The Kangaroos have booked their place in the 2016 Four Nations final after recording a six-point win over the Kiwis in Coventry.
Despite dominating for large periods of the match, Mal Meninga's men were made to work for their win over a fast-finishing Kiwis outfit, headed largely by the efforts of Warriors half Shaun Johnson.
Sharks Valentine Holmes and Gerard Beale played 80 minutes for their respective sides, while James Maloney featured in the game's final quarter. The trio finished the match without injury concerns.
With Australia up 14-4 with near on 10 minutes to play, a piece of individual brilliance from Johnson reduced the deficit to just six, and sent a scare through the Kangaroos camp.
Johnson's chip-and-chase, and regather, to send Canberra winger Jordan Rapana in to score was the prelude to an effort of his own, where the half was stopped agonisingly short from levelling the scores with only seconds on the clock.
