2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations
Champions	Australia (3rd title)
Matches played	7
Tries scored	45 (average 6.429 per match)
Attendance	180,774 (average 25,825 per match)
Top point scorer(s)	Johnathan Thurston (32)
Top try scorer(s)	Greg Inglis (4)

The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the final. Australia were to run out winners in a tight final. The team won in golden point extra time with Darren Lockyer scoring the winning try in the 87th minute.

Selection controversy

Mt Isa born player Nathan Fien was selected to play for New Zealand in their first match against Great Britain under the "grandparent rule", which allowed a player to represent a nation if he had a grandparent born there. After the match was played it was revealed that it is was great-grandmother, as opposed to his grandmother, that had been born in New Zealand. The Tri-nations subcommittee of the Rugby League International Federation subsequently annulled New Zealand's points for the match, and Fien has been banned from the tournament.[1]

Results

Tournament matches

2006-10-14 20:00 NZST
	New Zealand	18–30	Australia	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 20,000 [2]
	Tries: Nigel Vagana Jerome Ropati Manu Vatuvei Goals: Stacey Jones 3/3		Tries: Karmichael Hunt 2 Mark Gasnier Mark O'Meley Greg Inglis Goals: Johnathan Thurston 4/6

2006-10-21 20:00 AEST
	Australia	20–15	New Zealand	Telstra Dome, Melbourne Attendance: 30,732
	Tries: Greg Inglis 2 Mark Gasnier Goals: Johnathan Thurston 4/4		Tries: Iosia Soliola 2 Shontayne Hape Goals: Stacey Jones 1/3 Field Goal: Stacey Jones

2006-10-28 20:00 NZST
	New Zealand	18–14	Great Britain	Jade Stadium, Christchurch Attendance: 17,005
	Tries: Brent Webb Motu Tony Iosia Soliola Goals: Stacey Jones 3/3		Tries: Paul Wellens Gareth Ellis Goals: Sean Long 2/2 Danny McGuire 1/1

This match was discounted after New Zealand were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player.

2006-11-04 20:00 AEDT
	Australia	12–23	Great Britain	Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 24,953
	Tries: Greg Inglis Darren Lockyer Goals: Darren Lockyer 2/2		Tries: Paul Wellens Jamie Peacock Lee Gilmour Gareth Raynor Goals: Sean Long 3/5 Field Goal: Sean Long

2006-11-11 20:00 NZST
	New Zealand	34–4	Great Britain	Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 16,401
	Tries: Brent Webb 2 Nigel Vagana Ruben Wiki Nathan Cayless Manu Vatuvei Goals: Stacey Jones 5/6		Tries: Gareth Ellis

2006-11-18 20:00 AEST
	Australia	33–10	Great Britain	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 44,358
	Tries: Darren Lockyer Mark Gasnier Karmichael Hunt Justin Hodges Anthony Tupou Brent Tate Goals: Johnathan Thurston 4/6 Field Goal: Darren Lockyer		Tries: Keith Senior Danny McGuire Goals: Paul Wellens 1/1

Tournament standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
Australia	4	3	0	1	95	66	+29	6
New Zealand	4	2	0	2	67	54	+13	21
Great Britain	4	1	0	3	37	79	−42	21

1. No competition or for and against points were allocated for New Zealand's first match against Great Britain.

Final

2006-11-25 20:00 AEDT
	Australia	16–12	New Zealand	Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 27,325
	Tries: Brent Tate Darren Lockyer Goals: Johnathan Thurston 4/4		Tries: Frank Pritchard Iosia Soliola Goals: Stacey Jones 2/4

Non-series matches

During the series, Great Britain and New Zealand played additional matches to maintain their level of fitness.[3]

2006-10-20
	Newcastle Division	6–40	Great Britain	EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle Attendance: 6235

2006-11-04
	New Zealand Kiwis	34–4	New Zealand Residents	Wingham Park, Greymouth Attendance: 4000

Squads

Australia

Coach: Ricky Stuart (Cronulla Sharks)

Great Britain

Coach: Brian Noble (Wigan Warriors)

New Zealand

Coach: Brian McClennan (Auckland Lions)

See also

• Rugby League Tri-Nations
• National Rugby League season 2006
• 2006 State of Origin series

Tri-Nations
Australia ·  Great Britain ·  New Zealand 1999 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2009 international tournament