1985 1986 Australia v New Zealand Rugby League Tests

[TAMATITAUA]

Man what an awsome aussie side that was,the Greatest Wally lewis in the peak of his powers with kenny and Miles outside him sterling inside Lamb on the bench all that brain power in one team,Pace to burn shearer,o'conner Les kiss Jimmy Jack at the back.The forward pack is one of the best you will ever see. Im a kiwi my idols were Mark Graham,Kurt sorenson and Mr Kevin Tamati.what a mean leader ship group to have.Very tough men just the kiwis were not up to the task.. wow have times changed

[MrTomclarks]

@adayinthelifeagain Thanks so much for this! THESE were the days! Epic battles! King wally!, Clayton Friend, Tamati! Wayne Pearce! GARY JACK! Carlaw park! Just epic! Love it. Oh the Memories!

[daveyork0]

Late late long range dash down the sideline try from John Ribot rescues it and wins the series for Australia. All-said-and-done bottom line: suck it, New Zealand!

ps. music's forgiven only for being from the actual time and place of the action shown (mid-80's Australia). Bring Back Bob Hawke!!

[nzgersfan]

love this vid,back when league was good

[hutuguru81]

@nzgersfan dude you dont think leagues good now? you see that ben barba try? or the lockyer field goal with a shattered cheek? or the state of origin war? were watching an era of super human athletes slamming into each other at speeds that would annihilate you and me.

moi moi vs dave taylor, inglis vs cooper, marshal vs lockyer! rugby league is awesome now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nzgersfan]

@hutuguru81 dont get me wrong mate league is good but the game is watered down now too many rubbish laws destroying the game,lets remember it a contact sport,u get 10 in the bin for pushing opponents these days,and 2 refs in game wtf are these refs too useless to control game on there own

[hutuguru81]

@nzgersfan yeah the biff is gone... but the athleticism of the players nowadays makes up 4 that i think.

[trunksthebadass]

Go the Kiwi's lol!!!

[Pihasanddunes1]

Was Kurt tough? Lol. Shows how determined the Kiwis were back then, being able to upset such a great Oz side a couple of times. Watching these clips makes me shudder. Many that Garry Jack was some player, his presence tipped so many games for Oz, though he didn't get the kudos of other greats such as Lewis or Kenny. Always a Kiwis fan, though it was a privilege just to get to play those guys.

[hoODLUmz1982]

that music piss's me off

im only here too watch kevin tamati

idiot made it dumb!!!!

[adayinthelifeagain]

@hoODLUmz1982

Ever heard of the mute button you dumb ass pratt!!!!

[kaezer2]

N#5s A dirty cunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PoonJam100]

hahahaha 0:10 the guy is holding him for the aussie cunt to smack him

[MrDrilla22]

(sigh) Back in the day...

[Vegemite98]

great vid, shit music

[Harnas31]

nice vid

[warkue]

lol camera goes off the fight when dowling starts getting his bell rung, he must have thought tamati was his father the way he beat the shit out of him

[damagehunt]

makes me proud to be a kiwi

[stevvvvveperry]

i loved mark bella wen he was playing for australia, but i hated him wen he was playing for qld.

[Ryzon28]

the third test @ Carlaw Park 18-0 was a monster Clayton friend played a mean match

[brettous]

good to be reminded of how great the game can be ...Olsen,Brett Kenny,Gary Jack and the Wizz awesome,thanks uploader

[3mh97]

this sport is like half fighting sport lol

[blamepower]

brilliant rivalry credit to both sides

[MailManMacc]

This type of footy is the best, NRL and NZRL have now turned to the dark side. Politics have taken control of footy in this past decade.

[ynotnilknarf39]

Australian try at 1:20 was sooo far forward...lol

Old Billy Thompson the ref not afraid to get stuck in either o)

[ynotnilknarf39]

Australian try at 1:20 was sooo far forward...lol

[dengtui]

How about the spear tackle at 4:22...play on. These days you would get 2 weeks. Lol. Brilliant.

[172km]

anybody get the number of headhighs? i got to 608 and lost count... i dont mind the new rules and regs i still love todays game... but you gotta love the old skool stuff as well...

[Pumpalevu]

that was the good old days

[eckythimble]

Kenny was the star of the backs, he had a knack of always turning up exactly where the defenders didn't expect him to be, you can't coach that instinct.

As for the forwards Tunks played a blinder of a series.

[PrivateLeffers]

This is the best thing I have ever watched. I was born in 1990 I wish I was born in 1970 just so I can play like a man.

[dkgoodness]

im a korean teenager, and if i were seen talking about rugby, id probably be killed. but i dont care, cos this is the shit.

[CobdenPride4]

@dkgoodness Why would you be killed?

[Hamyhillboy]

Some great memories, those were the days..No room for the faint hearted on the paddock back then.Great clip

[HighIQ1]

LoL @ 2:05

[barbenH]

The ball skills of the Aussies was above everyone else in the 80`s. The mini and mod coaching format, introduced to there junior players, where more emphisis was put on "skill level" was now evident.New Zealand did not introduce this till the early 90`s and is now on Par with the Australians.

[Ryzon28]

@barbenH yeah ur right bro the coaching skills at grass roots levels in aussie is daaam amazing we're trying to get there but still a ways off....the only reason we sorta caught up is because a lot of youngsters get snapped up like benji and so many others have and put into those systems maybe a bit late like 13+ but the professionalism of youngsters in aussie is crazy......i "think" its the size of the island boys here many of them now there.....and the cheekiness of the Maori fullars comes out

[Ryzon28]

with a better fundamental understanding of how the game should flow then they add their lil bits on top and you're getting what you're seeing in the NRL and test levels now......only good for the game now all they gotta do is find way to allow players to earn more outside the game cause its making them leave for rugby union and AFL ...peace bro.

[artklaah]

haha this video had to be put together by an aussie.. cheeky stuff at the end with a smack to the head.. :D

[BigKrash]

6:52 that kiwi hooker #9 is hilarious, was that Dean Bell that punched the try scoring bloke at the end?... didn't know the kiwis were such dirty players back in the day, very funny to watch...GO KIWIS!!!

[sushlet]

I love watching handegg videos.

[torekun]

4:22 Sorenson takes a spear tackle like a champ. No crying for mum, get up & play the ball.

[TAMATITAUA]

The 86 aussie side was just brilliant, strike and brain power all over the park, I remember watching them as a teenager thinking man how can anyone stop this juggernaut. A well oiled machine with lots of grunt up front with the likes of tunks and roach banging anyone who came down the middle, Lewis and sterling in the halves 2 well balanced centres kenny and miles who could put their outsides into space and a guy named Terry lamb waiting 2 come off the bench, good to watch man.

[briky7126]

@akshunyob the maroons are the best and thats all that matters nsw get there arses handed to'em how many years was it??

[briky7126]

@akshunyob im afraid akshunyob is right you do sound stupid.

[briky7126]

@akshunyob whats a fucktard? dont you mean retard? which is what you are feel like hitting me?? if i were u illd wanna hit me too, but if i were u i wouldnt fuck with me, shit even i wouldnt fuck with me, ima big motherfucker wanna see some pics? ill send u ones of me nude cuz ur a gay motherfucker arnt u? yeah u like dicks dont you? thort fuk me

[Bundy70]

Sterlo, Lewis, ET what a combination. No time in the past or since has there been a combination as lethal as this. Great era of league that I will never EVER forget.

[briky7126]

@Bundy70 you must be like 100 years old now, old school, short shorts and high sox type shit, mullet and a xxxx in hand, those black and white thongs n shit...thats how i picture you, feel like hitting me?? if i were u illd wanna hit me too ohh yeah forgot to mention you smoke longbeach 40 packs dont ya? or horizons or winny blues..yeh dont lie grandpa ur a bloody OG (original gangter) slang words that came after your time. fuk you must be so old ur wife changing ur nappy or ur grandkids, hit me

[MrGrungeparker]

who was the Aussie #10 he looked pretty useful

[ProtectAus]

Bring back the BIFF!

[SwimFan1986]

@akshunyob theres an intelligent argument. it widely regarded by many experts that wally is the king, and more to the point in now way did i make it a personal attack on you or anyone else, i just stated what is common knowledge, how many people, rugby leaugue experts, player commentaters or even former (nsw) players call andrew johns the king. NO ONE! i dont care if u dont believe just makes you look stupid.

[THEAUSSIECAVEDUDE]

come see some aussie kid that might have a big future on my channell 2011 will be huge so subscribe and see his season on the chnanell

[SwimFan1986]

@akshunyob johns may have had more skills with the ball, but in johns era of football it was a far more common thing to have compared to wally's era, look at what players can do now in comparison to back in the 80's. there is only one king and andrew johns is not it.

[henryporter101]

This has reminded me that Brett Kenny was a brilliant player.Only Wally Lewis could have kept him from wearing the number 6 for a lifetime.

[brokristian]

@henryporter101 Didnt Kenny push Wally to lock for one of those UK tours?

[henryporter101]

@brokristian Lewis was five eighth on the 86 tour,with Miles and Kenny in the centres.Incredibly,Lewis couldn't get into the starting 13 on the 82 tour.Price at lock.Sterling and Kenny at Halves,and Meninga and Steve Rogers in the centres.

[BigKrash]

hahaha the good ole days

[hakaboy6924]

ah brothers will always fight

[COBBADIGGAMATE]

How many cheap shots did the Kiwi's throw in that one?! geez

[Mamawaldi07]

When real men played the game. Have a good biff then have a beer afterwards.

[janson84]

man they were brutal these. They have too many metrosexuals playing the game today.

[mschurbro]

ahhh those were the days....excellent choice of music as well...

[AdrianoBorini]

Whats band sing this music??

[BigKrash]

@AdrianoBorini Midnight Oil, Aussie band

[dylannapa]

hahahah right at the end punch to the face lol

[djackedinc]

Man I'm a kiwi, but boy were we dirty..

[blairomatic]

@djackedinc

I'm Kiwi too and I gotta add 'Whizz' Freeman was one of the dirtiest players I can remember!

[porkerdude]

All sissies these days.

[pittchaser]

Kiwis can never take it when Aussies win! Awesome *games tho

[pittchaser]

Kiwis can never take it when Aussies win! Awesome game tho

[ssrabs]

Great games those against the kiwis they nearly won the the '85 series and lost the '86 series 3-0 but they were all brutal games lovely to watch from the armchair.

[camondjson]

this is even wrost that eua and iraq

[brotsy]

now i have a new before match motivational video.thx

[googleme19802000]

don't spose anyone would have footqage of the 1989 test vs newzealand ?

[Tawhguy]

2:05 the ref fully trips over and slides lol

[damo24now]

that kiwi bloke got dowling with a corker. this is when the kiwi side were at their most domminant in league. cheap shots were part and parcel of the game back than

[NZ1809]

yea ya go the kiwis

[Rogapol]

Fuck see the tackle on Sorenson 4.22, they would have had a life sentence if that happened these days as would have Sorenson's hit on Wally at 3.08. Footy players were smaller back then but gotta say probably tougher

[mccluskey]

the cheapshots were due to the abuse upon players like olsen filipaina and other forms of common assault

[mccluskey]

i always felt kenny was the player of the 80s.

[lorry73]

go the maoris

[hullukyrpa]

lmao@toymit scalp high takles bahahahaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrr­rrrrrr

[eshrecords]

6:31 the kiwi who takes the swings at number 5 gets FUCKED UP

[harryfergus11]

@eshrecords probly coz it 5 on1

[adamonthetube]

Hahah Look at Junior breaking up the fights

[250glebeptrd]

great footage...but what with the dog shit Midnight Oil music????? at least put something decent against the footage..that Garrett what a knob end...double standards!!!!!!!!!

[Toymit]

Shux,some of the tackling was atrocious,calling them head high tackles is generous,more like scalp high.However,league just isnt the same,I liked the game in the 80s to mid 90s,once that Superleague war broke out,it just hasnt been the same.

Bring back the biff!

[kiwiclog]

I recall a week after the game featuring the Tamati vs Dowling biff, the Kangaroos played a demo match against the local club champs in Lower Hutt, Wellington. After the match, me and mate waited for the aussie players to emerge from the dressing room. Sure enough, out walks Greg Dowling and my mate asks for an autograph. When Kevin asks who to, my mate says put Dear Kevin!!!!! It was one of those moments that stay with you for life. Dowlings face was gold!!

[TheMcginnje]

Is thAT PETER TUNKS NUMBER 10? HE WAS ONE OF MY FAVE PROPS FROM THAT ERA- BIG BASTARD WHO RAN BLOODY HARD. remember him charging thru a whole team in one of the old tooheys cup games for souths.

[whysoseriousmayne]

@TheMcginnje whatever his name is, he's a bloody beast!! props back then were animalistic man! Pitty he's an Aussie though lol do you know of other videos of him by any chance?

Cheers mate!

[neckminit]

fuck the lil bitch aussie faggots! thats why we are the world champions! hahahah tamati smashed that lil prick!

[adamonthetube]

@neckminit I bet you live in Australia though like most wanker Kiwis.

[harryfergus11]

@adamonthetube ummm yea, cunt much?

[paulw38aus]

fuck 10 is a tough cunt 16 to

[MrGameRankings]

AT 2:04 WHY THE HELL DID THE REF FALL?

[TheMcginnje]

@MrGameRankings shows what biased pricks the refs were back then, that he was actually blatantly celebrating the aussie try, soccer style .

[lapalad]

@TheMcginnje The refs biased??? One was French and the other English,so who would they be biased to in an Australia v New Zealand game????

[Dragonsfantcam]

i am nsw but wally is just about the greatest there ever was is and will be. definetely up there with johns, gasnier, beetson, raper, meninga etc,

[0nekill0Ff]

solid!

[fakeleft]

youre all missing the fucken point. check out the ref at 2:05

[RUGEDCRIPZTAH]

fuckin aussies

[jarhead7658]

australia and new zealand are the best teams in the world

(league of course)

[blairomatic]

In the first test in 1985 at Lang Park Noel 'Bushranger' Cleal deliberately took out Kiwis captain Mark Graham with a forearm to the head early in the first half.

The highly influential Graham, one of the world's best footballers, was heavily concussed and eventually had to leave the field. This incident definitely affected the final result of the match (26-20 to the Kangaroos).

[weekesy94]

that is so true nowdays people dnt play cause of toes and ilness but in those daysthey played with broken bones HARDN THE FUK UP

[UltimateGuitarist17]

Bring back the biff, it seems nowadays we got poodled haired sissys

[carntspell]

@UltimateGuitarist17 so true. make them all do landscaping or work on construction instead of sipping lattes and wondering which way to style their hair on the big day. They`ll get put in their place real quick. Fair dinkum, the NSW squad is basically a team of mirror gazing, afraid to get hands dirty embarrassments. And those f%$#"ing socks make them look like soccer players. that`s enough, I`m going to bed.

[NiftyDudeifty]

@UltimateGuitarist17 nowadays they cant otherwise they get suspended for some ridiculous amount of bullshit time instead of getting a talking to or sin binned for 10 mins like back then... it ruins the game the new rules and regs

[ovastayah]

great shot there by the baby face assasin.BRENDAN TUUTA..

[kiwi69]

@ovastayah way too early for Brendon Tuuta bro

[nasals]

Sensational footage. I remember Kenny very well, an absolute freak. Jack, O'Connor, Miles and Lewis himself have all at some point rated him the best they've played with.

I think Kenny is not spoken of much because the media focus of that era is practically on Sterling who's role in rep games was not as significant as it was in club games.

I much prefer Kenny to Lewis but I loved watching them play against each other. Lewis deserves his place because he made State of Origin what it was.

[CottingleyB1]

The best Aussie team of the time had to include both Lewis and Kenny and the only way to do this was to put Lewis at No6. As a result you had the best Aussie side possible. Both were absolutely great players and they complemented each other very well. Head to head they had different styles. Lewis's kicking game was better but Kenny was quicker. Personally I prefer Lewis but there's nothing between them really.

[braziliandoc08]

AHAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAH

[weps2206]

hahahah man sum of those cheap shots were blatent as hahahah frikn awesome

[GoDxDeSiGNs]

How many people got tricked by that Decoy at 1:31 lol.

Btw go Kangaroos!!!!!!

[309893]

That "tackle" at 1:05....  well, nuff said!

[2PACIFIC2WARRIOR]

GO NZ =]

[paulgeoffreybrown1]

Thing you don't see in highlight tape like this ....

Brian Niebling and Wayne Pearce putting in 40 tackles each in the losing effort in Auckland. Watching Tunks/Roach/Dowling carry 2-3 defenders every time they touched the ball.

To my mind though, the best player of that era was Pearce. The opposite of flash. But he never gave away a penalty. Was good for 40 tackles and 20 carries a game, and managed (like Ray Price) to always pop up in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time.

[JSparrow275]

I have disagree with you on the best player of that era,but your right! about Pearce and Price, they were both machine!and even the great Wally Lewis would agree that alot of what he achieved internationally was on the back of those work horses that you mention!

[Holden308]

Damn they got away with so much more. If these games were played today half the players would be sent off or on report.

[JSparrow275]

Wally Lewis,as far as I'm concern,is the best player to lace up a pair of footy boots!As a Kiwi,I hated when he played against us. Because he was so dominant,in everything he did,and he had that awe about him when he was playing.I will always remember that origin,(can't recall the date)when Qland were hit with injuries,but they still had Wally Lewis,and he got the ball from 30m out then ran across the field then straighten and carried Garry Jack across the line 4 the match winner.LG LV D KING!

[theborg10]

yeah Bro I was there and saw that we were broken and so was Lowie the coach, we were just sittting a few rows away at carlaw park. But that was awhile ago, we r the champs now lets hope it lasts 4 a while

[Ryzon28]

@theborg10 cuzzie getting that one world cup has created that "core" beast bro look at lil benji up against it fullar loves it lol

[tonytai2017]

@JSparrow275 1989 Game 2 Sydney

[carpusbarsum]

Both great players. Kenny was the most talented though. Thanks for posting this video. Sensational stuff and I'm glad the Kangaroos and Kiwis still have a great rivalry to this day!

[sleman308]

Kiwi Rugby League...it's been based on cheap shots from day one.

[franktoko]

@sleman308 you're a dickhead

[kevin18802000]

The kiwis might have done a lot better if they were not such dirty players

[PaulieNZ1976]

Great Video. 1985 test series was a great series - Blood sweat and tears and a series that the Kiwi's let slip. Olsen Filipaina's bump off's and outplaying Wally. Tamati V Dowling, Ribot last minute try in the 2nd test. I have to laugh at the winger at 6.30 backing off fom Kurt Sorenson and then running throwing punches when 3 Aussie's holding Kurt - Is that Michael O'Connor?. Brett Kenny was outsatnding in "86".

[russelcroweaussieboy]

Wally Lewis was State of Origin. I don't like to admit it being a loyal NSW supporter but back in the 80's he was by far the best player in the world. He was the guy we loved to hate, similar to Andrew Johns or Fred Fittler were to QLD. He won premierships for Valleys in Brisbane, stole so many games from NSW that we should've won and lead Australia with distinction. Wally you bastard, you are the KING!

[prac2]

@russelcroweaussieboy Fittler was amazing. Best of his time IMHO

[CrazyShacklez]

@russelcroweaussieboy

Agree 110%. Wally was the man

[StAllawah]

@russelcroweaussieboy

He won one premiership with Valleys in 1979 and 2 with Wynnum Manly in 1984 and 1986.

[googleme19802000]

@russelcroweaussieboy i liked andrew johns and fitler but benny elias was the nsw player i loved to hate as a kid growing up in queensland

[wcb67]

Saw Wayne Pearce up the gym last week. He is still very fit !

[99whiteman]

wow great vud and really clear pics were did you get it from ???

[QwidgyboMan]

You blokes are deadset kidding yourselves if you think Kenny was better than Lewis.

[KingDan05]

if kenny had a kicking game he would of been way beta then wally

[QwidgyboMan]

PLEASE...

[KingDan05]

wat do u mean PLEASE?

[QwidgyboMan]

That the aforementioned statement was absolute garbage.

[KingDan05]

u no nothing

[QwidgyboMan]

Very persuasive. I won't bother with a person of ignorance, stupidity and judgement.

[KingDan05]

rugby league week interviewed steve ella in the legends column earlier this year nd he said that brett kenny was the best player he played with or against nd that if he could kick he has no doubt that kenny would have been the greatest ever

[QwidgyboMan]

So what? There's plenty of ex-players that would say if Lewis played at Parramatta he in the 80's, he would be the undisputed greatest player of all time.

[KingDan05]

ur comebak is 'so what?' fukn pathetic

[gecko74]

Lewis was a genius player, as was Kenny. Different styles for sure, but both great players. Along with Peter Sterling, they were the great players of the 80's.

[mccluskey]

i always had kenny as tthe better even before Lewis became better known. I thought it was telling that when he was in the NSW side they were unbeatable with many saying queensland were now through. All to kenny ultimately.

[QwidgyboMan]

Do a bit of research you tool. NSW were very much beatable when Kenny played.

[gottabegood1]

I think you may need to do your research my friend.

Kenny played 17 SOO matches, of those 3 were at center and 1 as a replacement. So in 13 matches in going head to head with Wally Lewis at 5/8 he has a record of 8 wins and 5 losses. For some crazy reason they selected him at center on occasions. Now this is not to mention the absurd assistance Wally got from the ref Barry Gommersall. Not to mention Brett Kennys sensational first grade record and in particular big game performances.

[QwidgyboMan]

I need to do research?...lol...

How were they unbeatable when QLD beat them 5 times out of 13?

Apart from that what on earth does NSW' win/loss record have to do with Kenny vs Lewis? Were they the only two playing? I thought RL was a team game. Lewis still won 3 MOTM's to Kenny's 1 going head to head as 5/8ths, which is a hell of a lot more pertinent than win/loss records, douche-bag.

[gottabegood1]

The debate is if Kenny is arguably better than Lewis. Kennys superior State of origin win/loss vs Wally which he always played a major role at 5/8, the fact he won 4 premierships and starred in each one, won challenge cup in England, played 17 tests were he initially superseded Wally, but to accomodate him was again sent to the centres.

I would say that would assist in the argument that Kenny was a superior 5/8th, but most of all I remember both playing and Kenny was superior.

[QwidgyboMan]

Lewis still won 3 motm awards to Kenny's 1. Or is that irrelevant?...lol...

So you start off only using them playing head to head but then submit his entire career. Well shall we do that with the King?

You're making a rod for your own back here and not for the first time I'm afraid.

There is pretty much no one, expert or novice, who thinks Kenny was better than Lewis, except die-hard Eels fans, die-hard Lewis-haters, or the uninformed and ignorant.

[gottabegood1]

It is pretty clear you are a one eyed simpleton, enjoy arguing with yourself.

Cheers.

[QwidgyboMan]

Love the ad hominem - The trademark of a bankrupt debater...lol...You lose.

[KingDan05]

ur a fukhead mate hav u ever played a game of league?

[gecko74]

When you look at the dominance of Queensland in the 80's, there is more than a hint of coincidence in the fact that when Kenny opposed Lewis at 5/8, NSW won more games. The 8-5 win/losses is signifant! As for the 3-1 man of the match award, have a look at the second game in 1985. Kenny was clearly the best player on the field, yet Lewis got the man of the match award. Undoubtedly, Lewis is the King of Origin. Kenny too was a marvel!

[QwidgyboMan]

We wil have to agree to disagree. Lewis was deservedly motm in Game 2 of 85 despite being on the lsoing side afaic.

[gottabegood1]

I enjoyed that, mix of the beauty and the brutal.

tks for the vid.

Again, how Brett Kenny is not talked about as one of the greatest ever, yes arguably a lot better than Wally, is beyond me.

[nasals]

@gottabegood1 I totally agree with you. Kenny was a fantastic player and his greatness has been undermined in the media. But many of the players he played with and against rate him the best which presents a great argument in his favour. Game 2 in 1985 , Kenny got just about every MoM award from the media outlets except for Channel 9. The problem is the SOO concept needed a villain still in 1985 and Wally was still being propped up by Channel 9 and the QRL.