2016 Rugby League Four Nations

The 2016 Rugby League Four Nations tournament (known as the 2016 Ladbrokes Four Nations, for sponsorship purposes)[1] was the fifth staging of the Rugby League Four Nations tournament and was played in England in October and November. The series was contested by Australia, England, New Zealand and Scotland, who qualified for their first Four Nations by winning the 2014 European Cup.[2] The final was played on 20 November, with Australia winning its third tournament, defeating New Zealand.

2016 (2016) Four Nations  ()
Australia celebrating winning the 2016 Four Nations
Host country England
Winner Australia (3rd title)
Matches played7
Attendance132,655 (18,951 per match)
Points scored259 (37 per match)
Tries scored47 (6.71 per match)
Top scorerAustralia Johnathan Thurston (32 points)
Top try scorerAustralia Blake Ferguson (4 tries)
Australia Josh Dugan
Tournaments
 < 2014

Background

The 2016 tournament is the fifth Four Nations series to be planned before the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, with the venues rotating between Europe and the South Pacific.

In addition to automatic inclusions Australia, England and New Zealand, Scotland qualified for the tournament by defeating France in the final of the 2014 European Cup.

England have previously co-hosted tournaments with other European nations and the Rugby Football League (RFL) planned to take a game up into Scotland but backed down and decided to take games to other venues.[3]

The redeveloped 54,074 capacity Anfield Stadium hosted the Four Nations Final. This was the first time in 19 years the venue had held a rugby league match. Three rugby league games have been played at Anfield before. The final was the first ever international rugby league match held at the venue.[4]

Teams
Main article: 2016 Rugby League Four Nations squads
Country Previous appearances in tournament Continent
 Australia 4 (2009*, 2010, 2011*, 2014) Oceania
 England 4 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014) Europe
 New Zealand 4 (2009, 2010*, 2011, 2014*) Oceania
 Scotland 0 (Debut) Europe

* Denotes winner of tournament event.

Venues

The games were played at the following venues in England. The tournament final was played at Anfield.

Liverpool London Coventry
Anfield London Stadium Ricoh Arena
Capacity: 54,074 Capacity: 66,000 Capacity: 32,609
Huddersfield Hull Workington
John Smith's Stadium KC Lightstream Stadium Derwent Park
Capacity: 24,500 Capacity: 12,225 Capacity: 10,000

Officiating
Referees Touch judges Video Referees
Australia Ben Cummins England James Child Australia Bernard Sutton
England Robert Hicks England Joe Cobb England Ben Thaler
Australia Gerard Sutton England Mick Craven
England Ben Thaler New Zealand Anthony Elliot
England Chris Kendall

Pre-tournament matches

Before the series, Australia and New Zealand organised to play the first ever International rugby league test-match in Perth, Scotland took on a Cumbrian rugby league team and England took on France in Avignon.[5][6][7]

Australia vs New Zealand
Saturday, 15 October
5:15pm (AWST)
Australia  26–6  New Zealand
Tries:
Inglis (15', 68') 2
D Boyd (9') 1
Holmes (44') 1
Cordner (78') 1
Goals:
Thurston 3/5
(45', 69', 79')		 1st: 8 – 6
2nd: 18 – 0
Report
 Tries:
1 (21') Proctor
Goals:
1/1 Luke
(22')
nib Stadium, Perth
Attendance: 20,283
Referee: Australia Matt Cecchin
Player of the Match: Greg Inglis
Australia
New Zealand
FB1 Darius Boyd
RW2 Blake Ferguson
RC3 Greg Inglis
LC4 Josh Dugan
LW5 Valentine Holmes
FE6 Johnathan Thurston
HB7 Cooper Cronk
PR8 Matt Scott
HK9 Cameron Smith (c)
PR10 Shannon Boyd
SR11 Boyd Cordner
SR12 Matt Gillett
LK13 Trent Merrin
Interchange:
IC14 David Klemmer
IC15 Michael Morgan
IC16 Tyson Frizell
IC17 Sam Thaiday
Coach:
Australia Mal Meninga
FB1 Jordan Kahu
RW2 Jason Nightingale
RC3 Solomone Kata
LC4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
LW5 Jordan Rapana
FE6 Thomas Leuluai
HB7 Shaun Johnson
PR8 Jesse Bromwich (c)
HK9 Issac Luke
PR10 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
SR11 Kevin Proctor
SR12 Tohu Harris
LK13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange:
IC14 Lewis Brown
IC15 Martin Taupau
IC16 Manu Ma'u
IC17 Adam Blair
Coach:
New Zealand David Kidwell

Cumbria Select XIII vs Scotland

The Cumbria Select XIII was a Cumbrian-based team selected by retiring Barrow Raiders player Liam Harrison.[8] The Cumbrian side featured Scottish internationals Oliver Wilkes and Shane Toal.

Friday, 21 October
Cumbria Select XIII 16–48  Scotland
Tries:
Fleming (37', 45') 2
Fieldhouse (26') 1
Goals:
Hankinson 2/3
(27', 38')		 Report
 Tries:
2 (3', 22') Scott
1 (16') C Phillips
1 (19') Mariano
1 (33') Brierley
1 (58') Walker
1 (69') Cassel
1 (78') Tierney
Goals:
5/8 Brierley
(4', 17', 34', 59', 80')
Craven Park, Barrow-in-Furness
Attendance: 1,048
Cumbria XIII
Scotland
FB1 Ryan Fieldhouse
RW2 Eze Harper
RC3 Chris Hankinson
LC4 Chris Fleming
LW5 Shane Toal
FE6 Jamie Dallimore
HB7 Liam Finch
PR10 Oliver Wilkes
HK9 Karl Ashall
PR8 Joe Bullock
SR11 Liam Harrison (c)
SR12 Bradd Crellin
LK13 Daniel Toal
Interchange:
IC14 Dan Abram
IC15 Brad Marwood
IC16 Matty Holmes
IC17 Andrew Dawson
IC18 Brad Brennan
IC19 Matty While
IC20 Luke Cresswell
IC21 Ethan Kelly
Coach:
England Liam Harrison
FB1 Matty Russell
RW2 Lewis Tierney
RC3 Ben Hellewell
LC4 Tyler Cassel
LW5 David Scott
FE6 Danny Addy
HB7 Ryan Brierley
PR8 Adam Walker
HK9 Liam Hood
PR10 Frankie Mariano
SR11 Brett Phillips
SR12 Dale Ferguson
LK13 Ben Kavanagh
Interchange:
IC14 Callum Phillips
IC15 Sam Brooks
IC16 Sheldon Powe-Hobbs
IC17 Billy McConnachie
IC18 Kieran Moran
IC19 Ryan Maneely
Coach:
England Steve McCormack

France vs England
Saturday, 22 October
6:30pm (CET)
France  6–40  England
Tries:
Pélissier (19') 1
Goals:
Gigot 1/1
(20')		 Report
 Tries:
2 (26', 40') Hall
1 (30') Clark
1 (35') T Burgess
1 (68') Brown
1 (71') McGillvary
1 (76') Widdop
Goals:
6/7 Widdop
(27', 31', 36', 69', 72', 77')
Parc des Sports, Avignon
Attendance: 14,276
Referee: England Phil Bentham
France
England
FB1 Tony Gigot
RW2 Mathias Pala
RC3 Benjamin Garcia
LC4 Vincent Duport
LW5 Olivier Arnaud
SO6 Stanislas Robin
SH7 William Barthau
PR8 Romain Navarrete
HK9 Alrix Da Costa
PR10 Rémi Casty (c)
SR11 Mickaël Simon
SR12 Benjamin Jullien
LF13 Julian Bousquet
Substitutions:
BE14 Éloi Pélissier
BE15 Mickaël Goudemand
BE16 Gadwin Springer
BE17 Kevin Larroyer
Coach:
France Aurélien Cologni
FB1 Jonny Lomax
RW2 Jermaine McGillvary
RC3 Kallum Watkins
LC4 Mark Percival
LW5 Ryan Hall
SO6 Gareth Widdop
SH7 Luke Gale
PR8 James Graham (c)
HK9 Josh Hodgson
PR10 Scott Taylor
SR11 Elliott Whitehead
SR12 Michael Cooper
LF13 Tom Burgess
Substitutions:
BE14 George Burgess
BE15 Kevin Brown
BE16 Stefan Ratchford
BE17 Daryl Clark
Coach:
Australia Wayne Bennett

Results

Standings
2016 Four Nations
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Australia W 330010438+666
2 New Zealand 31114348–53
3 England 31027265+72
4 Scotland 301242110–681
  • By holding New Zealand to an 18–18 draw in the third round, Scotland became the first 'fourth nation' to score a championship point in the history of the tournament.

Round 1
Friday, 28 October
8:00pm (UTC)
Australia  54–12  Scotland
Tries:
Cronk (10', 15') 2
Mansour (26', 35') 2
Ferguson (6') 1
Maloney (13') 1
Dugan (44') 1
Frizell (66') 1
Morgan (69') 1
Trbojevic (79') 1
Goals:
Maloney 7/10
(11', 14', 16', 45', 67', 70', 80')		 1st: 30 – 6
2nd: 24 – 6
Report
 Tries:
1 (39') Brierley
1 (59') Kavanagh
Goals:
2/2 Brough
(40', 60')
KC Lightstream Stadium, Hull[9]
Attendance: 5,337
Referee: England Ben Thaler
Player of the Match: Matt Moylan
Australia
Scotland
FB1 Matt Moylan
RW2 Josh Mansour
RC3 Justin O'Neill
LC4 Josh Dugan
LW5 Blake Ferguson
FE6 James Maloney
HB7 Cooper Cronk
PR8 Aaron Woods
HK9 Cameron Smith (c)
PR10 David Klemmer
SR11 Sam Thaiday
SR12 Tyson Frizell
LK13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange:
IC14 Jake Friend
IC15 Shannon Boyd
IC16 Trent Merrin
IC17 Michael Morgan
Coach:
Australia Mal Meninga
FB1 Lachlan Coote
RW2 Lewis Tierney
RC3 Euan Aitken
LC4 Kane Linnett
LW5 Matty Russell
FE6 Danny Brough (c)
HB7 Ryan Brierley
PR8 Adam Walker
HK9 Liam Hood
PR10 Luke Douglas
SR11 Danny Addy
SR12 Dale Ferguson
LK13 Ben Kavanagh
Interchange:
IC14 Ben Hellewell
IC15 Sheldon Powe-Hobbs
IC16 Sam Brooks
IC17 Billy McConnachie
Coach:
England Steve McCormack

Touch Judges:
England Jack Smith
England Mick Craven
Video Referee:
Australia Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee:
Australia Gerard Sutton

Saturday, 29 October
2:30pm (UTC)
England  16–17  New Zealand
Tries:
McGillvary (48') 1
Hall (61') 1
Goals:
Widdop 4/4
(3' pen, 11' pen, 49', 62')		 1st: 4 – 6
2nd: 12 – 11
Report
 Tries:
2 (35', 56') Rapana
1 (42') Johnson
Goals:
2/4 Kahu
(31' pen, 43')
Field Goals:
1 (65') Johnson
John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield[9]
Attendance: 24,070
Referee: England Robert Hicks
Player of the Match: Shaun Johnson
England
New Zealand
FB1 Jonny Lomax
RW2 Jermaine McGillvary
RC3 Kallum Watkins
LC4 Dan Sarginson
LW5 Ryan Hall
SO6 Gareth Widdop
SH7 Luke Gale
PR8 Chris Hill
HK9 Josh Hodgson
PR10 James Graham
SR11 Elliott Whitehead
SR12 John Bateman
LF13 Sam Burgess (c)
Substitutions:
BE14 Tom Burgess
BE15 George Burgess
BE16 Michael Cooper
BE17 Daryl Clark
Coach:
Australia Wayne Bennett
FB1 Jordan Kahu
RW2 Jason Nightingale
RC3 Solomone Kata
LC4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
LW5 Jordan Rapana
FE6 Thomas Leuluai
HB7 Shaun Johnson
PR8 Jesse Bromwich (c)
HK9 Issac Luke
PR10 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
SR11 Kevin Proctor
SR12 Tohu Harris
LK13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange:
IC14 Lewis Brown
IC15 Martin Taupau
IC16 Manu Ma'u
IC17 Adam Blair
Coach:
New Zealand David Kidwell

Touch Judges:
England James Child
New Zealand Anthony Elliott
Video Referee:
Australia Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee:
Australia Ben Cummins

Round 2
England vs Scotland in their first ever match against each other at the 2016 Four Nations
Saturday, 5 November
5:30pm (BST)
England  38–12  Scotland
Tries:
Whitehead (27', 36') 2
Percival (50') 1
Hall (54') 1
McGillvary (58') 1
Gale (64') 1
Farrell (80') 1
Goals:
Gale 5/7
(28', 37', 55', 65', 80')		 1st: 12 – 8
2nd: 26 – 4
Report
 Tries:
1 (6') Linnett
1 (24') Russell
1 (70') Ferguson
Goals:
0/3 Brough
Sin Bin:
Brough yellow card 58' to 68'
Ricoh Arena, Coventry[9]
Attendance: 21,009
Referee: Australia Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match: George Williams
England
Scotland
FB1 Jonny Lomax
RW2 Jermaine McGillvary
RC3 Kallum Watkins
LC4 Mark Percival
LW5 Ryan Hall
SO6 George Williams
SH7 Luke Gale
PR8 Chris Hill
HK9 Josh Hodgson
PR10 Scott Taylor
SR11 Liam Farrell
SR12 Elliott Whitehead
LF13 Sam Burgess (c)
Substitutions:
BE14 Tom Burgess
BE15 George Burgess
BE16 Michael Cooper
BE17 Daryl Clark
Coach:
Australia Wayne Bennett
FB1 Lachlan Coote
RW2 Lewis Tierney
RC3 Euan Aitken
LC4 Kane Linnett
LW5 Matty Russell
FE6 Danny Brough (c)
HB7 Danny Addy
PR8 Adam Walker
HK9 Liam Hood
PR10 Luke Douglas
SR11 Ben Hellewell
SR12 Dale Ferguson
LK13 Ben Kavanagh
Interchange:
IC14 Tyler Cassel
IC15 Frankie Mariano
IC16 Callum Phillips
IC17 Sam Brooks
Coach:
England Steve McCormack

Touch Judges:
England Mick Craven
England Chris Kendall
Video Referee:
England Ben Thaler
Reserve Referee:
England Robert Hicks

Saturday, 5 November
8:00pm (BST)
New Zealand  8–14  Australia
Tries:
Kata (49') 1
Rapana (77') 1
Goals:
Johnson 0/2		 1st: 0 – 10
2nd: 8 – 4
Report
 Tries:
1 (10') Ferguson
1 (15') Thurston
Goals:
3/4 Thurston
(16', 55' pen, 71' pen)
Ricoh Arena, Coventry[9]
Attendance: 21,009
Referee: Australia Ben Cummins
Player of the Match: Blake Ferguson
New Zealand
Australia
FB1 Jordan Kahu
RW2 Gerard Beale
RC3 Solomone Kata
LC4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
LW5 Jordan Rapana
FE6 Thomas Leuluai
HB7 Shaun Johnson
PR8 Jesse Bromwich (c)
HK9 Issac Luke
PR17 Greg Eastwood
SR11 Kevin Proctor
SR12 Tohu Harris
LK13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange:
IC10 Adam Blair
IC14 Lewis Brown
IC15 Martin Taupau
IC16 Manu Ma'u
Coach:
New Zealand David Kidwell
FB1 Darius Boyd
RW2 Valentine Holmes
RC3 Greg Inglis
LC4 Justin O'Neill
LW5 Blake Ferguson
FE6 Michael Morgan
HB7 Johnathan Thurston
PR8 Matt Scott
HK9 Cameron Smith (c)
PR10 Aaron Woods
SR11 Boyd Cordner
SR12 Matt Gillett
LK13 Trent Merrin
Interchange:
IC14 Shannon Boyd
IC15 James Maloney
IC16 David Klemmer
IC17 Sam Thaiday
Coach:
Australia Mal Meninga

Touch Judges:
New Zealand Anthony Elliott
England Joe Cobb
Video Referee:
Australia Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee:
England Robert Hicks

Round 3
Friday, 11 November
8:00pm (BST)
New Zealand  18–18  Scotland
Tries:
Fusitu'a (24', 55') 2
Beale (73', 76') 2
Goals:
Luke 1/4
(25')		 1st: 6 – 4
2nd: 12 – 14
Report
 Tries:
1 (27') Tierney
1 (67') Hellewelll
1 (79') Aitken
Goals:
3/4 Brough
(68', 70' pen, 80')
Derwent Park, Workington[9]
Attendance: 6,628
Referee: Australia Ben Cummins
Player of the Match: Shaun Johnson
New Zealand
Scotland
FB1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
RW2 Jason Nightingale
RC3 Solomone Kata
LC4 Gerard Beale
LW5 David Fusitu'a
FE6 Thomas Leuluai
HB7 Shaun Johnson
PR8 Jesse Bromwich (c)
HK9 Issac Luke
PR10 Adam Blair
SR11 Manu Ma'u
SR12 Tohu Harris
LK13 Greg Eastwood
Interchange:
IC14 Te Maire Martin
IC15 Martin Taupau
IC16 James Fisher-Harris
IC17 Joseph Tapine
Coach:
New Zealand David Kidwell
FB1 Lachlan Coote
RW2 Lewis Tierney
RC3 Euan Aitken
LC4 Kane Linnett
LW5 Matty Russell
FE7 Danny Addy
HB18 Danny Brough (c)
PR8 Adam Walker
HK9 Liam Hood
PR10 Luke Douglas
SR11 Ben Hellewell
SR12 Dale Ferguson
LK13 Ben Kavanagh
Interchange:
IC14 Ryan Brierley
IC15 Frankie Mariano
IC16 Callum Phillips
IC17 Billy McConnachie
Coach:
England Steve McCormack

Touch Judges:
England James Child
England Chris Kendall
Video Referee:
England Ben Thaler
Reserve Referee:
Australia Gerard Sutton

Sunday, 13 November
2:00pm (BST)
England  18–36  Australia
Tries:
McGillvary (26') 1
Widdop (67') 1
Hall (76') 1
Goals:
Widdop 3/4
(12' pen, 68', 77')		 1st: 6 – 10
2nd: 12 – 26
Report
 Tries:
1 (36') Ferguson
1 (47') Inglis
1 (57') Scott
1 (59') Dugan
1 (72') Gillett
1 (79') Holmes
Goals:
6/8 Thurston
(18' pen, 37', 40' pen, 49', 58', 60')
London Stadium, London[9]
Attendance: 35,569
Referee: England Robert Hicks
Player of the Match: Cooper Cronk
England
Australia
FB1 Jonny Lomax
RW2 Jermaine McGillvary
RC3 Kallum Watkins
LC4 Mark Percival
LW5 Ryan Hall
SO6 Kevin Brown
SH7 Gareth Widdop
PR8 Chris Hill
HK9 Josh Hodgson
PR10 James Graham
SR11 John Bateman
SR12 Elliott Whitehead
LF13 Sam Burgess (c)
Substitutions:
BE14 Tom Burgess
BE15 George Burgess
BE16 Michael Cooper
BE17 George Williams
Coach:
Australia Wayne Bennett
FB1 Darius Boyd
RW2 Valentine Holmes
RC3 Greg Inglis
LC4 Josh Dugan
LW5 Blake Ferguson
FE6 Johnathan Thurston
HB7 Cooper Cronk
PR8 Matt Scott
HK9 Cameron Smith (c)
PR10 Aaron Woods
SR11 Boyd Cordner
SR12 Matt Gillett
LK13 Trent Merrin
Interchange:
IC14 David Klemmer
IC15 Michael Morgan
IC16 Tyson Frizell
IC17 Sam Thaiday
Coach:
Australia Mal Meninga

The match was originally scheduled to kick-off at 3:30pm BST, however on 22 September the RFL changed the kick-off time to 2:00pm BST.

Touch Judges:
New Zealand Anthony Elliott
England Mick Craven
Video Referee:
Australia Bernard Sutton
Reserve Referee:
Australia Ben Cummins

Final
Australia celebrate beating the New Zealand at Anfield in the final.
Sunday, 20 November
2:30pm (BST)
Australia  34–8  New Zealand
Tries:
Dugan (10', 24') 2
Ferguson (3') 1
Merrin (21') 1
D Boyd (45') 1
Cordner (74') 1
Goals:
5/8 Thurston
(4', 18' pen, 22', 29' pen, 75')		 1st: 24 – 0
2nd: 10 – 8
Report
 Tries:
2 (56', 69') Kahu
Goals:
Anfield, Liverpool[9]
Attendance: 40,042
Referee: Australia Ben Cummins
Player of the Match: Darius Boyd
Australia
New Zealand
FB1 Darius Boyd
RW2 Blake Ferguson
RC3 Greg Inglis
LC4 Josh Dugan
LW5 Valentine Holmes
FE6 Johnathan Thurston
HB7 Cooper Cronk
PR8 Matt Scott
HK9 Cameron Smith (c)
PR10 Aaron Woods
SR11 Boyd Cordner
SR12 Matt Gillett
LK13 Trent Merrin
Interchange:
IC14 Michael Morgan
IC15 David Klemmer
IC16 Tyson Frizell
IC17 Shannon Boyd
Coach:
Australia Mal Meninga
FB1 Jordan Kahu
RW2 David Fusitu'a
RC3 Solomone Kata
LC4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
LW5 Jordan Rapana
FE6 Tohu Harris
HB7 Shaun Johnson
PR8 Jesse Bromwich (c)
HK9 Issac Luke
PR10 Adam Blair
SR11 Kevin Proctor
SR12 Manu Ma'u
LK13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange:
IC14 Lewis Brown
IC15 Martin Taupau
IC16 Greg Eastwood
IC17 Joseph Tapine
Coach:
New Zealand David Kidwell

Player statistics

Player of the Tournament

Broadcasting

Premier Sports was the host broadcaster for every match of the tournament.[10]

Country Broadcaster Matches
 England Premier Sports Every match live[10]
BBC Every England match, Australia v New Zealand, and the final live[11]
 Australia Nine Network Every match live[12]
 New Zealand Sky Sport Every match live[13]
 France beIN Sports Every match live

References
  1. "Ladbrokes announced as title sponsor of Four Nations". SportsPro. 19 September 2016.
  2. "Rugby League – Scots close in on Four Nations spot". Yahoo Eurosport UK. 25 October 2014.
  3. "Anfield being lined up to host 2016 Four Nations Series final". Eurosport. 22 March 2016.
  4. "Four Nations 2016: Liverpool FC's Anfield to host final". BBC Sport. 23 April 2016.
  5. "Perth to host October Test match". nrl.com. 23 April 2016.
  6. "GRAND FINAL HERO AMONG NEW-LOOK BRAVEHEARTS". SCOTLAND RUGBY LEAGUE. 11 October 2016.
  7. "Bennett to test England with clash against France ahead of Four Nations". RUGBY LEAGUE PLANET. 5 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  8. "WATCH: NRL stars Coote and Linnett among Scotland's big names for Liam Harrison's testimonial". NORTH-WEST EVENING MAIL. 12 October 2016.
  9. "2016 Four Nations Schedule". rugby-league.com. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  10. "RUGBY LEAGUE FOUR NATIONS ON TV". rugby-league.com. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  11. "BBC offers more rugby league coverage than ever before". BBC. 29 January 2016.
  12. "Ultimate guide to the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations". Fox Sports. Fox Sports Pty Limited. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  13. "League: Your ultimate guide to November's 2016 Four Nations tournament". nzherald.co.nz. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
External video
video icon Four Nations Final 2016: Australia v New Zealand on YouTube

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