Australia 34 New Zealand 8.

A DOMINANT first-half display ensured Australia took home the Ladbrokes Four Nations crown in-front of a packed crowd at Anfield, regaining their world number one status in the process.

Tries in the first 15 minutes from Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan, plus two goals from Johnathan Thurston, put the world champions in control before a further score from Trent Merrin emphasised their dominance over New Zealand.

Dugan grabbed his second before the break, latching onto Thurston’s kick to make sure his side turned around with a commanding 24-point advantage.

Man-of-the-match Darius Boyd crossed just after the interval as Australia continued in their dominant vein before Jordan Kahu finally got the Kiwis on the scoreboard.

Kahu crossed again as New Zealand put in a much-improved display after the interval, but Boyd Cordner’s late effort ensured Australia had the last word.

It was clear Mal Meninga’s side had an edge right from the start and they opened the scoring in the first two minutes when, after a New Zealand knock-on in front of their own posts, Darius Boyd’s bullet pass allowed Ferguson to walk in at the corner.

The Kiwis responded with a period of heavy pressure, but Australia managed to defend three consecutive sets on their own line without conceding.

Jordan Rapana made a stunning break through the middle that was almost finished by Shaun Johnson, but his offload was loose and the Kangaroos went straight up the other end from where man-of-the-tournament Cooper Cronk found Dugan running a great angle to score.

Thurston added a penalty goal as his side continued to be ruthless, looking like scoring every time they entered the New Zealand half.

Cameron Smith was typically dictatorial at dummy-half and it was his short ball that sent Merrin crashing over for Australia’s third try.

By now, the Green and Golds were putting on a show for the impressive Anfield crowd and Dugan got his second just before the break as the video referee confirmed he had touched down Thurston’s grubber kick.

After New Zealand conceded a needless penalty early in the second half, Australia rolled up the field once more and Boyd dummied his way through, just managing the ground the ball.

New Zealand plugged away and finally got themselves on the board when a sweeping move led and superb Kevin Proctor offload allowed Kahu to slide over in the corner.

The Kiwi full-back was clearly in the mood and sprung a tackle to edge over for his second try with time ticking down as his side provided a late flourish.

However, it proved no more than a flash in the pan as Cordner crashed over for his side’s sixth try to put the icing on the cake.

Australia: D Boyd; Ferguson, Inglis, Dugan, Holmes; Thurston, Cronk; Scott, Smith, Woods, Cordner, Gillett, Merrin. Subs: Morgan, Klemmer, Frizzell, S Boyd.

New Zealand: Kahu; Fausitua, Kata, Kenny-Dowall, Rapana; Harris, Johnson, Bromwich, Luke, Blair, Proctor, Ma’u, Taumalolo. Subs: Brown, Tapau, Eastwood, Tapine.

Referee: Ben Cummins.

Attendance: 40,042.