View source for Super League Tri-series

The '''Super League Tri-series''' was an international [[rugby league|rugby league football]] tournament contested in 1997 between [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]], [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]], and [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] representative rugby league teams. It was run by the breakaway [[Super League (Australia)|Super League]] organisation as an alternative to the [[Australian Rugby League]]'s traditional [[State of Origin series]], with each of the two series involving exclusively players contracted to clubs of their respective League. New South Wales were overall winners of the Tri-series, defeating Queensland in the final.

New Zealand restricted their selections to players based in Australia and New Zealand and did not recognize the matches as international games.

== Results ==

===Game 1===
{{rugbyleaguebox
| bg = #eeeeee
| date = Friday 11 April
| time = 
| team1 = [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] {{leagueicon|New South Wales|16}}
| score = 38 – 10
| report = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/super-league-tri-series-1997/game-1/new-south-wales--sl--vs-queensland--sl-/summary.html 1997 Super League Tri-series - NSW vs Qld]</ref>
| team2 = {{leagueicon|Queensland|16}} [[Queensland Maroons|Queensland]]
| points1 = '''Tries:''' <br> [[Andrew Ettingshausen]] (3) <br> [[Ken Nagas]] (2) <br> [[Greg Alexander]] <br> [[David Peachey]] <br> '''Goals:''' <br> [[Ryan Girdler]] (5/7)
| points2 = '''Tries:''' <br> [[Peter Ryan (rugby league)|Peter Ryan]] <br> [[Wendell Sailor]] <br> <br> <br> '''Goals:''' <br> [[Mat Rogers]] (1/2)
| stadium = [[Sydney Football Stadium (1988)|Sydney Football Stadium]], [[Sydney]]
| attendance = 26,731
| referee = [[Bill Harrigan]]
| manofmatch = [[Greg Alexander]] {{leagueicon|New South Wales|16}}
}}
{{-}}
----

===Game 2===
{{rugbyleaguebox
| bg = #eeeeee
| date = Friday 9 May
| time = 
| team1 = [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] {{leagueicon|New Zealand Kiwis|16}}
| score = 12 – 26
| report = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/super-league-tri-series-1997/game-2/new-zealand-vs-queensland--sl-/summary.html 1997 Super League Tri-series - NZ vs Qld]</ref>
| team2 = {{leagueicon|Queensland|16}} [[Queensland Maroons|Queensland]]
| points1 = '''Tries:''' <br> [[Stacey Jones]] <br> [[John Timu (rugby)|John Timu]] <br> <br> <br> <br> '''Goals:''' <br> [[Gene Ngamu]] (2/2)
| points2 = '''Tries:''' <br> [[Tonie Carroll]] <br> [[Allan Langer]] <br> [[Mat Rogers]] <br> [[Kevin Walters]] <br> [[Shane Webcke]] <br> '''Goals:''' <br> Mat Rogers (3/5)
| stadium = [[Mt Smart Stadium|Ericsson Stadium]], [[Auckland]]
| attendance = 18,000
| referee = [[Graham Annesley]]
| manofmatch = [[Allan Langer]]  {{leagueicon|Queensland|16}}
}}
{{-}}
----

===Game 3===
{{rugbyleaguebox
| bg = #eeeeee
| date = Wednesday 14 May
| time = 
| team1 = [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] {{leagueicon|New South Wales|16}}
| score = 20 – 15
| report = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/super-league-tri-series-1997/game-3/new-south-wales--sl--vs-new-zealand/summary.html 1997 Super League Tri-series - NSW vs NZ]</ref>
| team2 = {{leagueicon|New Zealand Kiwis|16}} [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]]
| points1 = '''Tries:''' <br> [[Simon Gillies]] (2) <br> [[Ken Nagas]] (2) <br> '''Goals:''' <br> [[Ryan Girdler]] (2/4) <br> [[Laurie Daley]] (0/1)
| points2 = '''Tries:''' <br> [[Ruben Wiki]] (2) <br> <br> '''Goals:''' <br> [[Stacey Jones]] (3/4) <br> <br> '''Field Goals:''' <br> [[Gene Ngamu]] (1)
| stadium = [[Bruce Stadium]], [[Canberra]]
| attendance = 13,836
| referee = [[Steve Clark (referee)|Steve Clark]]
| manofmatch = 
}}
{{-}}
----

After New South Wales defeated Queensland on 11 April 1997 it was possible for New Zealand to make the final if they defeated New South Wales. This commercially disastrous final looked like becoming a reality when New Zealand winger [[Sean Hoppe]] scored a try in the dying minutes of the 14 May match against New South Wales, but the try was controversially disallowed.<ref>{{cite news 
  | last = Mascord
  | first = Steve
  | title = Try, try and try again, but Kiwis denied by ref
  | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]]
  | place =Australia
  | pages = 50
  | publisher = Fairfax
  | date = 14 May 1997
  | url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news970514_0002_6367
  | accessdate = 3 May 2010}}</ref>

===Table===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
!  !! Team !! Played !! Wins !! Losses !! Points
|- 
| 1 || New South Wales || 2 || 2 || 0 || 4
|- 
| 2 || Queensland || 2 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
| 3 || New Zealand || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0
|}

===Final===
The Tri-series final was held on 19 May 1997, and won by New South Wales, who defeated Queensland 23–22 at [[Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre|ANZ Stadium]] in the longest-ever game of first class rugby league. After 80 minutes, the scores were locked at 18–18, and a further 20 minutes were played. At the end of this time, the scores were 22–22, and Queensland captain [[Allan Langer]] is said to have asked the referee, "Should we toss a coin to see who wins?" The game then moved into [[golden point]] extra time, and after 104 minutes, [[Noel Goldthorpe]] kicked a field goal for New South Wales, and won the match.

Despite the game being played in Brisbane, NSW were the home team as it was the Final of the series.

{{rugbyleaguebox
| bg = #eeeeee
| date = Monday 19 May
| time = 
| team1 = [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] {{leagueicon|New South Wales|16}}
| score = 23 – 22 ''([[Golden point|gp]])''
| report = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/super-league-tri-series-1997/grand-final/new-south-wales--sl--vs-queensland--sl-/summary.html 1997 Super League Tri-series Final]</ref>
| team2 = {{leagueicon|Queensland|16}} [[Queensland Maroons|Queensland]]
| points1 = '''Tries:''' <br> [[Brett Mullins]] (3) <br> [[Matthew Ryan (rugby league)|Matthew Ryan]] <br> <br> '''Goals:''' <br> [[David Furner]] (3/4) <br> <br> '''Field Goals:''' <br> [[Noel Goldthorpe]] (1)
| points2 = '''Tries:''' <br> [[Steve Renouf]] (2) <br> [[Tonie Carroll]] <br> [[Michael Hancock (rugby league)|Michael Hancock]] <br> '''Goals:''' <br> [[Mat Rogers]] (2/3) <br> [[Darren Lockyer]] (1/2)
| stadium = [[Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre|ANZ Stadium]], [[Brisbane]]
| attendance = 35,570
| referee = [[Bill Harrigan]]
| manofmatch = 
}}
{{-}}
----

==Squads==
===New South Wales ===
Coach:Tim Sheens
Assistant Coach: Craig Bellamy
{| class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Position
!colspan="2" width="125"|Game 1<br>(versus Qld) 
!colspan="2" width="125"|Game 2<br>(versus NZ) 
!colspan="2" width="125"|Game 3<br>(versus Qld) 
|-
! Fullback
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|16px]] [[David Peachey]]
|-
! Wing
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[Ken Nagas]]
|-
! Centre
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|16px]] [[Andrew Ettingshausen]]
|-
! Centre
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Penrith colours.svg|16px]] [[Ryan Girdler]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|16px]] [[Matthew Ryan (rugby league)|Matthew Ryan]]
|-
! Wing
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|16px]] [[Matthew Ryan (rugby league)|Matthew Ryan]]
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[Brett Mullins]]
|-
! Five-Eighth
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[Laurie Daley]] (c)
|-
! Halfback
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Penrith colours.svg|16px]] [[Greg Alexander]]
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Hunter colours.svg|16px]] [[Noel Goldthorpe]]
|-
! Prop
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Glenn Lazarus]]
|-
! Hooker
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Penrith colours.svg|16px]] [[Craig Gower]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[Luke Priddis]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Penrith colours.svg|16px]] [[Craig Gower]]
|-
! Prop
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Western Reds colours.svg|16px]] [[Rodney Howe]]
| colspan="4" | [[Image:North Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[Ian Roberts (rugby league)|Ian Roberts]]
|-
! Second Row
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|16px]] [[Sean Ryan (rugby league)|Sean Ryan]]
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[David Furner]]
|-
! Second Row
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|16px]] [[Simon Gillies]]
|-
! Lock
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[David Furner]]
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[Bradley Clyde]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Penrith colours.svg|16px]] [[Matt Adamson]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|16px]] [[Danny Lee (rugby league)|Danny Lee]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Western Reds colours.svg|16px]] [[Robbie Kearns]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|16px]] [[Solomon Haumono]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Hunter colours.svg|16px]] [[Robbie Ross (rugby league)|Robbie Ross]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Western Reds colours.svg|16px]] [[Scott Wilson (rugby league born 1970)|Scott Wilson]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Hunter colours.svg|16px]] [[Robbie Ross (rugby league)|Robbie Ross]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Hunter colours.svg|16px]] [[Noel Goldthorpe]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|16px]] [[Matthew Ryan (rugby league)|Matthew Ryan]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[Luke Priddis]]
|-
|}

===New Zealand===
The side was coached by [[Graeme Norton]] and he served as a selector alongside [[Frank Endacott]] and [[Gary Kemble]].
{| class="wikitable"
!width="125"|Position
!colspan="2" width="125"|Game 1<br>(versus Qld) 
!colspan="2" width="125"|Game 2<br>(versus NSW) 
|-
! Fullback
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Anthony Swann]]
|-
! Wing
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Sean Hoppe]]
|-
! Centre
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Tea Ropati]]
|-
! Centre
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[Ruben Wiki]]
|-
! Wing
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|16px]] [[Richie Barnett]]
|-
! Five-Eighth
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Gene Ngamu]]
|-
! Halfback
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Stacey Jones]]
|-
! Prop
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Canberra colours.svg|16px]] [[Quentin Pongia]]
|-
! Hooker
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Syd Eru]]
|-
! Prop
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Joe Vagana]]
|-
! Second Row
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Hunter colours.svg|16px]] [[Tony Iro]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Stephen Kearney]]
|-
! Second Row
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Stephen Kearney]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:North Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[Tyran Smith]]
|-
! Lock
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Cronulla colours.svg|16px]] [[Tawera Nikau]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Canterbury colours.svg|16px]] [[John Timu (rugby)|John Timu]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Brady Malam]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Marc Ellis (rugby)|Marc Ellis]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[Image:North Queensland colours.svg|16px]] [[Tyran Smith]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Brady Malam]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Auckland colours.svg|16px]] [[Marc Ellis (rugby)|Marc Ellis]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Hunter colours.svg|16px]] [[Tony Iro]]
|-
|}

===Queensland===
Queensland were coached by [[Wayne Bennett (rugby league)|Wayne Bennett]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:125px;"|Position
! colspan="2" style="width:125px;"|Game 1<br><small>(versus NSW)</small>
! colspan="2" style="width:125px;"|Game 2<br><small>(versus NZ)</small>
! colspan="2" style="width:150px;"|Game 3<br><small>(versus NSW)</small>
|-
! Fullback
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Western Reds|size=16}} [[Julian O'Neill]]
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Darren Lockyer]]
|-
! Wing
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16}} [[Mat Rogers]]
|-
! Centre
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Steve Renouf]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Darren Smith (rugby league)|Darren Smith]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Steve Renouf]]
|-
! Centre
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16}} [[Geoff Bell (rugby league)|Geoff Bell]]
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Tonie Carroll]]
|-
! Wing
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Wendell Sailor]]
|-
! Five-Eighth
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Kevin Walters]]
|-
! Halfback
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Allan Langer]] (c)
|-
! Prop
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Brad Thorn]]
|-
! Hooker
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|size=16}} [[Steve Walters]]
|-
! Prop
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Andrew Gee (rugby league)|Andrew Gee]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16}} [[Craig Greenhill]]
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|size=16}} [[Owen Cunningham]]
|-
! Second Row
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|North Queensland|size=16}} [[Owen Cunningham]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Peter Ryan (rugby league)|Peter Ryan]]
|-
! Second Row
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Gorden Tallis]]
|-
! Lock
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Darren Smith (rugby league)|Darren Smith]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Peter Ryan (rugby league)|Peter Ryan]]
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Darren Smith (rugby league)|Darren Smith]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Peter Ryan (rugby league)|Peter Ryan]]
| colspan="4" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Michael Hancock (rugby league)|Michael Hancock]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="2" | {{leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16}} [[Chris McKenna (rugby league)|Chris McKenna]]
| colspan="4" | {{leagueicon|Adelaide Rams|size=16}} [[Kevin Campion (rugby league)|Kevin Campion]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="6" | {{leagueicon|Cronulla|size=16}} [[Paul Green (rugby league)|Paul Green]]
|-
! Interchange
| colspan="6" | [[Image:Brisbane colours.svg|16px]] [[Shane Webcke]]
|}

==Statistics==
===Try scorers===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
! Tries Scored !! Player
|-
| 4 || [[Ken Nagas]] (NSW) 
|-
| 3 || [[Andrew Ettingshausen]] (NSW), [[Brett Mullins]] (NSW), [[Tonie Carroll]] (Qld)
|-
| 2 || [[David Peachey]] (NSW), [[Simon Gillies]] (NSW), [[Ruben Wiki]] (NZ), [[Steve Renouf]] (Qld)
|-
| 1 || [[Shane Webcke]] (Qld), [[Greg Alexander]] (NSW), [[Kevin Walters]] (Qld), [[Allan Langer]] (Qld), [[Mat Rogers]] (Qld), [[Stacey Jones]] (NZ), [[Wendell Sailor]] (Qld), [[Gene Ngamu]] (NZ), [[Peter Ryan (rugby league)|Peter Ryan]] (Qld), [[Michael Hancock (rugby league)|Michael Hancock]] (Qld), [[Matthew Ryan (rugby league)|Matthew Ryan]] (NSW), [[John Timu (rugby)|John Timu]] (NZ)
|}

==See also==
* [[1997 State of Origin series]]
* [[Super League (Australia)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/aus/res/sltri.htm#1997 Complete Statistics and Players of the Super League Tri-Series]
*[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/Super_League_Tri-Series_1997/summary.html Super League Tri-Series 1997] at rugbyleagueproject.org

{{State of Origin}}
{{1997 in rugby league}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Super League Tri-Series}}
[[Category:Super League]]
[[Category:1997 in Australian rugby league]]
[[Category:1997 in New Zealand rugby league]]