Captain Darren Lockyer's try in the second period of extra time gave Australia a 16-12 win Saturday over New Zealand in the Tri-Nations rugby league tournament final.
The teams were tied 12-12 after regulation time and played through one extra session of extra time and two minutes of the second before the Brisbane Broncos captain broke clear for the winning golden point try.
Both sides missed a series of field goal attempts before Johnathan Thurston broke the New Zealand defensive line and sent Lockyer over for the try.
``I was just looking outside and inside, seeing who was coming up,'' Thurston said. ``I saw the skipper inside and as soon as I threw the ball to him I knew he was over.''
The win gave Lockyer a unique triple this year _ he captained the Broncos to a National Rugby League title, Queensland to a State of Origin championship over New South Wales and Australia a Tri-Nations title over defending champions New Zealand.
Lockyer was also named international player of the year earlier in the week, the second time he has won the award.
``It was a long game tonight, a long season, but we hung in there,'' Lockyer said at the trophy presentations.
Each team scored a try in the first half which Australia led 10-6. Brent Tate scored an Australian try after Thurston kicked a penalty goal, while second rower Frank Pritchard scored New Zealand's first-half try.
Iosia Soliola scored a second-half New Zealand try while Stacey Jones kicked two goals.
``The Kiwis have been No. 1 all year but I'm just glad we've won it back for ourselves, the Australian coaches and the public,'' Thurston said.
New Zealand captain Ruben Wiki said the match was a great showcase for the sport.
``What a game,'' Wiki said. ``It wasn't the result we wanted, but rugby league got its money's worth.''
After the game, Wiki, Jones and fellow Kiwi Nigel Vagana announced their retirements from international play.
Wiki said he believed he was retiring from the national team with the Kiwis well-placed for the future.
``I've had a great time and feel like I'm going out a winner. I'm very proud of the boys,'' Wiki said.
Wiki played his 54th Test Saturday and was a key figure in building New Zealand's reputation as a physical force. Vagana played his 37th international Saturday, while Jones ends his international career with 46 Tests.
It is the second time Jones has announced his retirement from international football, having been drawn back to the Kiwis side by coach Brian McClennan for last year's Tri-Nations.
