Nathan Okell takes a look back over the last five games between England and New Zealand Kiwis

June 23, 2018

England 36 New Zealand 18

Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

• England fought back from 12-0 down.

• A crowd of 19,320 at the Mile High Stadium witnessed England off the pace in the opening quarter but finish the game in total control.

St Helens Star:

Chris Hill and Elliott Whitehead in defence mode against New Zealand in Denver

• The match was played in energy-sapping conditions due to the altitude.

• Elliott Whitehead scored two tries, with Jake Connor and Tommy Makinson also scoring on their debuts.

• James Graham appeared in his record-extending 40th appearance.

• Saints' Luke Thompson was included in the squad but did not make the match day 17 to make his debut.

• Former Wire Peta Hiku played in the centres for New Zealand.

England: Stefan Ratchford; Jermaine McGillvary, John Bateman, Mark Percival, Ryan Hall; Jonny Lomax, Gareth Widdop; Chris Hill, James Roby, James Graham, Sam Burgess, Elliott Whitehead, Sean O’Loughlin. Subs: Jake Connor, Tom Burgess, Tommy Makinson, Scott Taylor.

Tries: Hall, Whitehead (2), Connor, Makinson, Bateman

Goals: Widdop (6)

October 29, 2016

England 16-17 New Zealand 17

Four Nations, John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield

• Shaun Johnson scored the winning drop-goal with 14 minutes remaining for the then-defending Four Nations champions, three years after the scrum-half scored a last-gasp try to beat England in the 2013 World Cup semi-final at Wembley.

• Sell-out attendance in Huddersfield.

St Helens Star:

Jonny Lomax looks for a way through in Huddersfield. Picture: Mike Boden

• England scored a brilliant try through Ryan Hall after a sublime over the head flick pass from Gareth Widdop.

• Made it difficult for England to qualify for the final, extending their long wait for a major tournament victory - a sequence that stretches back to Great Britain's World Cup victory in 1972.

• The match was Sam Burgess's first for England since his return from rugby union and his debut as captain

• It was also the first time Australian Wayne Bennett had coached England in a competitive fixture after the previous Saturday's warm-up win over France.

England: Jonny Lomax; Jermaine McGillvary, Kallum Watkins, Dan Sarginson, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, Luke Gale; Chris Hill, Josh Hodgson, James Graham, Elliott Whitehead, John Bateman, Sam Burgess. Subs: Daryl Clark, George Burgess, Tom Burgess, Mike Cooper.

Tries: McGillvary, Hall

Goals: Widdop (4)

November 14, 2015

England 20-14 New Zealand 14

Third Test, DW Stadium, Wigan

• Decisive Test which saw England win the series 2-1.

St Helens Star:

• New Zealand were the world’s top ranked team at that time.

• England’s first series victory over New Zealand since 2007.

• England took an 8-0 lead before the Kiwis brought it back to 8-6. England scored twice to take a 20-6 lead, with New Zealand adding two tries to threaten but not complete the comeback.

• The match was England coach Steve McNamara's last before his contract expired, with Wayne Bennett coming in to replace him.

• Going into the contest, McNamara’s England had a record of just two victories from 11 matches against Australia and New Zealand.

• Future Wire Peta Hiku played as half-back for New Zealand.

England: Zak Hardaker; Jermaine McGillvary, Kallum Watkins, John Bateman, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, Matty Smith (playing for Wigan at that time); James Graham, Josh Hodgson, Chris Hill, Elliot Whitehead, Liam Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin. Subs: James Roby, Tom Burgess, Mike Cooper, Brett Ferres.

Tries: Whitehead (2), O’Loughlin

Goals: Widdop (4)

November 7, 2015

England 2 New Zealand 9

Second Test, Olympic Stadium, London

• Game two of the three game series.

• England took an early 2-0 lead in front of 44,393 people in London, but failed to add to that tally

• The match was tied 2-2 at the break, but Shaun Kenny-Dowall touched down in the corner shortly after the restart.

• After the video referee had ruled out a try for both teams, Jordan Kahu slotted a decisive late drop-goal to seal the win.

• It was the first rugby league match at the Olympic Stadium.

• Future Wire Peta Hiku played as half-back for New Zealand.

England: Zak Hardaker; Joe Burgess, John Bateman, Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, George Williams; James Graham, Josh Hodgson, Chris Hill, Elliott Whitehead, Liam Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin. Subs: James Roby, Tom Burgess, Mike Cooper, Brett Ferres.

Goal: Widdop

November 1, 2015

England 26 New Zealand 12

First Test, KCOM Stadium, Hull

• First game of the three game Test series.

St Helens Star:

• England recovered from being 10-0 down to secure a first victory over New Zealand since 2011.

• Brett Ferres scored two tries on the back of his hat-trick against France in a warm-up game a week earlier.

• Future Wire Peta Hiku played as half-back and put Tohu Harris through a gap to score the opening try.

England: Zak Hardaker; Joe Burgess, John Bateman, Kallum Watkins, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, George Williams; James Graham, Josh Hodgson, Chris Hill, Elliott Whitehead, Liam Farrell, Sean O’Loughlin. Subs: James Roby, Tom Burgess, Mike Cooper (Playing for St George at that time), Brett Ferres.

Tries: Hodgson, Ferres (2), O’Loughlin

Goals: Widdop (5).