The First Kangaroos

The First Kangaroos is a 1988 British–Australian made for TV sports film directed by Frank Cvitanovich and starring Dennis Waterman, Chris Haywood and Dominic Sweeney.

Synopsis

The First Kangaroos depicts the 1908–09 [Kangaroo tour of Great Britain], the first-ever such tour by the Australia national [rugby league team].
The film drew complaints from the granddaughter of British rugby league legend Albert Goldthorpe, for its villainous depiction of him.
Some scenes featured the grandstand of Arlington Oval in the inner-western Sydney suburb Dulwich Hill which hosted women's competitions of the 1938 [British Empire Games].

Cast

Dennis Waterman... Albert Goldthorpe
Chris Haywood... James Joseph "J J" Giltinan
Dominic Sweeney... Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger
Philip Quast... Alex "Bluey" Burdon
Tony Martin... Dan Frawley
Clarissa Kaye-Mason... Mrs. Messenger
Jim Carter... Arthur Hughes
Alex Broun... Morton
Wayne Pygram... Albie Rosenfeld
John Dicks... Reverend Green
Nell Schofield... Betty
Kelly Dingwall... Jim Devereux
Robert Giltinan... Reporter
Harold Kissin... Trainer
Allan Surtees... George the Barman
Wayne Pearce... Sid "Sandy" Pearce
Andrew Ettingshausen... Conlon
Ian Gilmour... Steamship Official

Both Wayne Pearce and Andrew Ettingshausen were current Australian rugby league test players when the film was released. Pearce had been a member of the undefeated 1982 Kangaroo tour, while Ettingshausen would go on to be the leading try scorer on both the 1990 and 1994 Kangaroo Tours.

Reception

Karen Hardy of The Sydney [Morning Herald], reviewing the film in 2013 said, "Sure, it wasn't the finest sports movie ever made but there was humour – intentional or not, I wasn't quite sure – and conflict and pathos. And its story, which it admitted in the opening credits was sort of based on true events, was an interesting one."