New Zealand 14–22 Australia — World Cup Table, 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup
23 Jul 1989 · Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand · Attendance: 15,000
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
World Cup Table, 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup: New Zealand 14–22 Australia, at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand on 23 Jul 1989.
Scorers
| New Zealand | Tries: Elia; Mercer Goals: Shelford (3/4) |
| Australia | Tries: Clyde; Meninga; O'Connor; Shearer Goals: O'Connor (2/3); Meninga (1/3) |
Teams
| New Zealand | Australia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darrell Williams | Fullback | Gary Belcher | 1 |
| 2 | Gary Mercer | Wing | Michael Hancock | 2 |
| 3 | Kevin Iro | Centre | Dale Shearer | 3 |
| 4 | Tony Kemp | Centre | Tony Currie | 4 |
| 5 | Mark Elia | Wing | Michael O'Connor | 5 |
| 6 | Kelly Shelford | Stand off/Five eighth | Wally Lewis (c) | 6 |
| 7 | Gary Freeman | Scrum half/Half back | Des Hasler | 7 |
| 8 | James Goulding | Prop forward | Sam Backo | 8 |
| 9 | Duane Mann | Hooker | Kerrod Walters | 9 |
| 10 | Brent Todd | Prop forward | Steve Roach | 10 |
| 11 | Sam Stewart | Second row | Mal Meninga | 11 |
| 12 | Mark Horo | Second row | Paul Vautin | 12 |
| 13 | Hugh McGahan (c) | Loose forward/Lock forward | Bradley Clyde | 13 |
| Substitutes | ||||
| Interchange | Brendon Tuuta | Bruce McGuire | Interchange | |
| Interchange | Kurt Sherlock | |||
| Tony Gordon | Coach | Bob Fulton | ||
Match officials
| Referee | Ray Tennant (Castleford, England) |
| Touch judges | Not identified in sources found |
| Player of the match | Bradley Clyde (Australia) |
Match report
This opening World Cup Table fixture, played 23 Jul 1989 at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, doubled as the third and final Test of Australia's 1989 tour of New Zealand, which the Kangaroos swept 3-0. Australia won 22-14 with four tries to two, Canberra back-rower Bradley Clyde — who also scored a try — named player of the match. No BBC Sport report exists for this pre-1997 fixture.
Sourcing caveat: Bench lists appear incomplete relative to the standard era interchange size — only 2 (NZ) and 1 (Australia) named reserves found in sources.
Previous World Cup meetings
- 1954 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 34–15 New Zealand
- 1957 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 25–5 New Zealand
- 1960 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 21–15 New Zealand
- 1968 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 31–12 New Zealand
- 1970 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 47–11 New Zealand
- 1972 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 9–5 New Zealand
- 1975 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 36–8 New Zealand
- 1975 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): New Zealand 8–24 Australia
- 1977 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): New Zealand 12–27 Australia
- 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): New Zealand 18–0 Australia
- 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 32–12 New Zealand
- 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup (Final): Australia 25–12 New Zealand
- 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 40–12 New Zealand
- 1995 Rugby League World Cup (Semi-final): Australia 30–20 New Zealand
- 2000 Rugby League World Cup (Final): Australia 40–12 New Zealand
- 2008 Rugby League World Cup (Group A): Australia 30–6 New Zealand
- 2008 Rugby League World Cup (Final): New Zealand 34–20 Australia
- 2013 Rugby League World Cup (Final): Australia 34–2 New Zealand
- 2021 Rugby League World Cup (Semi-final): Australia 16–14 New Zealand