Thurston stars for Australia

The silverware from 2008 remains with the Kiwis, but the Kangaroos, playing under new coach Tim Sheens for the first time, were able to hold onto their number one ranking without too much concern.

Johnathan Thurston slotted five conversions and crossed twice, including a miraculous effort in the second half where he vaulted over a pack of players, while Justin Hodges also scored a double.

The visitors, trailing 16-6 at half-time, improved after the break, linking up well in attack with new skipper Benji Marshall calling the shots at half-back.

But some sterling solo efforts in defence from the Kangaroos, headlined by skipper Darren Lockyer, kept the threat, more often than not gargantuan winger Manu Vatuvei, at bay.

Any thoughts of a miraculous New Zealand comeback in the Anzac Test were soon snuffed out by full-back Billy Slater.

A timely offload from Glenn Stewart put through Slater, who was only declared fit on the morning of the game, for a memorable try that triggered jubilant celebrations from the man that found himself in the firing line after an errant pass in last year's final.

Vatuvei, whose personal battle on the wing with opening try scorer Israel Folau was one of the most intriguing in the match, clambered his way to the line in the 62nd minute for a consolation try.

But the floodgates were left ajar by a tired Kiwis side in the final stages and the Kangaroos took full advantage.

Slater and Kurt Gidley had tries disallowed due to obstruction before Darius Boyd and Hodges made it a seven-tries-to-two routing.