New Zealand last toured Australia in 1978 while this would be their second trip to Papua New Guinea having played a test against the Kumuls in Port Moresby in 1978.
Squad
The New Zealand squad was chosen from those playing in the NZ, Australia and English competitions. The coach was Cecil Mountford with the captain being Hawera's giant back row forward Graeme West, although North Sydney's Mark Graham would captain the team in the tests against Australia.
The Kiwis were without the services of fiery Cronulla-Sutherland brothers Dane and Kurt Sorensen after the cash strapped Sharks refused to release them for test duty.
In the first game on the Australian leg of the tour, the Kiwis faced an almost test strength Queensland side, losing 31–16 at Lang Park.
First Test
The Australian's escaped with an 11-8 win over New Zealand at Lang Park in Brisbane. The forced retirement due to a chronic knee injury of Canterbury-Bankstown's George Peponis saw Manly-Warringah's Max Krilich named as both Australian hooker and new team captain. Red headed Manly-Warringah and Queensland back rower Paul Vautin made his test debut at lock forward in place of an injured Ray Price. Queensland's Warwick Wattles forward Rohan Hancock made his debut in the second row while both of Australia's reserves, Parramatta Eels back rower John Muggleton and Brisbane Souths heavyweight centre Mal Meninga (who would not get on the field during the game) were also on their test debuts. For New Zealand, Taranaki back rower Bruce Gall was also making his test match debut as was Otahuhu Leopards forward and future New Zealand test captain Hugh McGahan who, like future Australian test captain Meninga, would not get on the field during the game.
English referee Fred Lindop had what the press termed a "Love affair with his whistle" and blew 44 penalties during the game. New Zealand led for most of the game through the boot of Gordon Smith, though with the number of penalties gave Michael Cronin ample opportunity to tie the game at 8-all late in the second half. Only a late John Muggleton try gave the Aussies their win. Of Lindop's 44 penalties, New Zealand won the count 25-19. There were only 7 decisive scrums in the game with Lindop blowing a penalty to end most of them.
Australian debutant second rower Rohan Hancock 's first touch of the ball saw him knocked senseless in a crunching full body tackle by Kiwi hardman prop Kevin Tamati.
Second Test
Australia wrapped up the Trans-Tasman series 2-0 with a 20-2 win over the Kiwis at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Although Ray Price was named as the Man of the Match, the game was a personal triumph for Australian halfback Steve Mortimer who controlled the play and led the Aussies to a 20-2 win.[4]
Giant Queensland centre Mal Meninga, after not being used off the bench in the first test, made his official test debut in this game in place of Steve Rogers who moved to the bench. Meninga had an unhappy game though, dislocating his elbow in the 28th minute after a crunching blindside tackle from Kiwi winger Dane O'Hara, while at the same time attempting to break a tackle from Kiwi fullback Gary Kemble. The other major change for the Australians was Ray Price returning to the side at lock for Paul Vautin.
