Courageous Kiwis give Roos a scare

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WE gave it to the Kiwis all week and on Friday night they gave it back.

And while New Zealand didn't go home with the win, it was probably the scare that gave our world champion Kangaroos something to think about heading into the end of season Four Nations.

But for now, let's allow them to celebrate.

Last night's 30-18 victory was Australia's 16th in a row and to put that in perspective, it equalled a record set by the Kangaroos between 1979-83.

New Zealand celebrate an early try as Australia look despondent. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

Does it make them the best ever, as many believe they now are?

"Look, that's very subjective isn't it," coach Tim Sheens said.

"I mean, it's great company and these guys play the game to play the game.

"Those sorts of things you look back on at the end of your career."

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But on Friday night certainly won't go down as this mighty Kangaroo team's greatest performance.

In fact, in the first half they were heading for one of the biggest upsets in Test match history.

Dropped balls, dropped passes and all it did was give the understrength Kiwis hope.

By halftime they'd raced in three tries to claim a shock 18-12 lead that had a crowd of 25,429 at Allianz Stadium thinking this might be the night we never thought would come.

Greg Inglis looks to offload. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

And after all the Kiwis copped for leaving Jared Waerea-Hargreaves out of their team, big Sam Moa was enormous and Jess Bromwich was right there with him the whole way.

Both of them scored tries on the way to their shock halftime lead but after the break the Aussies class kicked in.

"I wasn't overly shocked with how they played," Kangaroos skipper Cameron Smith said.

"We spoke early in the week about the team they selected and more so in the back end of the week when we knew their 17.

"All their players in their team were in good form for their respective clubs.

"You know, we showed a lot of respect to their side tonight but we were just out-enthused early.

"But in the end I think the old heads of our side really showed their composure and showed their pride for the jersey that we were wearing.

"As Tim mentioned we didn't concede a point in the second half and that was through effort and determination to make sure we continue what we have built over the last couple of years."

Sam Moa was dominant early. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

Sheens added the first half mistakes were uncharacteristic but the back end of the game showed the team's championship qualities.

"It was a tough game, maybe not the prettiest but it was tough," he said.

"I don't think we finished our first three repeat sets.

"It put us under a lot of pressure.

"I would have to say we were disappointed because we wanted to build pressure in the first 20 minutes but if anything we released the pressure.

"But the second half they did."

Jesse Bromwich opens the scoring. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

In the end, it finished five tries to three with Australia racing in 18 unanswered second half points.

But the Kiwis were more than proud of their effort, and so they should have been after a tough week when they refused to listen or react to the talk they didn't believe to be on the same field as the world champions.

"I didn't buy into any of that to be fair and there was a fair bit of it," coach Steve Kearney said.

"I knew I had a spirited bunch of individuals who were willing to wear the jumper with a great deal of pride and perform with a great deal of spirit.

"And that is all my focus was on all week.

Greg Bird scores a try. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

Brett Morris scores his first try. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

They had five debutants all up, and with the experience and class coming back into this team for the end of year tournament the Kiwis will be buoyed.

"If we look at the team we had jotted down six weeks ago I think there is about four players that played (last night) that were on that list.

"So we took a fair hit but as I said at the beginning of the week that gave an opportunities to guys to show what they have got and you saw what they had tonight."

Australia celebrate a try to Brett Morris (2). Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

Johnathan Thurston was man of the match although he finished with an ankle injury while Brett Morris bagged a double and Paul Gallen and Matt Scott were just about Australia's best in the middle.

As for the Four Nations, Sheens said he would sit back and enjoy Origin and from there?

"What will be will be," Sheens said.

"They have got a State of Origin series which is a great build up to our Test series at the end of the year.

"There is a lot of pressure on Queensland and a lot of pressure on NSW to try and wrestle it away from them.

"I will sit back and enjoy that and let Mal make the decisions about the options he's got with (Daly Cherry-Evans) pushing the boys.

"But better to have that option than to not have that option, I will guarantee you that. New Zealand and England would love to have that option."

AUSTRALIA 30 (B Morris 2 G Bird C Cronk G Inglis tries J Thurston 5 goals) bt NEW ZEALAND 18 (J Bromwich T Harris S Moa tries S Johnson 3 goals) at Allianz Stadium. Referee: Shayne Hayne. Crowd: 25,429.

See how we covered the game live below.

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