Anzac Test

The ANZAC Test is an annual rugby league football test match (known as the Bundaberg Rum Test from 2004–2008 and the VB Test in 2009 for sponsorship reasons). Inaugurated in 1997, the test is played annually between Australia and New Zealand on or around Anzac Day for the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.

In August 2015 the NRL made a new $925 million (Australian) TV deal. One major incentive of the deal was for player welfare and satisfaction and therefore the deal revealed that the NRL regular season would now be played over 25 rounds, not 26. The week taken off of this new deal was the representative weekend and, although the Pacific tests still remain (which have been shifted to play on a Sunday on the same day as game 2 of the State of Origin series), the ANZAC test has been removed from the NRL calendar with the deal revealing that the International game will be given "a new priority" in a dedicated window after the NRL Premiership season. The ANZAC test will still be played until 2018 when the new TV deal comes into play.

1997 ANZAC Test

The 1997 ANZAC test was the first annual Anzac test played between Australia and New Zealand. Conceived by the rebel Super League competition, any players aligned with the Australian Rugby League were not available for selection. The game was played on ANZAC Day, 25 April 1997 at the Sydney Football Stadium in front of 23,829 fans and was won by Australia 34-22.

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1998 Anzac Test

The 1998 Anzac test was a rugby league game played between Australia and New Zealand at the North Harbour Stadium 24 April 1998. It was the 2nd Anzac test played between the two nations since the first was played under the Super League banner in 1997 and the first to be played in New Zealand.

Australia led 12-6 at half time after two tries to Terry Hill while Kevin Iro crossed for the home side, but the Kiwis came back thanks to two tries after half time by Sean Hoppe and Terry Hermansson which saw NZ lead 18-12. After Steve Renouf scored with only his 3rd touch of the game midway through the second half, the game was in the balance with the score at 18-16. Kevin Iro then put the result beyond doubt with his second try with 2 minutes remaining to give the home side a 22-16 win in front of an almost full house of 24,620 fans. This was New Zealand's first win over Australia since the first test of the 1991 Trans-Tasman Test series at the Olympic Park Stadium in Melbourne.

Squads