LEEDS - Billy Slater underlined his status as the world's best player as he destroyed England to ensure Australia lifted the inaugural Four Nations trophy with 46-16 victory at Elland Road on Saturday.
The Melbourne Storm full-back scored a stunning hat-trick while Brett Morris's double and tries from Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith and Jarryd Hayne broke the hosts' stubborn resistance in the second half.
England - who have not beaten the Kangaroos in a major final since 1972 - had been in touch for the majority of the match, with Australia-bound Sam Burgess scoring twice.
Peter Fox also got on the scoresheet but Slater's late surge was too much for Tony Smith's men.
Mindful of the 2004 Tri Nations final debacle - when Australia raced to a 38-0 half-time lead - England started brightly and Kyle Eastmond had the visitors on their toes.
But Morris thought he had opened the scoring in the corner in the ninth minute at the other end - video referee Phil Bentham ruling it out after replays showed Shaun Briscoe's last-ditch tackle had forced the wing to drop the ball.
Buoyed by their let-off, England began to take control and duly took the lead when South Sydney-bound Burgess burst through the defence and touched down under the posts.
Burgess broke through the line again soon after, but rather than stretch further ahead, England lost their way.
James Graham's pass was intercepted by Johnathan Thurston and despite Greg Inglis being held up, Australia levelled when Justin Hodges flicked the ball to Morris to score in the corner and Thurston's conversion levelled at 6-6.
Smith's men were undeterred though and regained the lead when Fox climbed above Hayne to score, although Kevin Sinfield couldn't add the extras.
But Australia showed why they are regarded as the best team in the world as Hayne danced through the England defence before kicking through for Inglis to touchdown.
Thurston converted before stretching their advantage to 14-10 at half-time with a penalty after Wests Tigers second row Gareth Ellis was penalised for interference.
England's pack had been the talking point before the match and it was their superior defence which enabled them to regain the lead.
Australia couldn't force their way out of the half and Ellis picked out Burgess with a perfect pass to allow the rookie forward to burst past Thurston and score with Sinfield adding the extras.
But their lead lasted less than five minutes as, after replacement Kurt Gidley had been held up on the line, Slater dived over from dummy-half to make it 18-16.
And the Aussies tightened their grip on the game on the hour mark when Thurston's pin-point kick over the top was superbly finished by Morris for his second try of the evening.
The physicality of the game was highlighted soon after as England centre Michael Shenton was stretched off after a collision with Ben Hannant, while Hannant was soon in the wars after tangling with James Graham.
And it got worst for the hosts as Australia effectively killed off the game after Slater kept the ball in play at the dead-ball line and Cameron Smith touched down.
Slater then began to twist the knife as he scored twice in quick succession before skipper Darren Lockyer kicked through for Hayne to score in the corner as the game got away from England.