1995 Rugby League World Cup Group B
# 1995 Rugby League World Cup Group B

1995 Rugby League World Cup Group B was one of the three groups in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. The group consisted of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.

## Ladder

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 30 | +17 | 4 | Advanced to knockout stage |
| Tonga | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 52 | 53 | −1 | 1 | |
| Papua New Guinea | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 50 | −16 | 1 | |

## New Zealand vs Tonga

Tonga looked to be pulling off the shock of the 1995 World Cup when they came from 12–6 down to lead New Zealand 24–12 with 20 minutes to go in the game at Wilderspool Stadium. However, late tries to Hitro Okesene and Richie Blackmore (his second), both converted by Matthew Ridge who also landed a field goal in the dying moments, saved the Kiwis from an embarrassing loss.

* 8 October 1995

| New Zealand | 25 – 24 | Tonga |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Richie Blackmore (2) Sean Hoppe Tony Kemp Hitro Okesene Goals: Matthew Ridge (2/5) Field Goals: Matthew Ridge (1) | | Tries: Willie Wolfgramm Una Taufa Jimmy Veikoso Salesi Finau Goals: Asa Amone (4/5) |

* Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington Attendance: 8,083 Referee: David Campbell

| New Zealand | Tonga |
| - | - |
| FB | 1 | Matthew Ridge (c) |
| RW | 2 | Sean Hoppe |
| RC | 3 | Richie Blackmore |
| LC | 4 | Ruben Wiki |
| LW | 5 | Richie Barnett |
| FE | 6 | Gene Ngamu |
| HB | 7 | Stacey Jones |
| PR | 8 | Quentin Pongia |
| HK | 9 | Syd Eru |
| PR | 10 | Jason Lowrie |
| SR | 11 | Tony Iro |
| SR | 12 | Stephen Kearney |
| LF | 13 | Tony Kemp |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Henry Paul |
| IC | 15 | Hitro Okesene |
| IC | 16 | Kevin Iro |
| IC | 17 | Mark Horo |
| Coach: ||
| Frank Endacott ||
| FB | 1 | Tevita Vaikona |
| RW | 2 | Una Taufa |
| RC | 3 | Taukolo Tonga |
| LC | 4 | Asa Amone |
| LW | 5 | Jimmy Veikoso |
| FE | 6 | Phil Howlett |
| HB | 7 | Willie Wolfgramm |
| PR | 8 | Martin Masella |
| HK | 9 | Duane Mann (c) |
| PR | 10 | Liuaki Hansen |
| SR | 11 | George Mann |
| SR | 12 | Solomon Haumono |
| LK | 13 | Awen Guttenbeil |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Salesi Finau |
| IC | 15 | Talite Liava'a |
| IC | 16 | |
| IC | 17 | |
| Coach: ||
| Mike McClennan ||

## Papua New Guinea vs Tonga

Tonga continued their good form to lead Papua New Guinea 20–0 at half time. However, the Kumuls came alive in the second half to pull out a 28–all draw.

* 10 October 1995

| Papua New Guinea | 28 – 28 | Tonga |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Adrian Lam Elias Paiyo David Buko Stanley Gene Lucas Solbat Goals: Elias Paiyo (4) | | Tries: Awen Guttenbeil (2) Phil Howlett Willie Wolfgramm Tauʻalupe Liku Una Taufa Goals: Asa Amone (2) |

* The Boulevard, Kingston upon Hull Attendance: 5,121 Referee: Claude Alba

| Papua New Guinea | Tonga |
| - | - |
| FB | 1 | David Buko |
| RW | 2 | James Kops |
| RC | 3 | David Gomia |
| LC | 4 | John Okul |
| LW | 5 | Gideon Kouoru |
| FE | 6 | Stanley Gene |
| HB | 7 | Adrian Lam (c) |
| PR | 8 | Tuiyo Evei |
| HK | 9 | Elias Paiyo |
| PR | 10 | David Westley |
| SR | 11 | Max Tiri |
| SR | 12 | Nande Yer |
| LK | 13 | Bruce Mamando |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Robert Tela |
| IC | 15 | Lucas Solbat |
| IC | 16 | Marcus Bai |
| IC | 17 | David Reeka |
| Coach: ||
| Joe Tokam ||
| FB | 1 | Asa Amone |
| RW | 2 | Una Taufa |
| RC | 3 | Tevita Vaikona |
| LC | 4 | Talite Liava'a |
| LW | 5 | Jimmy Veikoso |
| FE | 6 | Phil Howlett |
| HB | 7 | Willie Wolfgramm |
| PR | 8 | Martin Masella |
| HK | 9 | Duane Mann (c) |
| PR | 10 | Liuaki Hansen |
| SR | 11 | George Mann |
| SR | 12 | Solomon Haumono |
| LK | 13 | Awen Guttenbeil |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Salesi Finau |
| IC | 15 | Tauʻalupe Liku |
| IC | 16 | Taukolo Tonga |
| IC | 17 | |
| Coach: ||
| Mike McClennan ||

## New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea

New Zealand finally showed some good form with a 22–6 win over a game Papua New Guinea at Knowsley Road. The Kiwis lost first choice hooker Syd Eru before the game after he failed a drug test. The New Zealand team doctor confirmed the banned substance was part of an over the counter cough medicine Eru had taken for a cold, but the ban stood and he was out for the rest of the tournament. He was replaced at hooker by Gary Freeman playing his 45th and last test for New Zealand.

* 13 October 1995

| New Zealand | 22 – 6 | Papua New Guinea |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Matthew Ridge Richie Blackmore Sean Hoppe Goals: Matthew Ridge (4) Gene Ngamu (1) | | Tries: Marcus Bai Goals: Elias Paiyo (1/2) |

* Knowsley Road, St Helens Attendance: 8,679 Referee: Stuart Cummings

| New Zealand | Papua New Guinea |
| - | - |
| FB | 1 | Matthew Ridge (c) |
| RW | 2 | Sean Hoppe |
| RC | 3 | Richie Blackmore |
| LC | 4 | Ruben Wiki |
| LW | 5 | Jason Williams |
| FE | 6 | Henry Paul |
| HB | 7 | Stacey Jones |
| PR | 8 | Quentin Pongia |
| HK | 9 | Gary Freeman |
| PR | 10 | Jason Lowrie |
| SR | 11 | Stephen Kearney |
| SR | 12 | Mark Horo |
| LF | 13 | Tony Kemp |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Gene Ngamu |
| IC | 15 | Hitro Okesene |
| IC | 16 | Kevin Iro |
| IC | 17 | Tony Iro |
| Coach: ||
| Frank Endacott ||
| FB | 1 | David Buko |
| RW | 2 | James Kops |
| RC | 3 | David Gomia |
| LC | 4 | John Okul |
| LW | 5 | Gideon Kouoru |
| FE | 6 | Stanley Gene |
| HB | 7 | Adrian Lam (c) |
| PR | 8 | Nande Yer |
| HK | 9 | Elias Paiyo |
| PR | 10 | David Westley |
| SR | 11 | Max Tiri |
| SR | 12 | Michael Angara |
| LK | 13 | Bruce Mamando |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Lucas Solbat |
| IC | 15 | Marcus Bai |
| IC | 16 | Ben Biri |
| IC | 17 | |
| Coach: ||
| Joe Tokam ||
