2014 Rugby League Four Nations

2014 (2014) Four Nations  ()
Number of teams	4
Host countries	New Zealand Australia
Winner	New Zealand (2nd title)
Matches played	7
Attendance	144,722 (20,675 per match)
Points scored	286 (40.86 per match)
Tries scored	52 (7.43 per match)
Top scorer	Shaun Johnson (30)
Top try scorer	Jason Nightingale (5)
Tournaments  < 2011 2016 >

The 2014 Rugby League Four Nations tournament was the fourth staging of the Rugby League Four Nations tournament played in Australia and New Zealand over three weeks from Saturday, 25 October to Saturday, 15 November 2014. The series was contested by regular participants Australia, England and New Zealand, joined by Samoa, having won their Pacific qualifier against Fiji. New Zealand won the tournament, defeating Australia in the final at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Saturday 15 November.

History

The 2014 tournament is the first Four Nations series to be scheduled following the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, with the venues rotating between Europe and the South Pacific.

In addition to automatic inclusions Australia, England and New Zealand, Pacific nations Fiji and Samoa met in a mid-season test match at the Penrith Stadium in western Sydney to determine the fourth entrant in the tournament. Samoa won an entertaining match 32-16 in front of 9,063 fans.

The 34,500 capacity Westpac Stadium in Wellington will play host to the first Four Nations Final played in New Zealand. The last time the final of the tournament was held in New Zealand was at the Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland when the tournament was known as the Tri-Nations in its inaugural year, 1999.

Venues

The games will be played at the following venues in Australia and New Zealand. The tournament final will be played in Wellington.

Brisbane	Whangarei	Melbourne	Dunedin	Wollongong	Wellington
Suncorp Stadium	Toll Stadium	AAMI Park	Forsyth Barr Stadium	WIN Stadium	Westpac Stadium
Capacity: 52,500	Capacity: 30,000	Capacity: 30,050	Capacity: 30,748	Capacity: 23,750	Capacity: 34,500
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Referees

• Henry Perenara (Referee and Video Referee - New Zealand)
• Phil Bentham (Referee - England)
• Gerard Sutton (Referee - Australia)
• Ben Cummins (Replacement Referee - Australia)

Touch judges/video referees

• Anthony Eliott (Touch Judge - New Zealand)
• Grant Atkins (Touch Judge - Australia)
• Jason Walsh (Touch Judge - Australia)
• Robert Hicks (Touch Judge - England)
• Ian Smith (Video Referee - England)
• Bernard Sutton (Video Referee - Australia)

Participating nations

Team	Coach	Captain	RLIF Rank	Continent
Australia	Tim Sheens	Cameron Smith	1st	Oceania
England	Steve McNamara	Sean O'Loughlin	3rd	Europe
New Zealand	Stephen Kearney	Simon Mannering	2nd	Oceania
Samoa	Matt Parish	David Fa'alogo	7th	Oceania

Squads

Main article: 2014 Rugby League Four Nations Squads

Qualifier

Main article: Pacific Rugby League International § 2014 test

Samoa v. Fiji

3 May 2014

Samoa	32 – 16	Fiji
Tries: Penani Manumalealii (3) 13' c, 38' c, 44' c Carlos Tuimavave 54'c Daniel Vidot 64'c Sam Tagataese 78' Goals: Krisnan Inu (6/6) 13', 38', 44', 50', 54', 64'	Video	Tries: Kevin Naiqama 16' c James Storer 27' c Lote Tuqiri 30' m Goals: Lote Tuqiri (2/3) 17', 28'

Penrith Stadium, Sydney, Australia Attendance: 9,063 Referee/s: Ashley Klein Man of the Match: Penani Manumalealii

• Samoa qualified for main tournament

Results

Round 1

Saturday, 25 October 2014 5:00pm (AEDT)

England	32 – 26	Samoa
Tries: Michael Shenton 21' c Kallum Watkins 34' c Liam Farrell 46' c Joel Tomkins 65' c Sam Tomkins 68' c Goals: Gareth Widdop (6/6) 22', 34', 40', 46', 65', 68'	Report	Tries: Isaac Liu 26' c Daniel Vidot 30' m Pita Godinet (2) 55' c, 61' c Antonio Winterstein 72' c Goals: Kyle Stanley (3/4) 26', 55', 61' Ben Roberts (1/1) 72'

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia Attendance: 47,813 Referee/s: Gerard Sutton Man of the Match: Sam Tomkins

• Ben Roberts made his 10th appearance for Samoa, only the second player to hit double-digit appearances for his country with George Carmont being the first.

ENGLAND
1. Sam Tomkins · 2. Josh Charnley · 3. Kallum Watkins · 4. Michael Shenton · 5. Ryan Hall · 6. Gareth Widdop · 7. Matty Smith · 8. George Burgess · 9. Josh Hodgson · 10. James Graham (c) · 11. Liam Farrell · 12. Joel Tomkins · 13. Joe Westerman
Interchange: 14. Daryl Clark · 15. Brett Ferres · 16. Tom Burgess · 17. Chris Hill
Coach: Steve McNamara

SAMOA
1. Tim Simona · 2. Antonio Winterstein · 3. Ricky Leutele · 4. Joey Leilua · 5. Daniel Vidot · 6. Ben Roberts · 7. Kyle Stanley · 8. Sam Tagataese · 9. Michael Sio · 10. David Fa'alogo (c) · 11. Frank Pritchard · 12. Leeson Ah Mau · 13. Josh McGuire
Interchange: 14. Pita Godinet · 15. Jesse Sene-Lefao · 16. Isaac Liu · 17. Mose Masoe
Coach: Matt Parish

Saturday, 25 October 2014 7:30pm (AEDT)

Australia	12 – 30	New Zealand
Tries: Beau Scott 3' c Greg Inglis 21' c Goal: Cameron Smith (2/2) 3', 21'	Report	Tries: Proctor 17' c Lewis Brown 29' c Shaun Johnson 47' c Dean Whare 51' c Jason Nightingale 68' c Goals: Shaun Johnson (5/5) 17', 29', 47', 51', 68'

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia Attendance: 47,813 Referee/s: Phil Bentham Man of the Match: File:New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Shaun Johnson

• Dallin Watene-Zelezniak could have made his international test debut in the starting XIII for New Zealand on the right-wing, but was ruled out for the game and for the rest of the tournament with an ankle injury and Gerard Beale replaced him.
• Jason Taumalolo made his international test debut for New Zealand.
• Daniel Tupou, Josh Mansour, Dylan Walker, Aaron Woods and Aidan Guerra made their international test debut for Australia
• With the victory, this was New Zealand's first Test win over Australia since the 2010 Four Nations Final.

Australia
1. Greg Inglis · 2. Josh Mansour · 3. Michael Jennings · 4. Dylan Walker · 5. Daniel Tupou · 6. Daly Cherry-Evans · 7. Cooper Cronk · 8. Aaron Woods · 9. Cameron Smith (c) · 10. Sam Thaiday · 11. Beau Scott · 12. Ryan Hoffman · 13. Greg Bird
Interchange: 14. Robbie Farah · 15. Aidan Guerra · 16. Josh Papalii · 17. Corey Parker
Coach: Tim Sheens

New Zealand
1. Peta Hiku · 2. Jason Nightingale · 3. Shaun Kenny-Dowall · 4. Dean Whare · 19. Gerard Beale · 6. Kieran Foran · 7. Shaun Johnson · 8. Jesse Bromwich · 9. Thomas Leuluai · 10. Adam Blair · 11. Simon Mannering (c) · 12. Kevin Proctor · 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Lewis Brown · 15. Greg Eastwood · 16. Martin Taupau · 17. Tohu Harris
Coach: Stephen Kearney

Round 2

Saturday, 1 November 2014 4:00pm (NZT)

New Zealand	14 – 12	Samoa
Tries: Kieran Foran 10' c Jason Nightingale 64' Shaun Kenny-Dowall 76' Goals: Shaun Johnson (1/3) 11'	Report	Tries: Tautau Moga 6' Daniel Vidot 18' Joseph Leilua 44' Goals: Tim Lafai (0/3)

Toll Stadium, Whangarei, New Zealand Attendance: 16,912 Referee/s: Henry Perenara Man of the Match: File:New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Kieran Foran

• Suaia Matagi made his international test debut for New Zealand
• Tautau Moga and Dominique Peyroux made their international test debut for Samoa
• With the victory, New Zealand retained the Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Trophy.

New Zealand
1. Peta Hiku · 2. Jason Nightingale · 3. Shaun Kenny-Dowall · 4. Dean Whare · 5. Manu Vatuvei · 6. Kieran Foran · 7. Shaun Johnson · 8. Jesse Bromwich · 9. Issac Luke · 10. Adam Blair · 11. Simon Mannering (c) · 12. Kevin Proctor · 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Lewis Brown · 15. Suaia Matagi · 16. Martin Taupau · 17. Tohu Harris
Coach: Stephen Kearney

SAMOA
1. Tim Simona · 20. Tautau Moga · 3. Tim Lafai · 4. Joey Leilua · 5. Daniel Vidot · 6. Ben Roberts · 7. Kyle Stanley · 8. Isaac Liu · 16. Sauaso Sue · 10. David Fa'alogo (c) · 11. Frank Pritchard · 12. Leeson Ah Mau · 13. Josh McGuire
Interchange: 9. Pita Godinet · 14. Dunamis Lui · 17. Mose Masoe · 18. Dominique Peyroux
Coach: Matt Parish

Sunday, 2 November 2014 4:00pm (AEST)

Australia	16 – 12	England
Tries: Michael Jennings 16' Ben Hunt 56' c Greg Inglis 62' c Goals: Cameron Smith (2/3) 57', 64'	Report	Tries: Kallum Watkins 28' c Ryan Hall 33' c Goals: Gareth Widdop (2/2) 29', 35'

AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia Attendance: 20,585 Referee/s: Gerard Sutton Man of the Match: Cameron Smith

• Perth born Dan Sarginson made his international test début for England.
• Ben Hunt and David Klemmer made their international test debuts for Australia.
• Sione Mata'utia also made his international test début for Australia and becoming the youngest ever player to play for Australia at aged 18 years and 129 days, eclipsing Israel Folau's seven-year-old record by 65 days.
• Cameron Smith becomes the 6th Kangaroo-Test player, to play 40-Test games for Australia.

Australia
1. Greg Inglis · 2. Josh Mansour · 3. Michael Jennings · 4. Dylan Walker · 5. Sione Mata'utia · 6. Daly Cherry-Evans · 7. Cooper Cronk · 8. Aaron Woods · 9. Cameron Smith (c) · 10. Sam Thaiday · 11. Beau Scott · 12. Greg Bird · 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 14. Boyd Cordner · 15. Ben Hunt · 16. David Klemmer · 17. Josh Papalii
Coach: Tim Sheens

ENGLAND
1. Sam Tomkins · 2. Josh Charnley · 3. Kallum Watkins · 18. Dan Sarginson · 5. Ryan Hall · 6. Gareth Widdop · 7. Matty Smith · 8. George Burgess · 9. Josh Hodgson · 10. James Graham · 11. Liam Farrell · 12. Joel Tomkins · 19. Sean O'Loughlin (c)
Interchange: 14. Daryl Clark · 15. Brett Ferres · 16. Tom Burgess · 17. Chris Hill
Coach: Steve McNamara

Round 3

Saturday, 8 November 2014 7:00pm (NZT)

New Zealand	16 – 14	England
Tries: Jason Nightingale (2) 2' c, 29' c Manu Vatuvei 45' Goals: Shaun Johnson (2/3) 3', 31'	Report	Tries: Ryan Hall (2) 7', 56' c Josh Charnley 24' Goals: Gareth Widdop (1/3) 58'

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand Attendance: 15,863 Referee/s: Phil Bentham Man of the Match: File:New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Jason Taumalolo

• With the victory, New Zealand secured a place in the final.

New Zealand
1. Peta Hiku · 2. Jason Nightingale · 3. Shaun Kenny-Dowall · 4. Dean Whare · 5. Manu Vatuvei · 6. Kieran Foran · 7. Shaun Johnson · 8. Jesse Bromwich · 14. Thomas Leuluai · 10. Adam Blair · 11. Simon Mannering (c) · 12. Kevin Proctor · 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 9. Issac Luke · 15. Greg Eastwood · 16. Martin Taupau · 17. Tohu Harris
Coach: Stephen Kearney

ENGLAND
1. Sam Tomkins · 2. Josh Charnley · 3. Kallum Watkins · 4. Dan Sarginson · 5. Ryan Hall · 6. Gareth Widdop · 7. Matty Smith · 8. George Burgess · 14. Daryl Clark · 10. James Graham · 11. Liam Farrell · 12. Joel Tomkins · 13. Sean O'Loughlin (c)
Interchange: 15. Brett Ferres · 16. Tom Burgess · 17. Chris Hill · 18. Elliott Whitehead
Coach: Steve McNamara

Sunday, 9 November 2014 4:00pm (AEST)

Australia	44 – 18	Samoa
Tries: Cooper Cronk (2) 2', 62' Greg Inglis (2) 11', 26' Daly Cherry-Evans 30' David Klemmer 34' Josh Papalii 76' Josh Mansour 79' Goals: Cameron Smith (4/6) Daly Cherry-Evans (2/2)	Report	Tries: Tim Simona 20' Ben Roberts 47' David Fa'alogo 69' Goals: Tim Lafai (3/3)

WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Australia Attendance: 18,456 Referee/s: Gerard Sutton Man of the Match: Greg Inglis

• Josh Jackson made his international test debut for Australia.
• With the victory, Australia secured a place in the final.

Australia
1. Greg Inglis · 2. Josh Mansour · 3. Michael Jennings · 4. Dylan Walker · 5. Sione Mata'utia · 6. Daly Cherry-Evans · 7. Cooper Cronk · 8. Aaron Woods · 9. Cameron Smith (c) · 10. Josh Papalii · 11. Sam Thaiday · 12. Greg Bird · 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 14. Boyd Cordner · 15. Ben Hunt · 19. David Klemmer · 21. Josh Jackson
Coach: Tim Sheens

SAMOA
1. Tim Simona · 2. Antonio Winterstein · 3. Tim Lafai · 4. Joey Leilua · 5. Daniel Vidot · 6. Ben Roberts · 7. Kyle Stanley · 8. Isaac Liu · 13. Josh McGuire · 10. David Fa'alogo (c) · 11. Frank Pritchard · 12. Leeson Ah Mau · 17. Mose Masoe
Interchange: 9. Pita Godinet · 14. Dunamis Lui · 15. Reni Maitua · 16. Sauaso Sue
Coach: Matt Parish

Standings

2014 Four Nations
	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	New Zealand	3	3	0	0	60	38	+22	6
2	Australia	3	2	0	1	72	60	+12	4
3	England	3	1	0	2	58	58	0	2
4	Samoa	3	0	0	3	56	90	–34	0

Final

Saturday, 15 November 8:30pm (NZT)

New Zealand	22 – 18	Australia
Tries Manu Vatuvei (35', 63') 2 Jason Nightingale (23') 1 Shaun Johnson (58') 1 Goals Shaun Johnson 3/5 (25', 29' pen, 36')	Report	Tries 1 (11') Michael Jennings 1 (42') Sione Mata'utia 1 (76') Ben Hunt Goals 3/3 Cameron Smith (12', 43', 77')

Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand Attendance: 25,093 Referee/s: Phil Bentham Man of the Match: File:New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg Shaun Johnson

New Zealand	Position	Australia
Peta Hiku	FB	Greg Inglis
Jason Nightingale	WG	Josh Mansour
Dean Whare	CE	Michael Jennings
Shaun Kenny-Dowall	CE	Dylan Walker
Manu Vatuvei	WG	Sione Mata'utia
Kieran Foran	FE	Daly Cherry-Evans
Shaun Johnson	HB	Cooper Cronk
Jesse Bromwich	PR	Aaron Woods
Isaac Luke	HK	Cameron Smith (c)
Adam Blair	PR	Josh Papalii
Simon Mannering (c)	SR	Sam Thaiday
Kevin Proctor	SR	Greg Bird
Jason Taumalolo	LK	Corey Parker
Lewis Brown	Int	Boyd Cordner
Greg Eastwood	Int	Ben Hunt
Martin Taupau	Int	Josh Jackson
Tohu Harris	Int	David Klemmer

Score Progression:
11th: Australia 6 - 0 (Jennings Try, Smith Goal) 23rd: Even 6 - 6 (Nightingale Try, Johnson Goal) 29th: New Zealand 8 - 6 (Johnson Penalty Goal) 35th: New Zealand 14 - 6 (Vatuvei Try, Johnson Goal) 42nd: New Zealand 14 - 12 (Mata'utia Try, Smith Goal) 58th: New Zealand 18 - 12 (Johnson Try) 63rd: New Zealand 22 - 12 (Vatuvei Try) 76th: New Zealand 22 - 18 (Hunt Try, Smith Goal)

Match records:

• This was Australia's first game at Wellington's Westpac Stadium since 2007, when they beat New Zealand 58-0.
• This was New Zealand's first home game at Wellington's Westpac Stadium since the 2010 Four Nations Round 1 clash with England, when they won 24-10.
• With the victory, New Zealand won this year's Four Nations Title, as well as their second Tournament Title.
• New Zealand became the second team since Australia (in the 2011 Four Nations series), to go through the tournament undefeated.
• New Zealand won 2 consecutive matches against Australia, for the first time since 1998.
• New Zealand earned their first victory over Australia at a home venue since 2003, when they won 30-16 over Australia at Auckland's North Harbour Stadium.
• Manu Vatuvei becomes New Zealand's all-time leading try-scorer, passing Nigel Vagana's record (of 19 tries) after scoring his second try in the game for a total of 20 test tries.
• Simon Mannering became the fifth Kiwi-Test player to play 40 tests for New Zealand.

Player statistics

Top point scorers
	Player	Team	T	G	FG	Pts
1	Shaun Johnson	New Zealand	2	11	0	30
2	Cameron Smith	Australia	0	11	0	22
3	Jason Nightingale	New Zealand	5	0	0	20
4	Gareth Widdop	England	0	9	0	18
5	Greg Inglis	Australia	4	0	0	16

Top try scorers
	Player	Team	T
1	Jason Nightingale	New Zealand	5
2	Greg Inglis	Australia	4
3	Ryan Hall	England	3
	Manu Vatuvei	New Zealand

Broadcasting rights

In the United Kingdom, Premier Sports televised all the matches live while BBC Two televised England's round robin matches and the final live. BBC One televised highlights of matchday one while BBC Two televised highlights of matchday two while BBC One televised highlights of England's final round robin match against New Zealand while highlights of matchday three was televised on BBC Two in England and England HD at 10:00pm and in Northern Ireland at 10:30pm and in Scotland 11:00pm and in Wales at 11:30pm. BBC One televised highlights of the final.