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

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

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)	[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 Asa Amone RW 2 Una Taufa RC 3 Tevita Vaikona LC 4 Phil Howlett LW 5 Jimmy Veikoso FE 6 Angelo Dymock 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 Luke Leilua IC 17 Taukolo Tonga Coach: Mike McClennan

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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)	[2]	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

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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)	[3]	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

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