WHEN Saints came head-to-head with the touring Kangaroos at Knowsley Road in October 1982 they did not know that the Green and Gold tourists were about to make history as the Invincibles.

Nor would they have known that one of those Kangaroos - centre Mal Meninga - would return two years later and really kickstart Saints into a new era.

Had they known all of that, maybe they would have afforded this particular fixture a little more respect.

Saints had enjoyed a proud record against the tourists, regularly claiming a Kangaroo scalp from the 50s up until that last time in 1973.

However, on this occasion it was a complete mismatch with Saints having an eye on the following weekend's Lancashire Cup Final.

They rested a significant number of their top squad, starting with just six of their first choice team and drafting in A teamers and up and coming youngsters.

St Helens Star:

Les Boyd - unstoppable from close range. Picture: Eddie Whitham

Some of those - like 19-year-old Andy Platt and teenage debutant Paul Forber - would go on and have further tussles with the tourists in years to come.

The town knew Saints team selection plans in advance - and as a result the crowd of 8,190 was half the attendance of the corresponding fixture from four years previously.

Those fans attending were treated to a display of power, pace, skill and support play that was so bewildering that is debatable whether Saints first choice squad would have made any difference to the outcome.

It was the Saints fans' first glimpse of players who would become legends. Not just Big Mal, but Rolling Thunder Eric Grothe who rumbled over for two special tries, young half back pairing Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny and a powerful back row Wayne Pearce.

It was a sheer exhibition of offloading, twisting in the tackle and support play...and a joy to witness.

After this tour British rugby league could never sit back and say the Aussies have the strength and fitness, but the British game had the skill. This tour was a game changer.

For the record, Australia won 32-0 with tries from two tries apiece from wings Kerry Boustead and Eric Grothe, a couple from prop Les Boyd, with Peter Sterling and Steve Rogers grabbing the others.

Mal Meninga's three goals would be the first of many more points at Knowsley Road.

St Helens Star:

Saints: Griffiths; Ledger, Arkwright, Fairclough, Litherland; Peters, Holding; james, Glover, Gelling, Mathias, Forber, Platt. Subs: Smith, Brownbill.

Australia: Brentnall; Boustead, Meninga, Rogers, Grothe; Kenny, Sterling; Young, Krilich, Boyd, Pearce, Muggleton, Price; Subs: Lewis, Morris.