Great Britain: (8) 14 Tries: Carney, Horne Cons: Harris Pens: Harris (2) Australia: (14) 26 Tries: Cooper, O'Meley, Tate, Gasnier Cons: Fitzgibbon (4) Pens: Fitzgibbon All the action as it happened Tri-Nations photos

Tries from Matt Cooper, Mark O'Meley, Brent Tate and Mark Gasnier saw the Kangaroos home, with Craig Fitzgibbon adding 10 points with the boot.

Great Britain trailed 14-8 at the break despite a brave try from Brian Carney, while Richard Horne scored a late consolation try as Australia eased off.

Australia will play New Zealand in the final on 26 November in Leeds.

On a bitterly cold night in Hull, both sides went through a prolonged softening up period - interrupted only by one penalty apiece - for the first 20 minutes.

But the game came alive when a lofted cross-kick towards Carney was knocked back by Matt King and gathered by the chasing Cooper to touch down.

Fitzgibbon added the extras and Australia visibly stepped up a gear as they chased another score.

They handled the pressure better and we have got to take it on the chin GB coach Brian Noble More Tri-Nations reaction

But Great Britain finally ignited on 27 minutes when a thundering Adrian Morley tackle on Luke O'Donnell dislodged the ball.

The Lions retrieved possession and when Trent Barrett was sin-binned for an infringement at the play-the-ball, Iestyn Harris slotted over his second penalty.

The resurgent home side tightened their grip and made the most of the extra man when they forced a second set after Anthony Minichiello was forced to touch down inside his own in-goal area.

A couple of tackles into the series, substitute Micky Higham went on a jinking run and set up Carney to score in the corner, though Harris missed a difficult conversion.

Under increasing pressure, Minichiello narrowly averted another repeat set of six for Great Britain as he brilliantly dribbled the ball out of his in-goal area.

Australia immediately broke out, wasting no time in putting Fitzgibbon in under the posts at the other end - but the video official ruled he lost control of the ball during Leon Pryce's tackle.

Tate celebrates his superb try with team-mate Willie Mason

As so many times before, Australia upped their intensity at the end of the half and were rewarded by O'Meley's try.

Jamie Thackray coughed up possession on the half-way line and the Australians were soon pressuring the try-line.

Minichiello wriggled through a narrow gap before tossing a speculative pass behind which O'Meley juggled before scoring to deflate the Lions players.

Great Britain needed a fast start after the break but it was Australia who edged further ahead with a Fitzgibbon penalty.

And the Kangaroos dealt Britain another body blow when winger Tate raced down his right touchline to score a stunning try under the posts.

The rampant Kangaroos crossed again on 60 minutes when Gasnier scampered over from close range after lax Great Britain defence.

With the result virtually sealed, Great Britain went close when Harris was dragged down by Barrett as he chased a rolling ball under the posts.

Barrett received a second yellow card but when the ball reached Leon Pryce in the left corner, he knocked on.

But the consolation did come when Higham's break put Horne clear under the posts to put a more positive sheen on the scoreboard.

Great Britain: Pryce, Carney, Gleeson, Senior, Raynor, Harris, Horne, Fielden, Cunningham, Morley, Peacock, Johnson, Ellis.
Replacements: Higham, Walker, Thackray, Sinfield.

Australia: Minichiello, King, Gasnier, Cooper, Tate, Barrett, Gower, Civoniceva, Buderus, Ryles, O'Donnell, Fitzgibbon, Kennedy.
Replacements: Wing, Mason, O'Meley, Waterhouse.