Rugby League World Cup 1985–1988
| title | Rugby League World Cup 1985-88 |
| opening | July 7, 1985 |
| Endgame | October 9, 1988 |
| Nations | 5 |
| Games | 18th |
| spectator | 218,246 (12,125 per game) |
| World Champion |
 Australia
|
| Top scorer |
Michael O'Connor (Australia)
|
The ninth Rugby League World Cup took place from 1985 to 1988 without a fixed venue. In the final, Australia beat New Zealand 25:12, winning the World Cup for the sixth time.
Results
1985
| 7th of July |
 New Zealand
|
18: 0 |
Australia
|
Carlaw Park , Auckland Spectators: 15,327 Referee: Julien Rascagneres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (8: 0) report |
| November 9th |
 United Kingdom
|
6: 6 |
New Zealand
|
Headingley Carnegie Stadium , Leeds Spectators: 22,209 Referee: Barry Gomersall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (0: 6) report |
| December 7th |
New Zealand
|
22: 0 |
 France
|
Stade Gilbert Brutus , Perpignan Spectators: 5,000 Referee: Ron Campbell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report |
1986
| February 16 |
France
|
10:10 |
United Kingdom
|
Parc des Sports , Avignon Spectators: 4,000 Referee: Kevin Roberts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (2:10) Report |
| 29th of July |
Australia
|
32:12 |
New Zealand
|
Lang Park , Brisbane Spectators: 22,811 Referee: Robin Whitfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report |
| 17th August |
 Papua New Guinea
|
24:22 |
New Zealand
|
Lloyd Robson Oval , Port Moresby Spectators: 15,000 Referee: Kevin Roberts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report |
| 4th of October |
Papua New Guinea
|
12: 62 |
Australia
|
Lloyd Robson Oval , Port Moresby Spectators: 17,000 Referee: Neville Kesha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report |
| 22nd of November |
United Kingdom
|
15:24 |
Australia
|
Central Park , Wigan Spectators: 20,169 Referee: Julien Rascagneres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (6:12) Report |
| 13th December |
France
|
0:52 |
Australia
|
Stade d'Albert Domec , Carcassonne Spectators: 5,000 Referee: Fred Lindop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report |
1987
| January 24th |
United Kingdom
|
52: 4 |
France
|
Headingley Carnegie Stadium , Leeds Spectators: 6,567 Referee: Mick Stone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (24: 4) Report |
| October 24th |
United Kingdom
|
42-0 |
Papua New Guinea
|
Central Park , Wigan Spectators: 9,121 Referee: Francis Desplas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (24: 0) report |
| 15th of November |
France
|
21: 4 |
Papua New Guinea
|
Stade d'Albert Domec , Carcassonne Spectators: 5,000 Referee: John Holdsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report |
1988
| May 22 |
Papua New Guinea
|
22:42 |
United Kingdom
|
Lloyd Robson Oval , Port Moresby Spectators: 12,107 Referee: Greg McCallum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (6:28) Report |
| July 9 |
Australia
|
12: 26 |
United Kingdom
|
Sydney Football Stadium , Sydney Spectators: 15,944 Referee: Francis Desplas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (0:10) report |
| 10th of July |
New Zealand
|
66: 14 |
Papua New Guinea
|
Carlaw Park , Auckland Spectators: 8,392 Referee: Greg McCallum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report |
| 17th July |
New Zealand
|
12:10 |
United Kingdom
|
Rugby League Park , Christchurch Spectators: 8,525 Referee: Mick Stone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (12: 8) Report |
| 20th of July |
Australia
|
70: 8 |
Papua New Guinea
|
Eric Weissel Oval , Wagga Wagga Spectators: 11,685 Referee: Neville Kesha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report |
Closing table
| space | team | Games | G' | U | V | P + | P- | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Australia
|
7th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 252 | 91 | +161 | 12 |
| 2 |
New Zealand
|
7th | 4th | 1 | 2 | 158 | 86 | +72 | 11 |
| 3 |
United Kingdom
|
8th | 4th | 2 | 2 | 203 | 90 | +113 | 10 |
| 4th |
Papua New Guinea
|
7th | 1 | 0 | 6th | 84 | 325 | −241 | 4th |
| 5 |
France
|
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 33 | 72 | −39 | 0 |
- Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea received two bonus points because France failed to complete much of the game schedule in 1987.
final
| 9th October |
New Zealand
|
12:25 |
Australia
|
Eden Park , Auckland Spectators: 47,363 Referee: Graham Ainui |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (0:21) report |