Kangaroos and Jillaroos beat New Zealand in Pacific Championships rugby league Tests

The Kangaroos and Jillaroos will both have next weekend off ahead of their Pacific Championships finals. And so too shall we.

We'll all be back on Sunday, November 10 for the finals at Western Sydney Stadium as both teams look to get proper revenge for their 2023 losses.

See you then!

After a rusty opener against Tonga, that was a more complete performance from the Kangaroos.

The defence was still there — especially in that 10-minute period just after half-time when the Kiwis rained set after set down on them — but this time it was paired with a slicker attacking game.

Mitchell Moses in particular looked better after blowing out the cobwebs last week in his first game in three months and, like the rest of the team, seems to be building into this competition.

The forward packs were again close enough to evenly matched, but the class in the outside backs and the halves were the difference for Australia.

Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Edwards gave Matt Timoko and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad nightmares down the right. Shaun Johnson carried such a load in the play-making that I wonder if Stacey Jones might move him to the bench and bring Kodi Nikorima into the starting line-up.

One thing he won't be doing, is replacing rookie Keano Kini, who was one of New Zealand's best at fullback, just as he was all year for the Titans.

Mitchell Moses has the broken defence at his mercy, but he passes to Tom Trbojevic, who's quick hands end up on the turf and Zac Lomax can't handle.

The bench prop has an error in him, and he makes one right under his posts as he plays the ball.

You can see the frustration building for New Zealand in their defence.

Halfback Mitchell Moses puts Dylan Edwards through hole between Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Matt Timoko, who've both had a rough afternoon in Christchurch.

Moses looms up on the inside and Edwards finds him for the try that could give the Kangaroos the breathing room they need to win this one.

What a moment for those two Kangaroos, both of whom were under a bit of pressure after some mediocre performances.

Kodi Nikorima replaces Phoenix Crossland at hooker for the final 10 minutes. Can he take advantage of some of the tired Kangaroos through the middle of the park?

Shaun Johnson's cross-field kick is one of his first bad ones, but Will Warbrick catches with his back to the tryline, fakes inside and spins outside to bamboozle Zac Lomax and dive over on debut.

That looked like Hakeem Olajuwon going baseline on David Robinson.

Phenomenal from Warbrick, whose dream year continues.

Harry Grant comes swinging around to the short side on the last, Tom Trbojevic pops the ball straight to him from dummy half, and Grant flicks an offload to Lomax, who once again shows immense power to muscle over with almost no space to work in.

That came on the back of a crafty play from Moses and Hudson Young, who poked his nose through and found his front to give Australia momentum.

He doesn't kick all that much from dummy half, but he's done it twice today, both times to good effect. This time there are no markers so he scoots, kicks and pins Keano Kini on his tryline and ultimately forces the Kiwis into a shallow kick from inside their own 40m line.

Hudson Young is on the park for the Kangaroos, and Jordan Riki comes on for New Zealand.

Riki's first involvement is illegal, hitting Coates in the air as he catches a kick, but the referee misses it.

The veteran has done all the kicking for New Zealand and it's been on point in both the short and long game. He finds the post again from distance and forces Xavier Coates to truck it off his line.

Shaun Johnson throws a brilliant lofted ball out to Jamayne Isaako, but Xavier Coates gets there to bring him down, and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow arrives late to bundle him into touch.

That could be a vital five minutes in this match after five or six sets in a row on the Kangaroos' line.

The New Zealanders are throwing the ball everywhere and it's wreaking havoc, even in the face of staunch Australian defence.

The second kick reaps rewards as Xavier Coates slips over and gets back up to jump for the ball uncontested, but he knocks on.

Meanwhile, James Fisher-Harris gets his first break of the day, subbed off for Dally M prop of the year Joe Tapine.

Cameron Murray and Dylan Edwards combine for a brilliant try-saver on the centre, but he takes exception to not being allowed up and appears to throw an elbow to break free. Doesn't look like he connects, but Murray and Edwards don't appreciate it.

Regardless, referee Ashley Klein doesn't see anything in it.

Shaun Johnson is in everything at the moment and grubbers into the right upright padding.

Angus Crichton fumbles as he tries to clean up the rebound, and Edwards arrives late to ground the ball before Isaiah Papali'i.

Harry Grant tries to trap Marata Niukore offside at marker, but the penalty isn't blown and Grant knocks on.

The Kiwis go on the attack, and get an extra set as Shaun Johnson rolls a grubber in and Xavier Coates punches the ball dead.

The dropout is 55 metres on the fly, but bounces kindly for the Kiwis.

Griffin Neame flies off the back fence and is met by North Queensland teammate Reuben Cotter in a massive collision.

We're yet to see Matt Burton and Hudson Young for Australia, and Kodi Nikorima and Jordan Riki for New Zealand.

Burton spent a few minutes in the middle last week and looked pretty explosive in an unfamiliar position, but I don't imagine he'll be a huge factor unless someone gets injured here.

For the Kiwis, Nikorima could be vital because Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad isn't really a half and is yet to impact the match at five-eighth.

Well, there wasn't much between them in that first half, but the Aussies are making the most of their chances.

The forward packs are pretty well matched, but hooker Harry Grant and the Kangaroos' outside backs are making the biggest difference.

Tom Trbojevic, Zac Lomax and Xavier Coates have all had their moments. Now we're just waiting for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to chime in.

For the Kiwis, Shaun Johnson is looking like he hasn't missed a beat and fullback Keano Kini isn't remotely overawed in his international debut.