Kangaroos centre Greg Inglis scores the second try of the night in the 16-0 win.
Photo: MAX MASON-HUBERS Gould calls for an overhaul as unimpressive Australia wins KANGAROOS16 KIWIS0 By Michael Chammas It was equally uninspiring as it was methodical. Australia managed to restore regular order by ending a two-year drought against the Kiwis, but Mal Meninga's first game as head coach has left more questions than answers following the 16-0 victory in Newcastle. 
The Kiwis came into the game as the No.1 team in the world having not lost to Australia in their past three meetings. And despite the Kangaroos bucking the trend on Friday night, it was the severely depleted New Zealanders who gave a better account of themselves than the near full strength Kangaroos outfit.
Australia's mediocre performance prompted former NSW Origin coach Phil Gould to raise concerns over the ageing team's ability to win next year's world cup.
"Australia have been professional but unimpressive," Gould said. "They can't possibly be thinking this is the side for the world cup at the end of next year.
Don't get me wrong they have all been excellent players, but there comes a time."
Semi Radradra's Test debut for Australia didn't go entirely to script, sent to the sin bin for a professional foul just six minutes into the contest after pushing Kevin Proctor off course while attempting to ground a Shaun Johnson grubber.
But it did little to tip the scales against the Aussies who, despite struggling for fluency, rarely looked troubled against the second rate New Zealand side in front of a crowd of 27,724 at Hunter Stadium.
With Roger Tuivasa-Sheck nursing a season-ending knee injury, Kieran Foran taking time away from the game to sort through some personal problems and Issac Luke overlooked given his disappointing start to the season for the Warriors, Shaun Johnson was the only constant in a weakened spine.
To make matters worse captain Simon Mannering was unavailable, enforcer Ben Matulino was left out after an off- field misdemeanour and centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall was a late withdrawal. On paper it looked like it would be a one-sided affair, with Gould of the opinion "the [New Zealand] team not playing would probably beat the team playing", with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Dean Whare amongst the long list of stars absent for the one-off Test.
And unfortunately for Stephen Kearney's men, no grit or commitment could make up for the lack of quality at their disposal.
The decision to overlook Luke for makeshift hookers backfired, with the Kiwis rarely troubling the mobile Australian pack through the middle of the field.
AT A GLANCE AUSTRALIA 16 (D Boyd, B Ferguson, G Inglis tries; C Smith, J Thurston goals) bt NEW ZEALAND 0 at Hunter Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton.