Australia 16 New Zealand 14: Kangaroos through to Rugby League World Cup final

The Kangaroos trailed twice, but did just enough to see off a spirited Kiwi side whose right-centre Peta Hiku had two touchdowns ruled out by the combination of referee Ashley Klevin and video assistant Chris Kendall.

It was a pulsating sem-final, played in front of a 28,113 crowd who were firmly behind the Kiwis.

Australia’s Liam Martin was named man of the match, but New Zealand gave their all on a night when not much went their way.

They led 14-10 at half-time, but Nathan Cleary’s conversion of substitute Cameron Murray’s 52nd minute try proved decisive.

That was a shocking try to concede, the defence clocked off at a crucial time and it costy therm a place in the final.

A section of the crowd were distracted by the Kiwis’ Isaiah Papali’i wandering around in his undies, after his shorts had been ripped off, when New Zealand took the lead after 10 minutes.

Dylan Brown hoisted a kick, Joey Manu caught it just before the line and offloaded to Jahrome Hughes who touched down for a try which Jordan Rapana converted.

Australia were level five minutes later, through a stunning score. Ben Hunt kicked from 40 metres out and Josh Addo-Carr made the catch five metres out to gallop over, Cleary adding the extras from the touchline.

Rapana booted the Kiwis back in front after 23, when Australia were caught offside after James Tedesco fumbled Hughes’ kick, but again the lead was short-lived.

Jack Wighton burst past an attempted tackle by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Manu seemed to have made an incredible try-saving stop, but the centre managed to get a pass away to give Valentine Holmes a walk-in.

New Zealand felt the tackle on Wighton had been completed, but Klein indicated a try and Kendall gave the green light.

The Kangaroos seemed to be taking a grip on the game, but a powerful run in midfield by the gigantic Nelson Asofa-Solomona sucked in the Aussies’ defence.

He was tackled, but Brown, Papali’i and Nicoll-Klokstad shifted the ball left to Ronaldo Mulitalo.

He made ground before and drew the last man before passing inside to Brown who crossed for a try which Rapana improved.

New Zealand thought they had gone further in front five minutes after the break when Addo-Carr lost Hughes’ kick, but Hiku’s touchdown was ruled out for offside by Kendall, supporting Klein’s initial ruling.

Australia went ahead for the second time on 52 minutes following two penalties, separated by a set-restart. The second penalty was in front of the Kiwis’ posts and Cameron Murray smashed his way through the middle from a tap by Cleary, who tagged on the two.

Eight minutes from time Hiku was denied again when the officials spotted he had put the ball down on the touchline in goal, from Hughes’ kick.

Australia: Tedesco, Holmes, Wighton, Mitchell, Addo-Carr, Munster, Cleary, Trbojevic, Hunt, Campbell-Gillard, Crichton, Martin, Yeo. Subs Grant, Carrigan, Murray, Fa’asuamaleaui.

New Zealand: Manu, Rapana, Haiku, Nicoll-Klokstad, Mulitalo, Brown, Hughes, J Bromwich, Smith, Fisher-Harris, Papali’i, Nikora, Tapine. Subs Foran, Leota, Asofa-Solomona, Liu.

Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia).

Attendance: 28,113.