[1] The tour was instigated by player-manager Mike Dimitro, who claimed to have witnessed a game of rugby league in Sydney whilst serving in the Pacific during World War II.
Several of the League's administrators were fervent promoters of their sport, and some were keen to take the game to the United States, so Dimitro's suggestion was favourably received.
[1] Although arrangements in California did not run smoothly, with reassurances sought by the host nation boards, eighteen players arrived in Sydney on May 18, 1953.
[3][4] Remarkably, the American All Stars won their first match on the scheduled tour, beating a combined Monaro and Southern Districts side.
Four Queenslanders — Harold Crocker, Brian Davies, Alan Hornery and Ken McCaffery — played for the American All Stars in the July 25 match against New South Wales.
Monaco-Southern Division FB: Bill Beazley ( Wollongong), WG: Greg Watts (Pyree), CE: Roy Freebody ( Captain's Flat), CE: Jack Seamer ( Port Kembla), WG: P. Ryan ( Bombala), FE: Keith Sullivan ( Goulburn), HB: Ron Bercene ( Bombala), LK: Bob Smith ( Port Kembla), SR: Angus Miller ( Berry), SR: Col Yarham ( Mittagong), PR: Billy Hodges ( Captain's Flat), HK: R. Stewart (Bega), PR: Bruce Edwards ( Robertson).
American All Stars: FB: George Kauffman, WG: Bill Albans, CE: Alvin E. Kirkland, CE: Sol Naumu, WG: Ed Demirjian, FE: Gary Kerkorian, HB: Ted Grossman, LK: Jack Bonetti, SR: Al D. Kirkland, SR: Fran Mandulay, PR: Vince Jones, HK: Sydney Walker, PR: Pat Henry.
New South Wales: FB: Clive Churchill (26) ( Souths), WG: Noel Pidding (26) ( St George), CE: Robert Bartlett (26) ( Wollongong), CE: Harry Wells (21) ( Wollongong), WG: Tommy Ryan ( St George), FE: Rees Duncan (21) ( Kurri Kurri), HB: Keith Holman (25) ( Wests), LK: Ken Slattery (25) ( Parramatta), SR: Don Schofield (22) ( Cessnock), SR: Albert Paul (25) ( Lakes United), PR: Charlie Gill (30) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Ken Kearney (27) ( St George), PR: Roy Bull (23) ( Manly).
American All Stars: FB: Sol Naumu, WG: Bob Buckley, CE: Alvin E. Kirkland, CE: Harold Han, WG: Ed Demirjian, FE: Gary Kerkorian, HB: Ted Grossman, LK: Jack Bonetti, SR: Al D. Kirkland, SR: Mike Dimitro, PR: Fran Mandulay, HK: Pat Henry, PR: Vince Jones.
Combined Country: FB: Darcy Russell ( Waratah Mayfield), WG: Brian Carlson ( Norths), CE: Harry Wells ( Wollongong), CE: Robert Bartlett ( Wollongong), WG: Jack Lumsden ( Coonabarabran), FE: Rees Duncan ( Kurri), HB: Noel Hill ( Maitland), LK: Ron Battye ( Gundagai), SR: Don Schofield ( Cessnock), SR: Albert Paul ( Lakes United), PR: Charlie Gill ( Norths), HK: Ernie Hammerton (Boorowa), PR: Bryan Orrock (Boorowa), Coach: Ray Stehr The following were named as reserves but are not mentioned (as playing) in match reports: Guy Brazier (Dorrigo), Jack Seamer ( Port Kembla) and Bob Smith ( Port Kembla) American All Stars: Al Abajian, Bill Albans, Jack Bonetti, Ted Grossman, Vince Jones, George Kauffman, Gary Kerkorian, Al D. Kirkland, Xavier Mena and Sydney Walker were mentioned in match reports, with one report mentioning that Pat Henry took the field as a replacement.
Western Districts: FB: Gordon Head ( Baradine), WG: Bruce Cohen ( Wellington), CE: Brian Condon ( Mudgee), CE: Jack Grant ( Brewarrina), WG: Jack Lumsden ( Coonabarabran), FE: Peter Burns ( Bathurst Railway), HB: Cec Edwards (Trangie), LK: Leo Nosworthy ( Narromine), SR: Jock Weir ( Narromine), SR: Noel Flynn ( Lithgow Arms Factory), PR: Bertie Simpson ( Lithgow Arms Factory), HK: Barry Green ( Mudgee), PR: N. Towett (Trangie), Coach: Frank Bell ( Lithgow Arms Factory).
American All Stars: FB: Sol Naumu, WG: Bob Buckley, CE: Harold Han, CE: Gary Kerkorian, WG: Ed Demirjian, FE: Ted Grossman, HB: Al Abajian, LK: Jack Bonetti, SR: Pat Henry, SR: Fran Mandulay, PR: Steve Drakulvich, HK: Sydney Walker, PR: Xavier Mena.
American All Stars: FB: Sol Naumu, WG: Alvin E. Kirkland, CE: Harold Han, CE: Bob Buckley, WG: Ed Demirjian, FE: Gary Kerkorian, HB: Ted Grossman, LK: Jack Bonetti, SR: Al D. Kirkland, SR: Mike Dimitro, PR: Fran Mandulay, HK: Vince Jones, PR: Pat Henry.