Australia 26-6 New Zealand: Greg Inglis scores twice in Four Nations warm-up
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 15/10/16 12:53pm
Greg Inglis scored a try in each half as Australia warmed up for the Four Nations with a 26-6 win over New Zealand in Perth.
Cronulla winger Valentine Holmes grabbed a try on debut and full-back Darius Boyd and second-rower Boyd Cordner got their others as the Kangaroos, who led only 8-6 at half-time, finished strongly to make it two wins out of two under Mal Meninga.
It was a losing start for the Kiwis' new coaching team of David Kidwell and former Hull KR pair Justin Morgan and Willie Poching but they will be heartened by the way their team recovered from an awful start before fading towards the end.
Australia made a dream start with two tries in the first 15 minutes through Boyd and Inglis, the latter profiting from a fortuitous rebound off the head of full-back Jordan Kahu.
Johnathan Thurston was unable to add either conversion, though, and the Kiwis struck back midway through the first half through second rower Kevin Proctor.
It was the Kiwis' first points against the Kangaroos for 140 minutes and Issac Luke's conversion cut the lead to just two points.
A last-ditch tackle by Wigan-bound half-back Thomas Leuluai on Matt Gillett kept it tight up to half-time but Australia re-established an eight-point lead three minutes into the second half when Holmes crossed at the corner following a blunder by New Zealand centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
Thurston kicked his first goal and he was also on target to convert late tries from Inglis, who touched down Cameron Smith's grubber kick to take his tally of touchdowns for the Kangaroos to 30, and Cordner.
The Kangaroos' next opponents will be Scotland in the opening match of the Four Nations at Hull KR on Friday, October, 28.
