League: Kangaroos avenge Suncorp nightmare

Justin Hodges scores his first of two tries in the 38-10 win over the Kiwis. Photo / Getty Images.

Lightning didn't strike twice for the Kiwis at Suncorp Stadium as the Kangaroos powered to a 38-10 win in the trans-Tasman rugby league test here tonight.

Six months after their stunning 34-20 World Cup final win on the same ground, the Kiwis dominated the early stanzas but had no answer to the Kangaroos' gamebreakers after the break.

Showing steely determination under new coach Tim Sheens, the hosts led 16-6 at halftime and raced in seven tries to two in all.

Halfback Johnathan Thurston and Justin Hodges scored two each while brilliant fullback Billy Slater defied an ankle injury to carve through the middle for a 56th minute try which gave the hosts a 26-6 lead.

Despite their world champion tag, history didn't favour the Kiwis.

The last time they won back-to-back tests against the Kangaroos was way back in 1953, while the Australians had won the last five mid-year tests by a combined 36-12.

Coach Steve Kearney's men had a horror buildup, losing Jeremy Smith (ankle), Frank Pritchard (neck) and Issac Luke (suspended) in test week, all hugely influential figures.

Captain Benji Marshall carried plenty on his shoulders and while he tried everything, the disjointed Kiwis' attack could only manage two tries to Sam Perrett and Manu Vatuvei.

Marshall led his team out, took charge of the haka as he eyeballed his opposite Darren Lockyer, and got involved early with front-on hit on Hodges.

But an error handed the Kangaroos first points when Marshall's low pass was fumbled by Iosia Soliola in front of the posts, and the hosts pounced when Israel Folau strolled over out wide with Vatuvei rushing off his wing.

The Kiwis dominated the rest of the opening quarter with prop Adam Blair -- the Kiwis' best forward -- hurling himself at the defence as Marshall and Nathan Fien tried everything.

They earned four consecutive sets at the home defence which finally cracked just before the 20-minute mark when impressive second-rower Bronson Harrison handled twice, Fien worked the blindside and wing Perrett crossed out wide.

Marshall's conversion gave the buoyant Kiwis a 6-4 lead.

But two defensive blunders handed back control to the Kangaroos who didn't need a second invite to claim a 10-point lead at the break.

The brilliant Thurston ran from 30m out and Soliola fell for the dummy as he dashed over and converted.

The Kiwis had more chances with back-to-back penalties near the Kangaroos' line, Simon Mannering and Fien both falling just short and Marshall regathering a chargedown and racing 40m only for Slater to drag him down.

After a torrid opening stanza the Kiwis tired and Hodges raced from dummy half, bumped off David Fa'alogo and raced over, two minutes before the break.

Immediately after halftime the Kangaroos pinched a break thanks to back-to-back penalties, Glenn Stewart stormed within centimetres of the line and Thurston cleaned up the scraps to fly over the top for a double.

It wasn't going the Kiwis' way on attack as Perrett went over for a second time but Soliola's pass was ruled forward, then Mannering was shoved over the sideline by four defenders.

Slater hammered the final nail with a brilliant set move and inside pass from Stewart gave him a 20m sprint to the line.

Vatuvei charged over out wide from a well-worked set move but Darius Boyd hit straight back with a video ref's call to snuff out any thoughts of a fightback.

- NZPA