AUSTRALIA are on top of the world and back where they belong, inflicting a humiliating defeat on New Zealand in the Four Nations final.

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The 34-8 victory was Australia’s fourth against New Zealand this year and ensured Mal Meninga an unblemished record in his first year as Kangaroos coach.

Australia were clinical, while the Kiwis maintained the poor standards they produced throughout the tournament.

While a last start draw against Scotland was a low point, this defeat was bitterly disappointing.

The Kiwis were bad, but the Kangaroos were at their free-flowing best.

The win not only sees the Kangaroos claim the Four Nations trophy they lost in 2014, it will also see them leap the Kiwis as the No.1 ranked side.

The performance mirrored that of Australia’s 34-2 demolition of New Zealand in the 2013 World Cup.

Meninga was full of praise for his side.

“It feels pretty good,” Meninga said.

“I’m extremely happy for the players. The effort they put in and the effort throughout the whole campaign. The ownership we are trying to achieve.

“I thought we developed our performances really well to build up to what was a great performance. Sitting back and watching these guys was a real pleasure.

“Internally you don’t talk about wanting to be No.1. It’s nice to be back No.1.”

The Kiwis forward pack tried to rally their side early, but they were let down badly by their back five who had a horrid match with ball handling and defensive reads.

The second half may have finished with two tries each but by halftime the damage had already been done.

A crowd of 40,042 people turned up at the famous Anfield Stadium, where Johnathan Thurston kicked more goals than the locals would see in a handful of Premier League games.

The Kangaroos also mastered their general play kicking game, forcing multiple repeat sets.

Australia’s veterans showed no signs of letting up, again among the best for the Kangaroos.

Man of the match Darius Boyd was near unstoppable scoring a try and setting up two more.

Thurston — who set up two tries of his own — and Cameron Smith also dominated while it was the new right edge combination of Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan which proved too hard to handle for the Kiwis. Cooper Cronk was named player of the tournament.

New Zealand's Jesse Bromwich takes a run. Source: AP

New Zealand played a makeshift five-eighth in Tohu Harris which contributed to their defensive edge problems and their lack of spark with the ball.

Australia’s first three tries came from Kiwis errors.

Kiwis coach David Kidwell lamented his team’s start.

“It was our errors that cost us in the first half,” Kidwell said.

“We needed to get back into a decent completion rate. We completed below 50 per cent. To do that in any game of football, let alone in a final, let alone against a team like Australia is going to be tough.

“They got out to a lead that was uncatchable. For the next half we needed to try and get back into the game.

“The tour in general I thought we were very strong. Our performance tonight magnifies it.

“We have some disappointed people in our whole group. We have to make sure the next Test we play we don’t put out a performance again.

“We need to look at ourselves as a whole group.”

A simple blindside scrum play brought about Ferguson’s opening try via a Boyd cut out pass when Australia were gifted field possession from a Solomone Kata error.

After the opening points, the Kiwis dominated possession and their forwards rolled through the middle of the Kangaroos. But they failed to capitalise.

Winger Jordan Rapana ran through some lazy Kangaroos defence and found Shaun Johnson before the halfback’s pass hit the deck, allowing Valentine Holmes to pick up the loose ball and race 60 metres before being dragged down.

Jordan Kahu of New Zealand scores his team's second try. Source: Getty Images

Australia scored later in the set with Boyd’s passing hitting Dugan to give the Kangaroos a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Issac Luke had to watch on as his error led to opposite Smith sending Trent Merrin over the try line.

A Thurston grubber resulted in Dugan’s next try, with the Kangaroos centre sneaking under the guard of Kiwis fullback Jordan Kahu, who failed to bat the ball dead.

Australia led 24-0 at halftime and had to wait just five minutes into the second half before Boyd scored.

Kahu scored the Kiwis next two tries to bring some respectability to their performance.

The Kiwis points spree ended when Boyd Cordner scored with six minutes remaining.

AUSTRALIA 34 (J Dugan 2 D Boyd B Cordner B Ferguson T Merrin tries J Thurston 5 goals) bt NEW ZEALAND 8 (J Kahu 2 tries) at Anfield. Referee: Ben Cummins.