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Winger Manu Vatuvei scored two first-half tries to help lift New Zealand to a 26-12 win over Australia yesterday in a one-off rugby league test that was played two days late after being postponed because of flooding.
New Zealand opened a 26-6 lead at half-time with Vatuvei's double and tries to Shaun Johnson and Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
They then defended tenaciously in the second half, failing to add to their score but allowing only a single try to be scored by Will Chambers.
The win was New Zealand's third in a row over Australia, the first time they have won three-straight tests against the Kangaroos since 1953. The streak includes last year's Four Nations final.
A crowd of 32,000 watched the match, which was due to be played at Suncorp Stadium on Friday when officials decided to delay it because the playing surface became inundated.
Torrential rain caused flooding throughout southeast Queensland state, claiming five lives.
Match organisers postponed the encounter because of fears for player safety and the safety of fans as floods blocked highways and caused traffic gridlock.
New Zealand were unaffected by the delay, playing with purpose, combination and crisp efficiency from the outset.

The Australians, in contrast, looked out of sorts, wasting possession and faltering in defence throughout the first half.
Johnson opened the scoring with a penalty in the seventh minute, before Australia seized the lead with a try to Sam Thaiday, converted by Johnathan Thurston.
The Australian resurgence was short-lived and New Zealand seized control of the match with tries by Vatuvei in the 20th and 28th minute.
Johnson scored in the 29th minute to lift New Zealand to an 18-6 lead and Kenny-Dowall's try immediately before the break effectively put the match beyond Australia's reach.
The Kangaroos attacked continuously throughout the second half trying to reduce the margin but New Zealand's defence were up to the challenge. The only points of the half came from a scrambled try to Chambers in the 58th minute.
The Australian team are the third-oldest in their rugby league test history, with an average age of 28 and-a-half, and yesterday's match provided further evidence that several key players are now past their best.
While Vatuvei was named man of the match, Johnson again was the instigator of much of the Kiwis' attacking play.


New Zealand score third straight rugby league test victory over Australia

New Zealand's Shaun Johnson tackles Australia's Greg Inglis during their ANZAC rugby league test in Brisbane. Photos: AFP 

Australia's Sam Thaiday tries to stop New Zealand's Simon Mannering.

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The Kiwis prove too good yet again for an ageing Kangaroos side in their one-off test match


Winger Manu Vatuvei scored two first-half tries to help lift New Zealand to a 26-12 win over Australia yesterday in a one-off rugby league test that was played two days late after being postponed because of flooding.


New Zealand score third straight rugby league test victory over Australia

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Kiwis prove too good yet again for an ageing Kangaroos side in their one-off test match

The Kiwis prove too good yet again for an ageing Kangaroos side in their one-off test match