By Josh Graham at Elland Road

Australia coach Mal Meninga revelled in his side doing the dirty work to beat New Zealand by the barest of margins to make the Rugby League World Cup final.

Cameron Murray’s try helped the Kangaroos come from 14-10 down at half-time to win 16-14 in Leeds and set up a tilt at a third consecutive title against either England or Samoa at Old Trafford next weekend.

While Josh Addo-Carr’s stunning record-equalling 12^th try of the tournament will catch the eye, Meninga was delighted with his side’s ability to nail the less attractive elements of the game to maintain their run of making every single men’s final since 1954.

? Australia wanted a quick response, good job they've got the fastest man on the planet

Josh Addo-Carr does it again ?#RLWC2021 | #AUSNZL | @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/LFqDE5iLMp
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) November 11, 2022

Meninga said: “I’m really happy for the boys, it was a real test match. We haven’t had a real test match for a number of years.

“We will obviously be better for the experience but really pleased with the effort and the commitment and all those characteristics you want in your players and your footy team.

“That’s test match footy. I’ve been involved for a long, long time and it’s a different game.

“Sometimes you don’t get what you want and the way you play is a bit clunky, the ball goes to ground, penalties against you and all that sort of stuff but you just have to keep on hanging in there because you need to do that to win the footy game.

“In my experience that was one of the best test matches I’ve been involved with. I just said to the players that’s what playing for your country produces. Games like that where you’ve got to find that little extra in the way you play or the effort levels that get you a victory.

“It doesn’t look pretty sometimes, it’s the scramble in defence, diving on the ball or a big hit that makes a difference to your footy side."

Addo-Carr raced 40 metres to latch onto Ben Hunt’s kick to level the game after Jahrome Hughes’ opener for the Kiwis before Jordan Rapana kicked a penalty and converted Dylan Brown’s try either side of Valentine Holmes’ score to give the 2008 champions the lead at the break.

But the Kangaroos’ resilience paid dividends after the interval, keeping the Kiwis scoreless as they had two Peta Hiku tries chalked off by the video ref with Murray’s score proving to be the difference.

? You can't get much closer

The Kiwis were just milimetres away from glory, as Peta Hiku touched down on the whitewash.#RLWC2021 | #AUSNZL | @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/RxBVxK42tr
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) November 11, 2022

Addo-Carr levelled teammate Holmes’ record for most tries in a single World Cup with his 12^th score to put him three clear of England’s Dom Young in the race to be this tournament’s top scorer and Meninga said it feels like the Canterbury Bulldogs speedster can barely put a foot wrong.

He added: “It was fantastic, wasn’t it? It was unbelievable. He’s playing good footy, he loves being part of the team and we love him being part of the team.

“He’s doing everything right at the moment, so I’m really happy for him.”

Meninga praised New Zealand for bringing out the best in his side but admitted there is still room for improvement as his team look to lift the trophy at the Theatre of Dreams for the second time in nine years.

The Kangaroos head coach suggested he would name an unchanged 17 next week having been impressed with his whole squad at Elland Road.

He added: “We had to be at our best tonight. There’s a bit of improvement in us but New Zealand didn’t really allow us at times to do what we wanted to do.

“Full marks to them. There’s certainly improvements but really happy with everyone.

“Everyone needed to be committed and come up with some special efforts through the game for us to be in the position that we are.”

The Rugby League World Cup promises to be the biggest, best and most inclusive event in the sport’s 127-year history with men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams competing in 61 games across 21 venues throughout England. Tickets are available via rlwc2021.com/tickets