Only three Australian players - centre Michael Jennings (118m), lock Greg Bird (117m) and bench forward Corey Parker (132m) - made over 100m, compared to the Kiwis who had nine players getting into triple figures.
Six of them were forwards, ensuring the workload was evenly spread through the starting pack and interchange bench, while outside backs Peta Hiku (game high 158m), Jason Nightingale (139m) and Shaun Kenny-Dowall (110m) were also very strong contributors.
Starting forwards Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and Jason Taumalolo were all outstanding, busting tackles and offloading to keep the defence backpedalling, while defensively the Kiwis hunted in twos and threes and outmuscled the Kangaroos pack.
Coach Stephen Kearney used his substitutions wisely with Martin Taupau, Tohu Harris and Greg Eastwood all making timely impacts and the arrival of Lewis Brown provided spark, after Thomas Leuluai's composure helped them emerge from their slow start.
Leuluai was kept busy bringing the big men on to the ball and organising play with Foran and Johnson but failed to make a single run, however Issac Luke's imminent return means the Kiwis will threaten more in that department.
Both sides were missing some first-choice players, but Australia were found wanting without the likes of Matt Scott and James Tamou to lay the platform up front.
Australia also lacked ideas without the talents of Johnathan Thurston, Jarryd Hayne, Billy Slater or Greg Inglis to get them out of trouble.
Debutant Aaron Woods, Sam Thaiday and Beau Scott were kept in check, Ryan Hoffman spent most of the night being put on his back, and Bird was often on his own and lacked support.
With no forward momentum skipper Cameron Smith's role was restricted and he could manage only two runs for the night, while the exit of Daly Cherry-Evans badly affected their fluency.
The Australian side, heavily stacked with New South Wales and Sydney-based players, looked uneasy and unfamiliar working together with the Queensland contingent, and the star players that remained were unable to have any sway in the match.
The Kiwis finally delivered the performance the "brotherhood" has long promised and kept their focus for the full 80 minutes.
Matching those standards and achieving consistency in consecutive weeks against Samoa and England is the challenge they now face if they are to earn the chance to go on and succeed when it matters.
5 Kiwis who dominated the 'Roos
1 Jesse Bromwich
The dominant forward on the park with 16 runs, 22 tackles, 1 tackle break, and four offloads keeping the Kangaroos defence busy. Absorbed everything the Aussie pack could throw at him and dwarfed the efforts of his opposing props.
2 Kevin Proctor
Relentless in both attack and defence. Made five tackle breaks, topped the Kiwis' tackle count with 31, and evaded four defenders to plant the ball down for their opening try. Combined well with Shaun Johnson on the right edge and marked up strongly against his opposites.
3 Shaun Johnson
Despite a couple of handling errors, Johnson was a leading light for the Kiwis. His most mature showing in the black jersey. Kicked well with a first-half 40/20 and a towering bomb in the lead-up to Jason Nightingale's try, and individual brilliance saw him score a try.
4 Kieran Foran
Steady hand to balance Johnson's creative spark and organised play on the left side. Produced a pin-point kick for Dean Whare's try and determined defence forced a Greg Inglis fumble. Vision and cut-out pass created the chance for Night-ingale's bombed effort.
5 Martin Taupau
Dynamic off the bench and bent the Australian line every time he touched the ball. Rips into everything he does on attack and defence and topped the running stats for the forwards with 127 metres off 13 runs.
