugby goalposts icon 74'
 1st: 6–14
2nd: 10–12
[8][9]
 Tries: 5
Paula McCourt rugby ball 16'
Jane Banks rugby ball, 20'
Sally Milburn rugby ball 36'
Chantelle Patrick rugby ball 51'
Amy Robinson rugby ball 70'
Goals: 3
Brenda Dobek 3/6 rugby goalposts icon pen 40', 52', 71'
Ringrose Park, Wentworthville, Sydney
Attendance: ≈ 2,100
Referee: Marcus Jennet
Player of the Match: Teresa Bruce (GB) and Veronica White (Aus)[18]
Wednesday, 17 July 2002
Queensland 10 — 52 Great Britain
Tries: 2
rugby ball Tarah Westera', 20'
rugby ball Kellie Batchelor', 42'
Goals: 1
Lisa Elkins
 1st: 4–30
2nd: 6–22
[11]
 Tries: 10
Nicola Simpson 3 rugby ball 28', 64', 70'
Samantha Bailey 2 rugby ball 39', 68'
Rebecca Jones rugby ball 6'
Kirsty Robinson rugby ball 14'
Teresa Bruce rugby ball 34'
Nicola Benstead rugby ball 37'
Michelle Land rugby ball 53'
Goals: 5
Gemma Walsh 3
Natalie Parsons 2
Ipswich Brothers Leagues Club
Attendance: ≈ 1,050
Referee: Eddie Kimmerly
Second Test
Saturday, 20 July 2002
3:30 PM
Australia  14 — 10  Great Britain
Tries: 3
rugby ball Kelly O'Doherty', 14'
rugby ball Loretta O'Neill', 49'
rugby ball Tracey Thompson', 74'
Goals: 1
Natalie Dwyer
 1st: 4–10
2nd: 10–0
[19][20]
 Tries: 2
rugby ball Sally Milburn', 20', 24'
Goals: 1
Brenda Dobek
ANZ Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: ≈ 10,000
(NRL Attendance: 13,009)[21]
Referee: Marilyn McKenna
Touch judges: Alicia Newham, Vicki Café[10]
Player of the Match: Tahnee Norris (Aus) and Sally Milburn (GB)[18]
Tuesday, 23 July 2002
Australian Capital Territory 0 — 72 Great Britain
Tries: nil
Goals: nil
 1st: 0–34
2nd: 0–38
[22][23]
 Tries: 15
Teresa Bruce 4 rugby ball 11', 35', 43', 69'
Kirsty Robinson 2 rugby ball 3', 13'
Gemma Walsh rugby ball 17', 49'
Paula McCourt rugby ball 21'
Chantelle Patrick rugby ball 52'
Samantha Bailey rugby ball 59'
Dannielle Titterington rugby ball 65'
Nicholette Postlethwaite rugby ball 74'
Natalie Parsons rugby ball 77'
Goals: 6
Gemma Walsh 6
Kippax Oval, Canberra
Attendance: ≈ 300
Referee: Chris Knightingale
Third Test
Saturday, 27 July 2002
3:30 PM
Australia  14 — 5  Great Britain
Tries: 3
Loretta O'Neill rugby ball, 11'
Kelly O'Doherty rugby ball 57'
Rebecca Tavo rugby ball 71'
Goals: 1
Natalie Dwyer 1/3 rugby goalposts icon 12'
 1st: 6–5
2nd: 8–0
[24][25]
 Tries: 1
Sally Milburn rugby ball 15'
Goals: nil
Brenda Dobek 0/2
Drop goals: 1
Brenda Dobek 1/2 rugby goalposts icon 5'
Canberra Stadium
Attendance: ≈ 7,500
(NRL Attendance: 8,702)[26]
Referee: Marcus Jennett
Player of the Match: Natalie Dwyer (Aus) and Jane Banks (GB)[18]

Notes:

Players of the series

[edit]

A player of the series award was selected for one player from each side.[18]

  • Natalie Dwyer (Australia)
  • Teresa Bruce (Great Britain)

Sources

[edit]

Sources used to inform the creation of this page were drawn from direct online, indirect online and offline resources.
Resources with direct online access included:

  • NRL articles on Jillaroos history.

Indirect online resources are newspaper and journal content housed on database applications (such as Newsbank and ProQuest) accessed through library eResources. Access may require library membership. As an example, SLNSW eResources requires a membership number, although membership is free to residents of New South Wales. Different titles have different starting dates. Newspaper text content is available in 2002 for all capital city based newspapers in Australia, and many large circulation newspapers in Great Britain. Newspapers that provided some coverage of this tour include:

Offline resources are physical copies of books, journals or microfilm. Items used prior to and during the creation of this page include:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ White, Veronica (2001). "Australian Women's Rugby League Annual Report 2001". 18th Annual Report of the Australian Rugby League. 18. Australian Rugby League: 29.
  2. ^ "In national colours". Cooma Monaro Express. 24 Jul 2002.
  3. ^ "Help us in our World Cup bid - RL women". Yorkshire Evening Post. 7 Jun 2002.
  4. ^ a b Potter, Sarah (6 Jun 2002). "Confident Brook tackles despair head-on - Rugby league". London Times. p. 45.
  5. ^ a b "Rugby League: GB suad at Oakbank". West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Counties Publications. 7 Dec 2001.
  6. ^ Parsons, Mike (4 Jul 2002). "Banks is biting at the bit". Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications.
  7. ^ Lawrenson, David (11 Jul 2002). "Six days to acclimatise". Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications.
  8. ^ a b Davis, Roland (15 July 2002). "Pride of Lionesses". Rugby Leaguer & League Express: 24.
  9. ^ a b Davis, Roland (8 Nov 2023) [2002]. "Pride of Lionesses". facebook. Rugby Leaguer & League Express. Retrieved 12 Jan 2025.
  10. ^ a b c Cadigan, Neil, ed. (18 July 2002). "Curtain Raiser – Women's Test Match – Australia v Great Britain". Big League. 83 (19). Pacific Client Publishing: 27.
  11. ^ a b Davis, Roland (22 July 2002). "Lionesses ease to victory". Rugby Leaguer & League Express: 35.
  12. ^ "Gym fixes it for Natalie's Ashes tour". West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Counties Publications. 22 May 2002.
  13. ^ a b Zalunardo, Paul (11 Jul 2002). "Captaincy role again for Dwyer". Illawarra Mercury. p. 50.
  14. ^ a b "Forward battle". Queensland Times. 17 Jun 2002. p. 35.
  15. ^ Hardy, Karen (12 Jun 2002). "Three ACT women get the nod from selectors". Canberra Times. p. 30.
  16. ^ Hintz, Paddy (20 Jul 2002). "Murphy's Law for rugby league's unluckiest twins". Courier Mail. p. 41.
  17. ^ "Australian Women's Rugby League". Australian Rugby League - 2002 Annual Report. 19: 28.
  18. ^ a b c d Williams, Terry, ed. (8 August 2002). "Academy News - Women's Test Series". Sydney League News. 8 (21): 6.
  19. ^ Davis, Roland (22 July 2002). "Roos bounce back". Rugby Leaguer & League Express: 35.
  20. ^ "Poms pipped". Courier Mail. 21 Jul 2002. p. 130.
  21. ^ a b "2002 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 19 - Brisbane Broncos vs Wests Tigers". Rugby League Project. 20 Jul 2002. Retrieved 27 Feb 2025.
  22. ^ Davis, Roland (29 July 2002). "Canberra take a mauling". Rugby Leaguer & League Express: 34.
  23. ^ "Lionesses roar against totally outclassed ACT". Canberra Times. 25 Jul 2002. p. 20.
  24. ^ Davis, Roland (29 July 2002). "Roos clinch series". Rugby Leaguer & League Express: 34.
  25. ^ de Kroo, Karl (28 Jul 2002). "Australian women win in tight Test". Canberra Times. p. 79.
  26. ^ a b "2002 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 20 - Canberra Raiders vs Warriors". Rugby League Project. 27 Jul 2002. Retrieved 27 Feb 2025.
  27. ^ Cadigan, Neil, ed. (25 July 2002). "Curtain Raiser – Women's Test Match – Australia v Great Britain". Big League. 83 (20). Pacific Client Publishing: 27.
[edit]
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