New Zealand v Queensland Rugby League 1997

This is one of the matches from the 1997 Super League Origin Tri-series featuring New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand. In this game, New Zealand's Australasian-based Super League players took on Queensland's at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (then known as Ericsson Stadium) on Friday May 9, 1997. Queensland was coming off a decisive loss to New South Wales in the first match and needed to beat New Zealand if they had any hope of making the final, while this was New Zealand's first match of the series. Teams New Zealand: 1. Anthony Swann; 2. Sean Hoppe; 3. Tea Ropati; 4. Ruben Wiki; 5. Richie Barnett; 6. Gene Ngamu; 7. Stacey Jones; 8. Quentin Pongia; 9. Syd Eru; 10. Joe Vagana; 11. Tony Iro; 12. Stephen Kearney (c); 13. Tawera Nikau. Reserves: 14. John Timu; 15. Brady Malam; 16. Tyran Smith; 17. Marc Ellis. Coach: Graham Norton. Queensland: 1. Darren Lockyer; 2. Wendell Sailor; 3. Tonie Carroll; 4. Darren Smith; 5. Mat Rogers; 6. Kevin Walters; 7. Allan Langer (c); 8. Brad Thorn; 9. Steve Walters; 10. Craig Greenhill; 11. Gorden Tallis; 12. Owen Cunningham; 13. Peter Ryan. Reserves: 14. Shane Webcke; 15. Michael Hancock; 16. Kevin Campion; 17. Paul Green. Coach: Wayne Bennett. Referee: Graham Annesley (Australia)