League: Kangaroos composure denies Kiwis

The Kangaroos held out a Kiwis fightback to win 12-8 at a soggy AAMI Park in Melbourne. Photo / Getty Images

The Kangaroos maintained their stranglehold on the Anzac rugby league international tonight, showcasing their ruthless streak to quell the Kiwis 12-8 at a soggy AAMI Park.

A brace of tries by the National Rugby League's leading try scorer Brett Morris either side of halftime ensured the Kangaroos recorded their 10th win in 11 Anzac internationals stretching back to 1997 though tries by Manu Vatuvei's stand-in Jason Nightingale in the 68th minute - and Junior Sau with 60 seconds remaining - set up a tense finish inside Melbourne's newest sporting arena.

However, the Kangaroos superior composure and ability to make the Kiwis pay the penalty for rare moments of ill discipline were ultimately the significant points of difference in a contest marred by persistent rain in the first half.

Morris, who has already celebrated 11 tries just eight rounds into the NRL, transferred his finishing skills to the international arena to reward moments of brilliance by his captain Darren Lockyer and the Brisbane Broncos other Kangaroos connection, second rower Sam Thaiday.

Lockyer, playing his 51st test, finally unhinged a resolute Kiwis defensive screen as halftime beckoned with a deft grubber for the unmarked Morris to collect and force.

The duo combined made the Kiwis pay for Steve Matai's shoulder and hot-headedness in the 39th minute.

The Kangaroos playmaker's kick on the first play after Matai was penalised for a crude late hit on Billy Slater sat up perfectly for his winger.

Matai was also placed on report by English referee Richard Silverwood, meaning he could be in doubt for Manly's match against the table topping St George Illawarra Dragons in Sydney tomorrow night - and looked to have picked up a knee injury during his intimidating contribution.

Thaiday's barge to the right hand corner in the 46th minute - moments after he was stunned by a Ben Matulino shoulder charge - set the scene for Morris's double when he flopped over after man-of-the-match Thaiday somehow hooked a pass free before Sau barrelled him into the corner flag.

Again, the Kangaroos benefited from a Kiwis indiscretion when Matulino was pinged at the play the ball after Thaiday recovered from his jolt.

At 12-0 the floodgates may have opened but the Kiwis hung tough in the second half to prevent another mid-season test rout.

The Kiwis rarely threatened to score but when Nightingale dived over after grabbing a Lance Hohaia, an inexperienced New Zealand could belatedly contemplate an unlikely resurgence. But Sau's powerhouse drive to the line was too little, too late. Isaac Luke's missed conversions also gave the Kangaroos breathing space.

The teams drew their last encounter 20-20 in the Four Nations in October and New Zealand were again competitive in a fixture they traditionally struggle.

Kangaroos hooker Cameron Smith and debutant Zeb Taia were also in the wars during a typically rugged first half in trying conditions.

Smith, a focal point of the Melbourne Storm's salary cap scandal, experienced more disappointment in the 28th minute when he hyper extended his right elbow when tangling with clubmate Adam Blair.

Taia, who made an impressive start to his test career strained knee ligaments but was able to return.

Rain ensured the contest resembled a conservative, error-prone encounter. Only one line break was recorded in the opening half - by the Kangaroos - as the greasy underfoot conditions ensured to a genuine arm wrestle.

The Kangaroos forced three goal line drop outs in the opening half, emphasising their territorial advantage.

Greg Inglis, the dominant back, and Luke Lewis both went close to scoring in the opening quarter only to be thwarted the scrambling Kiwis defence before Lockyer's intuitiveness set the Kangaroos on the path to victory.

Australia 12 (Brett Morris 2 tries; Jamie Lyon 2 goals)
New Zealand 8 (Jason Nightingale, Junior Sau tries)


NZPA