1986 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea match victory against New Zealand and their first test win since defeating France 37-6 in 1977. The Kumuls would not win another test until 1990. Following the loss to Papua New Guinea, Graham Lowe resigned in August to take up the position of head coach with English club side Wigan. Tony Gordon was appointed as his replacement in September. Dun Furner and Wally Lewis would lead the Australian team on the undefeated 1986 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France at the end of the NSWRL and BRL seasons. 1986 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and Papua New
1986 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea failing a team medical. Australia continued its international dominance and scored a clean sweep against the Kiwis with a 32-12, 6 tries to 2 win in front of almost 23,000 at Lang Park. The match was broadcast into NSW and Qld by the Nine Network and via relay into New Zealand. This game also counted towards the 1985-1988 Rugby League World Cup. In Papua New Guinea they defeated Island Zone 26-6 and lost to Southern Zone 20-26 before the two test matches. This match counted towards the 1988 Rugby League World Cup. Papua New Guinea scored their first ever test