2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations

The second Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament (known as the Gillette Tri-Nations due to sponsorship[2]) was played between 16 October and 27 November of 2004. The format of the competition was different from the previous event. In that event the teams played each other twice instead of once before the final.

2004 (2004) Tri-Nations  ()
Number of teams3
Host country Australia
WinnerFlag of Australia (converted).svg Australia (2nd title)

Matches played7
Attendance182,288 (26,041 per match)
Tries scored47 (6.71 per match)
Top scorerAustralia Darren Lockyer[1] (28)
Top try scorerAustralia Luke Rooney[1] (6)
 < 1999
2005

The tournament final of the tournament was predicted by some to be a close affair. The British team was considered a small favourite after finishing at the top of the league table. Instead, it was a one-sided match as Australia produced their best performance of the tournament. The game was basically over by half-time when Australia led by 38-0.

Results

Tournament matches

2004-10-16
New Zealand   16–16   Australia North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 19,118 [1]

2004-10-23
Australia   32–12   New Zealand Loftus Road, London
Attendance: 16,725 [1]

2004-10-30
Australia   12–8   Great Britain City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
Attendance: 38,572 [1]

2004-11-06
Great Britain   22–12   New Zealand Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 20,372 [1]

2004-11-13
Great Britain   24–12   Australia JJB Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 25,004 [1]

2004-11-20
Great Britain   26–24   New Zealand KC Stadium, Hull
Attendance: 23,377 [1]

Tournament standings

Team Played Won Drew Lost For Against Difference Points
  Great Britain 4 3 0 1 80 60 +20 6
  Australia 4 2 1 1 72 60 +12 5
  New Zealand 4 0 1 3 64 95 −32 1

Final

2004-11-27
Great Britain   4–44   Australia Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 39,120 [1]
 2004 Tri-Nations Champions 
 
Australia
Second title

Non-series Tests

During the series, Australia and New Zealand played additional Tests against France.

2004-11-12
France   20–24   New Zealand Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 8000

2004-11-21
France   30–52   Australia Stade Ernest Wellon, Toulouse
Attendance: 10,000

Additional Matches

A one off match was also played between an ANZAC side made up of touring Australian and New Zealand players and a Cumbira side.[3][4][5]

2004-10-27
Cumbria 12–64 ANZAC Combination Derwent Park, Workington
Attendance: 4,203

2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations Media

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Tri-Nations 2004". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
  2. "Gillette extend rugby ties". SportBusiness. 2004-09-03. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  3. Three-Try Heroes Archived 2011-08-07 at the Wayback MachineWhitehaven News, 29 October 2004. Accessed 2009-08-14. 2009-08-16.
  4. Fans to meet Anzacs players Archived 2011-06-13 at the Wayback MachineAllerdale Borough Council, 6 October 2004. Accessed 2009-08-14. 2009-08-16.
  5. Kimmorley to captain Anzac team AAP, 26 October 2004

Other websites