Australian players were the subject of derisive cheers from spectators as New Zealand prevented a home side series clean sweep with a 28-12 win in the Third Test at the SCG.
The crowd of 31,629 expected more of their home town heroes, particularly in defence, with Kiwi players often brushing aside weak attempts at tackles.
“In the final 10 minutes the Kiwis did almost as they wished against a shattered Australian defence,” wrote The Courier-Mail’s Jack Reardon.
New Zealand scored six tries to two with winger, Neville Denton crossing twice and centre, Cyril Eastlake kicking five goals.
Halfback, Keith Roberts from the Canterbury province, played his best game of the tour, and his intelligent variation of play from the scrum base often caught the Australians off-guard.
Reardon rated Townsville’s Jim Paterson the hardest trier in the Aussie pack and also gave halfback, Barry Muir and lock, Johnny Raper the thumbs up for their tackling.
Australia’s poor showing caused a few headaches for selectors ahead of the naming of the Kangaroo touring squad to Britain and France at the end of the season. Things were thrown further into disarray when top Australian forward, Norm Provan and winger, Ian Moir announced they would be unavailable for the tour, Moir citing financial constraints.
Meanwhile, in Brisbane club football, Fonda Metassa scored four tries for Norths, including one after the final siren, in the Devils’ 30-11 win over Valleys at Lang Park.
Fullback, Clive Churchill, who would go on to coach the ’59-60 Kangaroos, was outstanding for Norths, providing an important link as extra man in five of his side’s eight tries.
Valleys’ winger, Kevin Brasch, now chairman of the QRL History Committee, scored two tries for the Diehards.
Clive Churchill leads the Australians in a war cry practice during the 1956/57 Kangaroo tour. Photo courtesy of the family of Cyril Connell and the Queensland Rugby League History Committee
