'Not acceptable' clanger gifts Roos ticket to final

The Kiwis are lamenting a antiaircraft lapse branded "not acceptable" aft the Australians edged them 16-14 to clinch a spot successful the Rugby League World Cup last connected Saturday greeting (AEDT).

In a semi-final astatine Leeds' Elland Road, it was an incredibly brushed Cameron Murray effort successful the 54th infinitesimal that decided the result.

The South Sydney skipper took a regularisation transportation from astir 10 metres retired and slipped done a feeble New Zealand defence, leaving Brandon Smith and Nelson Asofa-Solomona embarrassed.

It was a bitterly disappointing infinitesimal successful an different tremendous semi-final betwixt the fierce trans-Tasman rivals, with scintillating tries, crunching hits and respective scuffles igniting the clash.

"The Kiwis are successful disbelieving mode," Andrew Voss said connected the Fox League broadcast erstwhile Murray brushed through.

"Two brushed tackles, consecutive nether the sticks," Leon Pryce added.

"At this level that's not acceptable."

The Murray effort levelled the scores astatine 14-14 and a Nathan Cleary conversion gave the Kangaroos their 16-14 buffer.

The Kiwis went agonisingly adjacent to atoning for the antiaircraft blunder erstwhile Peta Hiku pursued a Jahrome Hughes footwear successful the 73rd minute.

Josh Addo-Carr made a messiness arsenic helium tried to mop up the Hughes kick, but Hiku planted the shot connected the interaction in-goal line.

Kangaroos back-rower Liam Martin, who engaged successful respective tussles with Panthers teammate James Fisher-Harris, was awarded subordinate of the lucifer — a motion to the punch helium provided arsenic a ball-runner and successful defence.

But Addo-Carr delivered the apical highlight, racing astatine afloat formation to retrieve a Ben Hunt footwear and people an unthinkable effort 15 minutes into the contest.

"What person we conscionable witnessed?" Voss said.

"Green-and-gold magic from Australia!

"That is breathtaking.

"Addo-Carr — I don't cognize what velocity helium was doing, but I cognize I'd person to beryllium successful a car to beryllium arsenic fast."

England and Samoa volition quadrate disconnected successful the 2nd semi-final astatine The Emirates Stadium successful London from 1.30am connected Sunday (AEDT).