But they didn't see much of a contest. The Kiwis defended the famous Kop end in the first half, but couldn't generate any of the passion and intensity that characterizes that famous grandstand on big football nights.
The Kiwis started slowly, and just got worse. After Blake Ferguson strolled over untouched in the third minute, AC/DC's Thunderstruck was piped through the stadium speakers. Thunderstruck indeed.
The Kiwis were shell shocked, and never really recovered. They had a brief period of possession and terrority, but couldn't get any dividend as the Kangaroos held firm.
Then the onslaught started, as the Kiwis kept coughing up the ball, and the Australians profited.
The first half seemed a blur; New Zealand doing endless kickoffs and dropouts, and the Kangaroos laying siege to their line. This ground has seen some one-sided contests - especially in the glory Liverpool days of the 1980s with Kenny Daglish, Ian Rush, John Barnes et al - but surely few like this, on such a big occasion.
By the time Trent Merrin scored Australia's third try in the 21st minute the result was beyond doubt, though the crowd never stopped encouraging the Kiwis.
"C'mon lad, get into it," yelled one, encouraging Shaun Johnson on a particular play. But the Australians were peerless; they dominated the ruck, offloaded at will and cruelly exposed the Kiwis left edge. Only some desperate defence prevented a more embarrassing score line, as twice the Kangaroos were held up over the try line.
The Kiwis also got no favours from the officials - with several contentious calls - but that was a symptom of Australia's dominance, rather than a catalyst for it.
New Zealand rallied in the second half - finally - with two tries to Jordan Kahu - which showed their fighting spirit was still intact. But their belief might be shot, as they wonder how this green and gold machine can be stopped in 12 months time at the World Cup.
Several of the Kiwis couldn't bare to watch as the Kangaroos were presented with their medals, turning their back to the stage.
"We need to look at ourselves as a whole group," said coach David Kidwell. "It's not any individual, it's a team. It's a team game. We win as a team, we lose as a team. Internally we are very strong. We have to make sure that in the next test we play we don't put out a performance like that again."
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