The Kiwis will meet Australia in the final of rugby league's Four Nations after the Kangaroos hammered Samoa 44-18 in the final round robin match in Wollongong.
Greg Inglis of Australia. Four Nations, 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Fullback Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk both scored two tries as the home side ran rampant to set up a meeting with the Kiwis in Wellington next Saturday.
New Zealand booked their berth with a 16-14 win over England in Dunedin on Saturday, which left the English needing an unlikely Samoa upset of Australia to progress to the final.
The Kangaroos won the first Four Nations in 2009 and the third in 2011 but were stunned by New Zealand in the final of the second version in Brisbane in 2010.
The Kangaroos, in danger of missing their first major tournament final in 60 years after losing 30-12 to New Zealand in the opening game, will have another crack at the Kiwis in the decider in Wellington.
The Australians posted eight tries to Samoa's three and were in control at half-time with a 28-6 lead.
Skipper Cameron Smith landed four goals from six attempts.
The Samoans, who pushed England and New Zealand to the brink in their first two games, put in their worst defensive effort of the tournament to concede five tries in a sloppy first half.
Inglis was in outstanding form, scoring off a Corey Parker pass and then slicing through a weak Tim Lafai tackle to score his second try in the 26th minute.
