Super League Tri-series

The Super League Tri-series was an international rugby league football tournament contested in 1997 between Queensland, New South Wales, and New Zealand representative rugby league teams. It was run by the breakaway 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

• New South Wales defeated Queensland 38–10 (Aussie Stadium, Sydney, 11 April 1997. Attendance: 26,731)
• Queensland defeated New Zealand 26–12 (Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, 9 May 1997. Attendance: 18,000)
• New South Wales defeated New Zealand 20–15 (Bruce Stadium, Canberra, 14 May 1997. Attendance: 13,836)

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.

Table

	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

• New South Wales defeated Queensland 23–22 (ANZ Stadium, Brisbane, 19 May 1997. Attendance: 35,570)

The Tri-series final was held on 19 May 1997, and won by New South Wales, who defeated Queensland 23-22 at 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.

Squads

New South Wales

Position	Game 1 (versus Qld)		Game 2 (versus NZ)		Game 3 (versus Qld)
Fullback	David Peachey
Wing	Ken Nagas
Centre	Andrew Ettingshausen
Centre	Ryan Girdler				Matthew Ryan
Wing	Matthew Ryan		Brett Mullins
Five-Eighth	Laurie Daley (c)
Halfback	Greg Alexander		16px Noel Goldthorpe
Prop	Glenn Lazarus
Hooker	Craig Gower		Luke Priddis		Craig Gower
Prop	16px Rodney Howe		16px Ian Roberts
Second Row	Sean Ryan		David Furner
Second Row	Simon Gillies
Lock	David Furner		Bradley Clyde
Interchange	Matt Adamson		Danny Lee		16px Robbie Kearns
Interchange	Solomon Haumono
Interchange	16px Robbie Ross		16px Scott Wilson		16px Robbie Ross
Interchange	16px Noel Goldthorpe		Matthew Ryan		Luke Priddis

New Zealand

The side was coached by Graeme Norton and he served as a selector alongside Frank Endacott and Gary Kemble. The squad for the two matches was Anthony Swann, Sean Hoppe, Tea Ropati, Ruben Wiki, Richie Barnett, Gene Ngamu, Stacey Jones, Quentin Pongia, Syd Eru, Joe Vagana, Tony Iro, captain Stephen Kearney, Tawera Nikau, John Timu, Brady Malam, Tyran Smith and Marc Ellis.

Queensland

Queensland were coached by Wayne Bennett.

Position	Game 1 (versus NSW)		Game 2 (versus NZ)		Game 3 (versus NSW)
Fullback	File:Western Reds colours.svg Julian O'Neill		Darren Lockyer
Wing	Mat Rogers
Centre	Steve Renouf		Darren Smith		Steve Renouf
Centre	Geoff Bell		Tonie Carroll
Wing	Wendell Sailor
Five-Eighth	Kevin Walters
Halfback	Allan Langer (c)
Prop	Brad Thorn
Hooker	File:North Queensland colours.svg Steve Walters
Prop	Andrew Gee		Craig Greenhill		File:North Queensland colours.svg Owen Cunningham
Second Row	File:North Queensland colours.svg Owen Cunningham				Peter Ryan
Second Row	Gorden Tallis
Lock	Darren Smith		Peter Ryan		Darren Smith
Interchange	Peter Ryan		Michael Hancock
Interchange	Chris McKenna		Kevin Campion
Interchange	Paul Green
Interchange	Shane Webcke

Statistics

Try scorers

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 (Qld), Michael Hancock (Qld), Matthew Ryan (NSW), John Timu (NZ)

See also

• 1997 State of Origin series
• Super League (Australia)

References

• Complete Statistics and Players of the Super League Tri-Series
• Super League Tri-Series 1997 at rugbyleagueproject.org