Australia sounded a pre-World Cup warning to rival nations with a comprehensive 30-12 defeat over New Zealand in the final Anzac Test on Friday night. However the win – on a night skipper Cameron Smith celebrated his 50th Test – was soured by a possible fractured cheekbone to Josh Dugan that could rule him out of State of Origin.

The St George Illawarra star came from the GIO Stadium field midway through the second half after clashing heads with Kiwis prop and club-mate Russell Packer and failed to return. His injury was the only low point on a dominant night for the world No1 nation, who raced to a 30-0 lead before taking their foot off the pedal and allowing the Kiwis two consolation tries.

Almost one year after breaking a three-game losing streak against the Kiwis in Newcastle, a crowd of 18,535 watched the home side make it five straight wins against the world No2. Johnathan Thurston showed no lingering effects of a calf issue by setting up two tries, while second-rowers Boyd Cordner and Matt Gillett also turned in strong defensive efforts. Blake Ferguson continued his Four Nations form with a game-high 214 metres.

Up 24-0 at the break, the Kangaroos appeared on their way to a record victory when Jake Trbojevic took a no-look pass from Cooper Cronk soon after resumption. But the Dugan exit coincided with a mini fightback from the visitors, who scored the final two tries through Simon Mannering and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

On a night they fielded arguably their strongest side in recent memory following the anticipated return of Kieran Foran, the Kiwis disappointed. They have now won just one of their past eight Tests.

Dugan opened the scoring in spectacular fashion when he soared to take Thurston’s cross-field kick, and Ferguson doubled the advantage with a 90-metre intercept soon after The visitors twice had opportunities to steal momentum, but Tuivasa-Sheck was held up over the line and Shaun Johnson’s bat-on was ruled forward in the same set

The failures opened the floodgates in defence, with Will Chambers scooting through untouched following Sam Thaiday’s 30-metre break, and Tyson Frizell completing the four-try half-time lead

Earlier, the Jillaroos avenged last year’s Test loss to the Kiwi Ferns with a gritty 16-4 win. The Australians continued their dominance of the Ferns from the Auckland Nines whitewash earlier in the year and turned the tables on last year’s 26-16 loss by winning a bruising curtain-raiser to Friday’s Anzac Test.

Ferns skipper and star fullback Sarina Fiso was well below her best in the first half, with her game blighted by crucial handling errors. She dropped an easy ball deep in defence, allowing the Jillaroos to build pressure and forcing a clearing kick which was pounced on by Australia fullback Isabelle Kelly.

Kelly, who was on debut after Sam Bremner withdrew late with injury, burst through the defensive line to score a superb try under the posts. The Ferns hit back when Atawhai Tupaea crashed over in the 25th minute but it didn’t take long for the Jillaroos to regain control.

Fiso bungled a high ball allowing Jillaroos five-eighth Zahara Temara to swoop and score under the posts just before the half-hour mark. Caitlin Moran added the two points to give the Jillaroos as 12-4 lead which they took to the break.

Jillaroos forward Renae Kunst’s hard-running was rewarded 11 minutes into the second half as they forced her way over the line to extend the lead to the eventual winning margin.

Australia were strong in defence, repelling the Ferns in a dour second half as the crowd built steadily ahead of the men’s Test. Jillaroos skipper Ruan Sims was named best afield after leading her side’s pack through the middle in a tough encounter.