New Zealand beat Australia for third straight match

Shaun Johnson celebrates victory over Australia

New Zealand mastered Australia for a third straight international to signal a changing of the guard at the top of international rugby league with a 26-12 win in Brisbane.

It is the first time in over 60 years that New Zealand have strung together three consecutive victories over the one-time unchallengeable Kangaroos.

The Kiwis can now claim the world No 1 ranking from Australia if they beat England in a best-of-three away Test series in November.

The last time New Zealand strung together three wins over the Kangaroos was in 1952-53.

It was an outstanding performance from New Zealand in both attack and defence and raised questions about the ageing Australian team and their coach Tim Sheens following last year's Four Nations loss to the Kiwis.

New Zealand conquered the Australians twice in last year's Four Nations including a 22-18 win in the tournament final in Wellington.

The match had been due to be played on Friday but had to be postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

The Kangaroos scored the first try through Sam Thaiday, who trampled over Kieran Foran to score off Cooper Cronk, but the Kiwis broke the Anzac Test wide open with four tries in the closing 20 minutes of the opening half.

Issac Luke of the Kiwis leads his team into the Haka as they celebrate their victory

Powerhouse winger Manu Vatuvei, voted man of the match, scored a try double in eight minutes with world player of the year Shaun Johnson becoming more influential.

In a significant moment, Johnson stepped inside Johnathan Thurston to score New Zealand's third try and then nearing half-time the Kiwis were in again.

Quick movement to the right and winger Jason Nightingale's kick downfield had Greg Inglis scrambling in cover to clear the threat.

But Inglis inexplicably failed to ground the rolling ball in Australia's in-goal for Shaun Kenny-Dowall to score New Zealand's fourth try and a shock 26-6 half-time lead.

Vatuvei looked set to complete his hat-trick of tries early in the second half only to have the ball knocked out of his grasp by Inglis's despairing tackle.

Full-back Roger Tuivasa-Sheck pulled off a ball and all tackle on Cooper Cronk on the New Zealand try-line to save a certain try as the Kangaroos mounted attacking raids.

Centre Will Chambers finally got over the try-line as the Kangaroos pulled back to trail 26-12 with 20 minutes left.

But it was the Kiwis who came close to scoring twice in the final stages with Johnson chased down by Inglis and Kenny-Dowall losing the ball over Australia's try-line.