The 1974 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 15th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1974. A total of 28 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and New Zealand respectively.
Touring squad
In March 1974, a 26-man squad was selected for the tour, with Chris Hesketh appointed as captain.[1]
During an injury crisis while in New Zealand, tour coach Jim Challinor was forced to come out of retirement just 6 days after turning 40. Although he scored a try in the game against South Island in Greymouth, he suffered an injury during the game that would ultimately result in the loss of a kidney.
Forward John Gray would cause a sensation in Australia and New Zealand with his goal kicking. To that point in rugby league's history, goal kicking was generally the, now known to be less accurate, front-on toe poking style of kick. Gray was the first around the corner kicker seen in Australia. He explained that it was easy to do as it was no different to kicking a soccer ball. Despite being more accurate, the style which is the standard in 2024 took its time to take hold in Australia and although there were around the corner kickers like Ross Conlon and dual rugby international Michael O'Connor in the 1980s, the style didn't really take off until the 1990s thanks to the accuracy of New Zealand kickers such as Matthew Ridge and Daryl Halligan as well as top line Rugby Union kickers such as Grant Fox (All Blacks) and Michael Lynagh (Australia). Gray would go on to play for both North Sydney and Manly-Warringah in the Sydney Premiership during the mid-late 1970s.
Darwin Firsts: Evan Hooper, Bruce Spencer, Glen Birch, Warwick Carroll, Des Williams, John Grunnett, Lionel Tewes, Jim Lund, Rod Connelly, Dennis Denmeade, Huri Tukukino, Kerry Gardiner, Dennis Postens. Reserves – Eddie Fry, Dennis McDowell, Noel Theodore, Kevin Jurek. Coach – Ron Nobbs
North Queensland: Frank Daisy, Doug Muir, McMillan, Wayne Bullock, Somerville, G. Bevan, Cowell, D. Whiting, Ron Workman (c), Laurie Irvin, Shields, Peter Luppi, Wilson. Reserves – Wooley. Coach –
Central Queensland: John Pollock, Les Williams, John Paap, Ron Milne, Morgan, Alan Hardisty (c), Clayton Dunman, Col McCullum, Rob Harris, Tony Arnold, Mike Pannowitz, Rob Kerr, Tony Perkins,. Reserves – Anthony Hall. Coach –
Eskdale Park, Maryborough Attendance: 3,200 Referee: Sid Volling
Wide Bay: Bangle, Greg Heading, Irvine, Philip Braithwaite, Liam Duggan, Ward, Stephenson, Gary Pearson, Kevin Poulter, Noel Cavanagh (c), Tom Duggan, Doug Plastow, Kim McKenna. Reserves – Des Smith, Frank Paulger, Kevin Harkin, Deepler. Coach –
Ipswich Firsts: Brian Sheraton, Mike Green, John White (c), Richard Wilkie, Alan Coles, Brian Scott, Ross O'May, Peter Simpson, Peter Hyland, Daryl Harrower, Ian Hoffman, John Smith, Tom Browne. Reserves – Len Chemello, Raven. Coach –
Toowoomba: Pat McCarthy (c), Russell Bliss, Terry Arnold, Alan Smith, Greg Scholl, Tyran Andrews, Wayne Lindenberg, Tony Brunner, Dan Delaney, Bob Coster, Steve McCosker, Greg Platz, Graham McCulloch. Reserves – Ron Lindenberg, Rohan Hancock. Coach –
McKittrick Park, Grafton Attendance: 3,460 Referee: Tom Gustard
North Coast: Michael Ross, Mark Hogan, Mick Ryan, Dick Ensby, Des Anderson, Bob McDermott, John Kelly, Ken Johnston, Errol Ruprecht, Ray Webb, Danny Morton, Steve Hage, Barry Bryant (c). Reserves – Barry Morrison, Warren Thompson. Coach – Ron Boden
Northern Division: Phil Harris, Bill Russell, Ashley Barnett, Gary Sampson, Gary Lingwood, Ron Starr, Ray Stewart, John Donnelly, Ray Lanesbury, Paul Hassab (c), J. Scott, Ken Orr, Geoff Sheedy. Reserves – Wayne Hetherington, John Lennan. Coach – Don Adams
Wade Park, Orange Attendance: 6,238 Referee: Kevin Honeybrook
Western Division: Paul Sams, D. Kent, Peter Walkom, Ron McDonald, Norm Armstrong, Paul Dowling, Robbie Pilon, David Ritchie, Billy Rose, Greg Fearnley, Terry Ellery, Nelson Smith, D. Ross. Reserves – I. Toohey, Peter Frew. Coach – Johnny King
In a virtual repeat of the 2nd Ashes Test on the 1973 Kangaroo tour, Graeme Langlands was forced to coach from the sidelines due to injury with Manly-Warringah's goal-kicking fullback Graham Eadie selected as his replacement. And like that day almost 8 months earlier in Leeds, it was the visitors who would level the series with Great Britain scoring a 16–11 win in front of 48,008 fans in Sydney.
Monaro: Jon Stone, Paul Ryan, Richard Moncrieff, Pat Fairhall, Tim Edwards, John Ballesty, Geoff Noble, Jim Morgan (c), Jamie Jones, Gary Kerr, John Bruce, Brian Bourke, Don McKay. Reserves – Bill Monie, Bob Belford. Coach –
Riverina: John Shea, Graham Saddler, Greg Hamilton, Jim Bonus, Dick Timbs, Bob Priest (c), Bob Adamson, Dave Howell, Mike Johnston, Harry Sanson, John Wright, Neville Wornes, Rob Schultz. Reserves – Norm Geaghan, Neil Scobie. Coach – Graham Kennedy
Newcastle Firsts: Keith Hemsworth, Warren Scotman, Mark Scobie, Kevin Myers, Rod Sneesby, Robbie Wise, Dennis Ward, George Skeers, Norm Henderson, David White, Allan Thomson (c), Jeff Roach, Peter Howlett. Reserves – Greg Owens, Roger Mullard. Coach – Johnny Raper
Southern NSW: Stan Ralph, Steve Maxwell, Michael Farquhar, Michael Cronin (c), Ron Henry, Colin Bagnall, Chris Anderson, Jim Hall, David McKenzie, Phil Flack, Daryl Palmer, Jim Cronin, Trevor Andrews. Reserves – Warwick Randall, Steve McKenzie. Coach – Ray Corkery
North Island: V. Snowball, G. Carlyon, W. Rangi, R. Davies, Kevin Fisher, Harry Waikai, B. Berryman, Bill Raihe (c), Neil Aspin, J. Tuineau, D. Raihe, Graeme West, Paul Ravlich. Reserves – Jim Rutene, Eddie Orchard. Coach –
