The Kiwis looked under-prepared, like they hadn't done any homework on what the Australians were going to throw at them. By the time they woke up, midway through the second half, the game was gone.
New Zealand had some early chances, but the match was effectively over by the 21st minute mark, when Trent Merrin crossed for Australia's third try. The Tohu Harris experiment at No6 didn't really work; the Storm backrower gave his usual whole hearted display - and was one of the best on the field for the Kiwis - but got exposed defensive by the slick Australian back line.
There will be questions over the future of coach David Kidwell, who hasn't done enough over the past two weeks to give any confidence that he is right man for the role.
The game started with one of those calls that frustrate throughout the NRL season; two defenders in the tackles, hands all over the ball, and referee Ben Cummins finds a knock on by Solomone Kata. From there though, the Kiwis had to defend their error, but it looks like they hadn't practiced their scrum defence all week as Blake Ferguson ran over untouched from a simple blindside scrum move.
New Zealand had to respond, and did, forcing four consecutive sets on the Kangaroos line, before an unfortunate Shaun Kenny-Dowall knock on released all the pressure. The Australian defence at that time was magnificent, with Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor both being stopped inches short of the line.
The Kiwis couldn't take their chances, exemplified by Shaun Johnson blowing a two on one opportunity after a superb Jordan Rapana break from inside his own half. That was as good as it got for New Zealand, as the Australians completely dominated the rest of the half.
The Kangaroos were almost faultless, while the Kiwis couldn't do anything right.
There were knock on's, crazy passes and Australia even managed to score from a grubber, despite the in goal areas at Anfield being the smallest in a league match in recent memory.
Josh Dugan crossed untouched in the 15th edge - as the left edge was again exposed - while Trent Merrin flopped over the line six minutes later, after Adam Blair was left one on one from a simple ruck play.
The Kangaroos were rampant, while the Kiwis were almost constantly on defence. There was no respite and it looked like Australia could score off every set.
Dugan completed the first half shambles with a try from a Thurston grubber, after Kahu looked too casual in cleaning up the kick.
Boyd scored five minutes after halftime - though it looked like he had failed to ground the ball over the try line - before the Kiwis finally stemmed the flow of points for a while.
Kahu finished off a right edge move in the 56th minute, before a great solo effort by the same player 13 minutes later.
Boyd Cordner had the final say in the 74th minute.
Kangaroos: 34 (B Ferguson, J Dugan 2, T Merrin, D Boyd, B Cordner tries. J Thurston 5 goals)
Kiwis 8 (J Kahu 2 tries)
Halftime: 24-0
