New Zealand upset tournament favourites Australia and exposed some potential problems with a resounding 30-12 win in their Four Nations rugby league opener in Brisbane on Saturday.
For the first time since the 2010 Four Nations final, the Kiwis emerged victorious over Australia as Daly Cherry-Evans (back) and Greg Inglis (illness) were added to the Kangaroos’ lengthy injury list.
The resolute Kiwis snapped the Kangaroos’ eight-game winning run against their trans-Tasman rivals.
It’s great to get a start like that but we are still very mindful that’s the first step in a tough couple of weeks
It was just New Zealand’s third win in 23 meetings with Australia, and the Kiwis loom as an even stronger outfit with the return of hooker Issac Luke from suspension for the rest of the tournament.
New Zealand powered home in the second half after the scores were locked up 12-12 at halftime.
In the 47th minute, Shaun Johnson regathered his grubber kick to score, while winger Dean Whare scored off a Kieran Foran kick and Jason Nightingale touched down when Dylan Walker spilt a Johnson bomb in the 68th minute.
“It’s great to get a start like that but we are still very mindful that’s the first step in a tough couple of weeks,” said Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney.