The Kiwis' famous win at Lang Park in 1983 was the catalyst for 12 precious Test wins over the Kangaroos in the last 30 years. Read on to relive the wins and rate your top five.
Nothing ever changes with rugby league Tests between Australia and New Zealand. The Kangaroos are always crammed full of superstars, the supposed no-name Kiwis given no chance at all.
And so it was again on Friday night as the neighbours and sometimes-brothers-in-arms lined up for the 2013 edition of the Anzac Test at Canberra Stadium.
The Kangaroos had magic to call on all over the park, no more so than in the spine positions with the Queensland quartet of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater combining yet again (as three of them also do almost every week for Melbourne).
Throw in any number of other gifted individuals like Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Paul Gallen and more and the perception is the playing field is just a little uneven. With extenuating circumstances getting in the way (another term for dubious officiating decisions), the Kangaroos had their way winning 3212 this time.
The make-up of Australian teams has never been a concern for Kiwi teams, though; no point worrying about it. For them it comes down to belief in themselves individually and in their team unit. On three vital occasions in the recent past it has been the formula to carry them to success when the Kangaroos and millions of followers never thought it was going to happen.
Witness the 2005 Tri Nations final, the 2008 Rugby League World Cup decider and the 2010 Four Nations final.
The Anzac Test hasnt been such a happy hunting ground at all with the lone success coming in 1998. Before Friday night, though, the last three meetings had produced tense contests with the Kangaroos prevailing by margins of just 12-8, 20-10 and 20-12. Entering the second half, the 2013 edition was playing the same way only for the night to unravel.
The Canberra contest took place just a matter of weeks away from the 30th anniversary of one of the most famous victories in New Zealand sporting history (not just in rugby league terms).
It was on the night of July 9, 1983 that a New Zealand team once again took the field against the Kangaroos given zero chance of winning. The scene was Lang Park and the Kiwis hadnt beaten the Australians in a Test since 1971. True. Theyd gone 12 years without success.
That night something magical happened. Somehow and from somewhere a New Zealand side primed by a baby-faced rookie international coach Graham Lowe did the unimaginable by outgunning a side rated invincible, winning 19-12.
CLICK HERE TO RELIVER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE KIWIS' LANG PARK WIN IN 1983
The win at Lang Park was the catalyst for an era which has seen the Kiwis snare 12 precious victories over Australia in 30 years, a healthy strike rate given the Kangaroos historical dominance, amply illustrated by the total success between 1971 and 1983.
Each of the 12 victories had its own magic for all who waited patiently for and then enjoyed the glorious moments along the way.
So of these 12 victories, which ones rate the highest for you?
CLICK HERE TO RATE YOUR TOP FIVE WINS BY NEW ZEALAND OVER AUSTRALIA FROM 1983-2013
These have been the victories:
July 9, 1983
Lang Park, Brisbane
Second Test
Australia 12, New Zealand 19
July 7, 1985
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Third Test
New Zealand 18, Australia 0
June 21, 1987
Lang Park, Brisbane
One-off Test
Australia 6, New Zealand 13
July 3, 1991
Olympic Park, Melbourne
First Test
Australia 8, New Zealand 24
September 26, 1997
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Second Test
New Zealand 30, Australia 12
April 24, 1998
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
First Test (Anzac Test)
New Zealand 22, Australia 16
October 15, 1999
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Tri Nations
New Zealand 24, Australia 22
October 18, 2003
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Centenary Test
New Zealand 30, Australia 16
October 15, 2005
Telstra Stadium, Homebush
Tri Nations
Australia 28, New Zealand 38
November 27, 2005
Elland Road, Leeds
Tri Nations (final)
Australia 0, New Zealand 24
November 22, 2008
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Rugby League World Cup (final)
Australia 20, New Zealand 34
November 13, 2010
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Four Nations (final)
Australia 12, New Zealand 16
Nothing ever changes with rugby league Tests between Australia and New Zealand. The Kangaroos are always crammed full of superstars, the supposed no-name Kiwis given no chance at all.
And so it was again on Friday night as the neighbours and sometimes-brothers-in-arms lined up for the 2013 edition of the Anzac Test at Canberra Stadium.
The Kangaroos had magic to call on all over the park, no more so than in the spine positions with the Queensland quartet of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater combining yet again (as three of them also do almost every week for Melbourne).
Throw in any number of other gifted individuals like Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Paul Gallen and more and the perception is the playing field is just a little uneven. With extenuating circumstances getting in the way (another term for dubious officiating decisions), the Kangaroos had their way winning 3212 this time.
The make-up of Australian teams has never been a concern for Kiwi teams, though; no point worrying about it. For them it comes down to belief in themselves individually and in their team unit. On three vital occasions in the recent past it has been the formula to carry them to success when the Kangaroos and millions of followers never thought it was going to happen.
Witness the 2005 Tri Nations final, the 2008 Rugby League World Cup decider and the 2010 Four Nations final.
The Anzac Test hasnt been such a happy hunting ground at all with the lone success coming in 1998. Before Friday night, though, the last three meetings had produced tense contests with the Kangaroos prevailing by margins of just 12-8, 20-10 and 20-12. Entering the second half, the 2013 edition was playing the same way only for the night to unravel.
The Canberra contest took place just a matter of weeks away from the 30th anniversary of one of the most famous victories in New Zealand sporting history (not just in rugby league terms).
It was on the night of July 9, 1983 that a New Zealand team once again took the field against the Kangaroos given zero chance of winning. The scene was Lang Park and the Kiwis hadnt beaten the Australians in a Test since 1971. True. Theyd gone 12 years without success.
That night something magical happened. Somehow and from somewhere a New Zealand side primed by a baby-faced rookie international coach Graham Lowe did the unimaginable by outgunning a side rated invincible, winning 19-12.
CLICK HERE TO RELIVER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE KIWIS' LANG PARK WIN IN 1983
The win at Lang Park was the catalyst for an era which has seen the Kiwis snare 12 precious victories over Australia in 30 years, a healthy strike rate given the Kangaroos historical dominance, amply illustrated by the total success between 1971 and 1983.
Each of the 12 victories had its own magic for all who waited patiently for and then enjoyed the glorious moments along the way.
So of these 12 victories, which ones rate the highest for you?
CLICK HERE TO RATE YOUR TOP FIVE WINS BY NEW ZEALAND OVER AUSTRALIA FROM 1983-2013
These have been the victories:
July 9, 1983
Lang Park, Brisbane
Second Test
Australia 12, New Zealand 19
July 7, 1985
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Third Test
New Zealand 18, Australia 0
June 21, 1987
Lang Park, Brisbane
One-off Test
Australia 6, New Zealand 13
July 3, 1991
Olympic Park, Melbourne
First Test
Australia 8, New Zealand 24
September 26, 1997
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Second Test
New Zealand 30, Australia 12
April 24, 1998
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
First Test (Anzac Test)
New Zealand 22, Australia 16
October 15, 1999
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Tri Nations
New Zealand 24, Australia 22
October 18, 2003
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Centenary Test
New Zealand 30, Australia 16
October 15, 2005
Telstra Stadium, Homebush
Tri Nations
Australia 28, New Zealand 38
November 27, 2005
Elland Road, Leeds
Tri Nations (final)
Australia 0, New Zealand 24
November 22, 2008
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Rugby League World Cup (final)
Australia 20, New Zealand 34
November 13, 2010
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Four Nations (final)
Australia 12, New Zealand 16
