A runaway try by Kangaroos skipper Darren Lockyer in the second period of extra time handed Australia a 16-12, golden-point victory over New Zealand in a thrilling Tri-Nations final at Aussie Stadium.

The win saw the Kangaroos regain the crown they lost to the Kiwis in last year's final in Leeds as well as confirming Australia as the undisputed top dog in the rugby league world.

In a stunning finish to the contest both sides missed a multitude of field-goal attempts before Johnathan Thurston broke the Kiwi defensive line one-and-a-half minutes into the second stanza of golden point before sending Lockyer over for the try.

It capped a stunning season for the Test skipper who led Brisbane to premiership success, Queensland to an Origin victory and has now helped Australia regain the Tri-Nations trophy.

Both sides had chances to steal the game in the dying stages as Kiwi duo Brent Webb and Stacey Jones both missed one-point attempts at the end of regulation while the Australians were denied a spectacular try on the bell after Willie Mason had put a kick through for Greg Inglis.

The two teams traded penalty goals in a meek opening to the game, the referee's whistle more prominent than the anticipated early fireworks as Kangaroos enforcer Mason cooled his heels on the bench with Brent Kite preferred in the run-on side.

When the Kangaroos finally crossed for the first try of the game it was more by accident than design when an errant pass from dummy half on the last tackle found a bemused Nathan Hindmarsh.

But rather than showcase his rarely seen prowess with the boot, the Parramatta workhorse flung it out to backrow partner Andrew Ryan who in turn found Mark Gasnier, the fleet of foot centre brilliantly drawing and passing for Brent Tate to score.

Mason finally entered the contest on 21 minutes and as if a light switched had been flicked on the intensity lifted several notches with his arrival, Luke O'Donnell and Nigel Vagana coming to blows following a high tackle on Lockyer.

Now down 10-2 the news got even worse for the visitors when Steve Matai was forced off with a shoulder injury.

Somehow the Kiwis turned his loss into a positive with his replacement Frank Pritchard going over with his first touch of the ball after a gutsy chip kick by halfback Jones from inside his own half was regathered by Webb.

Australia threatened first through Tate after the break but it was the Kiwis who went over via a sweet inside ball from Vagana to Iosia Soliola, the Sydney Roosters centre too big and powerful for Thurston to leave the scores locked at 10-10.

The Kangaroos edged ahead again through another Thurston penalty goal but it was New Zealand who had the momentum. The opportunity for three straight sets at the Australian line was ruined when David Fa'alogo knocked on a shanked Lockyer line drop out.

The two teams were again on level terms when Hindmarsh was penalised for taking out Jones close to the Kangaroos line. The veteran Kiwi made no mistake with his penalty from right in front to ensure a grandstand finish.

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