FLASHBACK FRIDAY: ‘KIWI ORIGIN’ 1996

June 16, 2023 / Will Evans

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: ‘KIWI ORIGIN’ 1996

June 16, 2023 / Will Evans

The concept of a ‘Kiwi Origin’ series has regularly been floated over the years, with prominent figures confident New Zealand could replicate a competitive version of Australia’s annual State of Origin extravaganza.

North Island versus South Island fixtures were a regular part of the New Zealand Rugby League calendar from 1925-65, before being replaced by an emphasis on inter-zone and inter-districts competitions involving Auckland, Northern Districts, Central Districts and South Island. That format concluded in 1987.

In the lead-up to next week’s second State of Origin match in Brisbane, Flashback Friday revisits the closest competition we’ve had to ‘Kiwi Origin’ in the last 50 years – the three-match North Zone versus South Zone series staged in 1996.

Officially named the Lion Red Challenge Series, the teams were made up entirely of players from the Lion Red Cup domestic competition. North Zone’s catchment area encompassed the three Auckland clubs – North Harbour, Waitakere City and Counties-Manukau – along with Waikato and Bay of Plenty, while South Zone was made up of players from Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Wellington City, Hutt Valley, and the only two South Island clubs, Canterbury Cardinals and Christchurch City Shiners.

The ‘Origin’ aspect came into play when South drafted Counties-Manukau’s Charlie Kennedy, a Hawke’s Bay product, and North Harbour’s Brent Snooks, a Taranaki junior, into their side.

North were coached by future Kiwis mentor Brian McClennan and captained by Test great Clayton Friend, while their side included future New Zealand reps Brian Jellick and Jerry Seuseu, and a quartet of players that went on to play in the NRL, Boycie Nelson, Willie McLean, Frank Watene and Ben Lythe.

The Andy Moore-coached South side included former Kiwi Test hooker Denvour Johnston and future Samoa rugby union international Earl Va’a, and were skippered by Taranaki’s Geoff Tangira. The Canterbury reps were Cardinals players Walter Wilson, Darren Avery (pictured playing for the Cardinals) and the late Blair Harding, a Kiwis tourist in 1993, and the Shiners’ sole contribution, Shane Te Huia.

North played in black jerseys and South in white, as was the tradition with North Island and South Island fixtures. The star-studded North outfit went in as heavy favourites and were ultimately too strong, winning the series 3-0 – but South put up a valiant effort, pushing their high-profile opponents all the way in the first two encounters.

The demise of the Lion Red Cup premiership at the end of 1996 saw the North Zone v South Zone series discontinued after just one year.

GAME ONE: North Zone 22 – South Zone 16 at Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch

Pre-match fears of a landslide looked like being realised in the series opener at Addington Showgrounds when North raced out to an early 16-0 lead. But South clawed their way back into the contest to trail just 16-12 with 12 minutes remaining. The send-off of South prop Tom Malu for a high tackle halted the home side’s momentum and Boycie Nelson bagged his second try to restore North’s 10-point lead, but former Kiwis centre Blair Harding set up a grandstand finish with a late try. South had come up just short, but the concept had passed its first test with flying colours after an engrossing clash.

North 22 (Nelson 2, Stewart, Wilson tries; Lythe 3 goals) d. South 16 (Va’a, Patea, Harding; Va’a 2 goals). Referee: Dennis Hale (Auckland)

North: Willie McLean, Brian Jellick, Boycie Nelson, Cheaf Lee Fakavamoenga, Richard Stewart, Ben Lythe, Clayton Friend (c), Vai Afoa, Sean Wilson, Greg Ashby, Jerry Seuseu, Anthony Edwards, Jonathan Hughes. Int: Frank Watene, Junior Fiu, Pope Kirisome, Joe Hodge. Coach: Brian McClennan.

South: Earl Va’a, Charlie Kennedy, Blair Harding, Heston Patea, Walter Wilson, Paul Howell, Geoff Tangira (c), Tom Malu, Denvour Johnston, Paul Edwards, Darryn Avery, Brent Snooks, Vilai Kelemete. Int: Yogi Rogers, Jayson Pekepo, Ruks Kavakura, Shane Te Huia. Coach: Andy Moore.

GAME TWO: North Zone 21 – South Zone 14 at Showgrounds, Palmerston North

A hat-trick by Waitakere City tryscoring machine Brian Jellick helped seal a series victory for North, who pulled off a 21-14 comeback win in the second encounter in Palmerston North. Blair Harding scored for the second match in a row to give South an 8-0 lead during the first half, but a runaway try to Jellick just before the break proved crucial. North posted three more unanswered tries after the resumption and a Clayton Friend field goal provided an unassailable 13-point buffer. Paul Howell’s 75th minute try was pure consolation for South.

North 21 (Jellick 3, Stewart tries; Lythe 2 goals; Friend field goal) d. South 14 (Harding, Howell tries; Va’a 3 goals). Referee: Jim Stokes (Canterbury)

North: Willie McLean, Brian Jellick, Boycie Nelson, Cheaf Lee Fakavamoenga, Richard Stewart, Ben Lythe, Clayton Friend (c), Jerry Seuseu, Sean Wilson, Greg Ashby, Matthew Sturm, Stuart Lester, Jonathan Hughes. Int: Vai Afoa, Junior Fiu, Pope Kirisome, Joe Hodge. Coach: Brian McClennan.

South: Earl Va’a, Charlie Kennedy, Blair Harding, Heston Patea, Walter Wilson, Yogi Rogers, Geoff Tangira (c), Tom Malu, Denvour Johnston, Paul Edwards, Darryn Avery, Brent Snooks, Vilai Kelemete. Int: Paul Howell, Leamy Toto, Ruks Kavakura, Abe White. Coach: Andy Moore.

GAME THREE: North Zone 38 – South Zone 16 at Ericcson Stadium, Auckland

North completed a 3-0 cleansweep of the Lion Red Challenge Series with an emphatic 38-16 win in the third match at Ericsson Stadium. Centre Boycie Nelson bagged his second double of the series, but fullback Willie McLean was the undoubted star of a dominant team performance, going on with the job after leading 20-6 at halftime. Canterbury second-rower Darren Avery was among the try-scorers for South.

North 38 (Nelson 2, McLean, Hodge, Kirisome, Wilson, Stewart tries; Lythe 5 goals) d. South 16 (Va’a, Tangira, Avery tries; Va’a 2 goals).

North: Willie McLean, Brian Jellick, Boycie Nelson, Cheaf Lee Fakavamoenga, Joe Hodge, Pope Kirisome, Ben Lythe, Vai Afoa, Junior Fiu, Greg Ashby, Jerry Seuseu, Stuart Lester, Jonathan Hughes (c). Int: Frank Watene, Sean Wilson, Richard Stewart, Matthew Sturm. Coach: Brian McClennan.