The touring side's captain was Ellery Hanley, who was signed by Sydney club the Balmain Tigers to play the remaining rounds of the 1988 NSWRFL season once his representative commitments were fulfilled.
[5] Des Drummond was removed from the squad after allegedly punching a spectator who rushed onto the pitch shouting racial abuse during the British season.
[20] The tour's itinerary, which involved short periods between matches, making it tough for the visitors, was designed by the Australian Rugby League but agreed to by the British.
North Queensland: Namok, Gagai, Taylor, Turia, Curry, Worth, Filosi, Colwell, Bax, McAskill, House, Dalley, Greenwood.
Res - Roy Haggerty The Newcastle Knights, a new team in the NSWRL Premiership in 1988, was rewarded for large early season attendances with a game against the touring Lions.
[24] Although facing the Lions mid-week side which still included test players Andy Platt, Martin Offiah, Phil Ford, Carl Gibson, David Hulme and Roy Powell, Manly went into the game missing regular first grade players in lock forward Paul Vautin, centre Michael O'Connor and prop forward Phil Daley (Australian test players rested before the first test four days later), while fullback Dale Shearer, winger David Ronson and hooker Mal Cochrane were all unavailable due to injury.
Manly's teenage halfback Geoff Toovey, playing only his third game of top grade football, capped a man-of-the-match performance scoring one of his sides tries.
For Manly, Toovey, Lyons, Cleal and Des Hasler (playing at lock) led the way for the 30–0 win while fullback Tim Dwyer capped a fine night kicking 5 goals from 5 attempts.
The scheduling of the game against the reigning Sydney premiers only four days out from the first test drew criticism from Lions management and the British press who were covering the tour.
Andrew Ettingshausen, Peter Jackson, Tony Currie, Sam Backo, Phil Daley and Gary Belcher were selected to make their Test match debuts for Australia.
Both Blues skipper Wayne Pearce and Noel Cleal were shock omissions while Wally Fullerton-Smith (second row) and Greg Conescu (hooker) were recalled for their first tests since 1984 and 1985 respectively.
Following a high tackle on British hooker Kevin Beardmore by Australian front rower Phil Daley, Great Britain put the first points on the board with Paul Loughlin's penalty kick from 40 metres out.
[34] Combined Brisbane: Steve Hegarty, Kelly Egan, Brett McCarthy, Cherry, Gordon Barwick, Peter Coyne, Daunt, McIntyre, Holmes, Ponting, Glen Haggath, Ian Stains, Darren Smith.
Res - Martin Offiah, Hugh Waddell In the 20th minute of the match British centre Garry Schofield was assisted from the field with a fractured jaw bone.
[36] Toowoomba / S-E Queensland: Weribone, Clevin, Blake, Pratt, Stower, Clancy, Smith, Dwyer, M. Cook, Sutoon, Buckle, Johnson, Sullivan.
Wide Bay: Ovens, Templeman, Kirby, Lalli, Kinsela, Jones, Ward, Reddacliff, Gerrard, McGrath, Sempf, Schulte, March.
Australia's next try came in the twentieth minute when Wally Lewis chip kicked the ball ahead for himself, re-gathered it and passed it Peter Jackson who crossed untouched and scored behind the uprights.
Again playing the ball close to Great Britain's line Australia scored from dummy half once more when Wayne Pearce dived over.
Playing the ball just inside Great Britain's half the Australians continued up-field, evading tacklers and passing to support players, the last of whom was Wally Lewis who ran the remaining metres to score untouched.
[41] Western Division: Frail, Wilfred Williams, Casey, Mark Smith, Newman, Clark, Douglas, Gibson, Luke, McAnally, Fitzgerald, Michael Peachy, Moy.
[43] The Don Furner coached President's XIII led 14–2 after 22 minutes thanks to tries by Steve O'Brien, Glenn Lazarus and 1986 Kangaroo tourist Greg Alexander.
But after a second half try to Mal Meninga (who had an off day with the boot, kicking only 2 of his 6 attempts at goal), the Lions brought it back to 18–16 thanks to 2 tries from Welsh fullback Phil Ford and one to captain Mike Gregory plus the more accurate goal kicking of St Helens centre Paul Loughlin in the increasingly muddy conditions at the Seiffert Oval, the home ground of the Canberra Raiders.
Early in the match Great Britain were disallowed a try when Henderson Gill dived onto an Andy Gregory bomb which was not secured by the Australian fullback.
[48] A few minutes later Great Britain were again on the attack in Australia's territory and keeping the ball alive, their scrum half back Andy Gregory darting about elusively before passing it to Ford who stepped and weaved his way amongst the defenders to dash through and score near the uprights.
Shortly before half-time Australia suffered a major setback when their halfback Peter Sterling was forced off with a dislocated shoulder after being driven into the turf in a tackle by Roy Powell.
Working the ball up close to the uprights, their captain Wally Lewis got it at first receiver and ran it into the defence, wrestling his way through to the tryline where he reached out and put it down beneath the black dot.
[49] Again the Britons' failure to win a scrum in their own territory afforded Australia another opportunity, with forward Sam Backo crashing over the line shortly after from close range.
The Lions struck again from deep within their own half where centre Paul Loughlin got the ball at first receiver, ran through the defensive line and crossed half-way before passing to Henderson Gill in support on his outside to dive over on the right wing.
Then they scored another long range try while working the ball away from their own line, Andy Gregory making a dart from dummy half, catching the markers napping and getting into open space.
From the scrum win the ball was moved out to the left where a pass was knocked down by a New Zealand defender but re-gathered by British centre Paul Loughlin who dived over the line.