2144: Well thanks for your company over an emotional hour-and-a-half or so. I massively enjoyed it, up until the final 20 minutes. It's back to the drawing board for England, but they can certainly take some real positives from it. I'll sign off by saying thanks very much for your contributions and watch out for the highlights on Sunday on BBC Two at 1700 GMT, and they will of course be on the BBC Sport website as well. Cheers.

Southener on 606: "Australia aren't that far ahead - they only drew with NZ in this tournament and lost to them in last WC final. England just lost out in this game and ran out of steam - it could'e been a win had things gone another way and they had been leading after 50-60 mins."

England captain Jamie Peacock: "We had a real belief and were in with a shot of winning with 20 minutes to go. I don't think the scoreline reflects the game, but sport is cruel sometimes. Midway through the second half we came up with a couple of errors and then we didn't get the ball for 10 minutes. Australia are always going to kill you if that happens - and they just took their chances."

2135: ACDC blasts out over the soundsystem and the champagne is sprayed around as Australia pose for the photographers.

2133: The peerless Darren Locker, probably playing his final Test match for Australia, gets the big build-up as he climbs onto the stage to take the trophy for his team. What a player.

2130: Jamie Peacock leads his men up to collect their runners-up medals. You have to feel for him and the other veterans like Adrian Morley. They get a sympathetic reception from a crowd still in shock from Australia's amazing 20-minute spell.

eirebilly on 606: "Very rarely do I say that the score doesn't reflect in terms of the match but in this case it doesn't. England have performed better than that scoreline suggests."

England loose forward Sam Burgess: "We were in it for the first hour, and we deserved better. It's just so disappointed the way it finished, but we can take a lot from this tournament."

Darren Lockyer, the most gravelly-voiced man ever: "It was potentially my last game here, so it's great to go out with a win."

80 mins: FULL-TIME England 16-46 Australia Breaking news: Darren Lockyer has made a mistake! Ryan Hall strips him one-on-one but it matters not. Australia win the Four Nations trophy after a simply devastating second-half burst.

77 mins: TRY & CONVERSION England 16-46 Australia Goodness gracious me. Billy Slater gets his hat-trick as Kurt Gidley bursts through before putting another hugely skilful kick at full pace which bounces back for Slater to cross. Another conversion from Johnathan Thurston, who has been named man of the match. Greg Inglis, meanwhile, has justifiably been named man of the series.

76 mins: Peter Fox does his best to get his hands to a kick to the corner, but the ball just beats him and slides into touch.

73 mins: TRY & CONVERSION England 16-40 Australia Gutting, gutting, gutting for England as another brilliant piece of skill from Darren Lockyer carves England open again. Looking on the bright side, we are watching one of the all-time greats strutting his stuff, but it's so disappointing for an England side that have given their all. Lockyer gets the ball in space, takes it to the line and puts in a perfect kick for Jarryd Hayne to score out wide. Johnathan Thurston kicks another conversion.

69 mins: TRY & CONVERSION England 16-34 Australia If there was any doubt about the destination of the trophy, there isn't now. Australia get a quick play-the-ball and Cameron Smith breaks from dummy-half, pops the ball to Darren Lockyer who, as always, takes the right option to draw the full-back and give Billy Slater a comfortable run to the line. Johnathan Thurston adds the extras from in front. You have to say that England's effort doesn't deserve this scoreline, but their legs have gone.

66 mins: TRY & CONVERSION England 16-28 Australia A moment of genius from Billy Slater may well have settled this game. Darren Lockyer kicks on the last and Slater gets to the ball with his fingertips. The ball goes over the deadball line, but he leaps into the air and taps it back into play for Cameron Smith to score under the posts. Heartbreaking for England. Johnathan Thurston kicks the conversion.

65 mins: England survive with some brave defence as Australia kick early in the tackle count, but Kevin Sinfield dives on the ball.

63 mins: Lucky for Australia as they get another set after a Johnathan Thurston kick goes wrong, with referee Leon Williamson ruling that England played at it. Pressure very much on Tony Smith's boys here.

61 mins: A real shame for England as Kevin Sinfield knocks on in a promising position as the offload comes his way. But the team spirit in this side is clear as his team-mates rush up to tap him on the head: "forget about it, mate," they say, "it's gone".

60 mins: This is why you have to take your hat off to these players. Brave, brave men absolutely putting their bodies on the line. Ben Hannant is involved again, clashing heads with James Graham but after a momentary delay, we're back under way.

59 mins: Michael Shenton is taken off on a stretcher in a neck-brace and we can only send our best wishes to him, and hope he makes a swift recovery. Looks like Gareth Ellis will be switched to centre, with Shenton definitely out of the rest of the game.

59 mins: A sickening moment as Michael Shenton looks to have been knocked clean out after a nasty clash of heads with Aussie prop Ben Hannant. The match is brought to a halt as the medical staff attend to the Castleford centre.

58 mins: TRY England 16-22 Australia Fair play, that was sheer quality from Australia as Johnathan Thurston produces a superb kick into the corner on the last that bounces perfectly into Brett Morris' hands to score. But the scrum-half misses the extras. England are still in this.

eirebilly on 606: "This is seriously going to go right up to the last minute. The Aussies don't know how to give in and the English are giving it their all. A very enjoyable match for the neutral."

55 mins: The luck goes England's way as Johnathan Thurston knocks-on after a spell of pinball with the ball on the floor. If he had collected cleanly, England were bang in trouble.

53 mins: TRY England 16-18 Australia Australia take full advantage of the territorial advantage given to them by the penalty. Kurt Gidley is held up just short, but Billy Slater goes all of 30cm to pop over from dummy-half despite the best efforts of Sam Tomkins in defence. Johnathan Thurston just misses the conversion. England have got to score next.

52 mins: Not what England needed as Kevin Sinfield concedes the penalty just inside his own half for holding on too long in the tackle.

49 mins: TRY & CONVERSION England 16-14 Australia Magical, magical stuff. Another try from Sam Burgess and it's an absolute cracker. England's passing stretches Australia left and right, and a lovely flat pass from Gareth Ellis finds Burgess cutting the angle to score under the posts. Kevin Sinfield kicks the conversion and the team and the crowd go billy bananas.

47 mins: England keep the ball alive on the last, and Michael Shenton puts in a lovely kick under pressure, but the ball bounces Australia's way and Jarryd Hayne just gets over his own tryline.

44 mins: England are taking this game by the scruff of the neck, and set up camp in Australia's 20. Sam Tomkins goes close before getting very agitated with Billy Slater for something that goes on in the tackle. England work an overlap but the ball is just a little bit slow getting to Peter Fox and the chance again is lost.

42 mins: Greg Inglis shrugs off three attempted tackles but is eventually put down. The kick comes next tackle but Sam Tomkins defuses it inside the in-goal area.

41 mins: Australia kick off and we're back under way at Elland Road. In their first attack, Aussie skipper Darren Lockyer dummies straight through but is absolutely flattened by another beautiful Shaun Briscoe tackle.

unounos on 606: "Come on England! I don't want any of the typical 'they gave it their best shot and it does not matter if they lose' attitude... I want ruthlessness and a win, nothing else is acceptable!"

eirebilly on 606: "If England can produce a second half like they did a while back against the Aussies then they can definitely win this."

Ian Millward on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra: "It will all come down to the team who show more skill and take their opportunities. Both teams are creating chances and from now on you're going to have to take them - there won't be many. "This is high-calibre stuff and definitely better than what was on show at Twickenham this afternoon. A lot of union clubs should be getting the video of this and showing it to their players on Monday morning."

southsydneynrl on 606: "Well this is a great game with the play going from left to right. I did get a feeling there was a couple of big pommy forwards struggling towards the end of that half with it being played at 100mph."

2021: Right then, where's your money now on the evidence of the first 40 minutes? England are more in this game than they (or Great Britain) have been against Australia for a long time.

Every time Australia's stellar backline gets the ball on the front foot it's hearts-in-mouth time for England. But England's pack, led by Jamie Peacock, Adrian Morley and James Graham, are definitely capable of holding their own.

England's half-backs Kyle Eastmond and Sam Tomkins are stepping up to the mark on the big occasion, and everything points to a tight, tight final 40 minutes at Elland Road.

40 mins: HALF-TIME England 10-14 Australia The half-time hooter goes with England on the attack through Kyle Eastmond. That was one of the best halves of rugby I've seen in some time.

39 mins: Shaun Briscoe, take a bow. The full-back, the last man in defence, produces a textbook one-on-one tackle on Greg Inglis when a try looks very much on. Inglis offloads to Jarryd Hayne, but the winger spills the ball. Nervous, nervous moments before the break.

36 mins: So, so close for England as Kyle Eastmond's dancing feet takes him to within a metre or so of the line. England quickly swing it left, but the pass is a bit too slow to get there and the Australian defence gets there in time. Still, England are creating again.

35 mins: Two penalties in quick succession for England as Australia, and Anthony Watmough in particular, fail to get back 10m. England have got to make the most of this.

32 mins: England are looking tired, no two ways about it. Australia, meanwhile, look increasingly comfortable but this match is still very much in the balance.

30 mins: PEN England 10-14 Australia Poor play from Gareth Ellis as he is penalised for obstruction on Johnathan Thurston after the Aussie scrum-half chips ahead. Thurston picks himself up and slots the penalty. England need to get their discipline under control to stay in this.

28 mins: Harsh decision against Sam Tomkins, who is ruled to have knocked-on as he leaps to contest an up-and-under with Billy Slater. Australia will be able to bring it from deep.

25 mins: TRY England 10-12 Australia Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer blasts out the speakers as another decision is handed over to the video referee. After great work from Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston, Jarryd Hayne slices through England's defence and then composes himself to put a grubber kick into the in-goal area. The onrushing Greg Inglis, bursting through at full pelt, gets hands on the ball and the video official gives him the benefit of the doubt. Thurston makes the conversion.

22 mins: Australia's backs look dangerous every time they get the ball in some space, but their skills let them down as Billy Slater passes behind Brett Morris, who can only knock-on.

21 mins: Disappointing from England as they get caught in possession on the last inside their own half. Poor organisation there as Sam Burgess receives a bad pass when it should have been going to one of the halves to put the kick in.

19 mins: TRY England 10-6 Australia This England team is playing with a self-belief that has been missing for so many years. Brilliant stuff as Kyle Eastmond's pinpoint crosskick is plucked out of the air by Peter Fox, who outjumps Jarryd Hayne before plunging to the ground. He's more than a little bit pleased with that. But Kevin Sinfield misses with the conversion.

14 mins: TRY & CONVERSION: England 6-6 Australia Never write off these Australians. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. Quick hands down the right flank sees Brett Morris skip over, and Johnathan Thurston curls in a great conversion.

13 mins: Sam Burgess bursts through again but goes for the dummy when the opo pass to Sam Tomkins would surely have put the stand-off in under the posts. A missed chance, that soon gets worse as James Graham's pass is intercepted by Johnathan Thurston. He races up the field and links up with Greg Inglis, but some heroic scrambling defence sees England get back at him.

12 mins: It gets better for England as Cameron Smith belts the ball out on the full from the kick-off. "Who are ya?" rings out from the stands.

11 mins: TRY & CONVERSION England 6-0 Australia Hello, what have we got here...? A simply fantastic try from the NRL-bound Sam Burgess. A quick play-the-ball, Sinfield ships it on and Burgess dummies his way straight through before turning on the gas to slide in under the sticks. Sinfield kicks the conversion.

9 mins: A potentially massive moment here as a breathtaking tackle from Shaun Briscoe prevents Brett Morris from opening the scoring. Talk about putting your body on the line. He flies in at the corner to knock the ball out of Morris' grasp and the video referee backs up his belief that it was no try.

7 mins: Awesome tackle on Darren Lockyer by Michael Shenton. The Cas centre comes in man and ball, and rocks the Aussie skipper - just the statement of intent England needed as Australia begin to look dangerous. A much more solid defensive effort than the last meeting between these two.

5 mins: Australia survive the next set, and then it's England's turn to concede the penalty as Chris Bridge messes about at the ruck. Referee Leon Williamson is not slow in blowing, that's for sure.

3 mins: A lovely half-break from Kyle Eastmond takes England to within two or three metres and another penalty is forthcoming as Australia again interfere at the play-the-ball. England decline the easy two points on offer and force the Aussies to drop out under the sticks after Kevin Sinfield's kick is dabbed down by Billy Slater. Very encouraging start.

1 min: Decent, solid start from England as they drive up past halfway in their first set and then win the first penalty of the game. That is just what we wanted.

1930: That's it. All the preliminaries are over, the excitable bloke with the microphone has shut up and we're under way. Adrian Morley absolutely smashes the first Australian who brings the ball up. Game on!

1928: The teams are out on the field and we've got one Jonathan Ansell, a former member of G4, to lead us through the national anthems. What more could we ask for?

loinerlad on 606: "I hope the two young half backs do it for England tonight. They are definitely the future. However I am worried that at least one of the best half back combinations in the SL (three in a row) is not on the bench tonight, McGuire or Burrow..."

1924: We're expecting more than 31,000 inside Elland Road tonight, which isn't to be sniffed at. How many more could we be getting through the gates in years to come if England could pull off a shock against the Kangaroos?

1919: Let's all take a moment to pay tribute to the peerless Darren Lockyer, who is almost certainly playing his final Test for Australia. A class, class act, on and off the field, and arguably the best stand-off of his generation.

I, for one, would be delighted to see him in Super League, however old he is.

1914: So then, Kyle Eastmond. How do you rate him? One Jason Robinson (whatever happened to him?) says the following about him: "Kyle is a very talented young lad.

"I've spoken to Kyle. He's been likened to myself but in many ways I wasn't as talented as him at his age, with his ball-handling skills and his kicking." That's not a bad tribute, to be fair.

southsydneynrl on 606: "I hope for England's sake that those youngsters in the halves don't melt under the pressure.

"Could you imagine what must be going through their young minds right at this very moment, only the fact that that every league fan in England are relying on them!!!!!! I stand here today and say thank God it's them and not me."

I think that's what's known as psychological warfare...

1908: As if the live text isn't enough for you, we've also got tip-top radio commentary from my close personal friends on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra. Happy, happy days.

anon via text on 81111: "Being a loyal cas fan, I hope Shenton at least gets the ball this week. I fear though that the Aussies will be embarrassed about the second half at Wigan and will try to put us to the sword.....COME ON ENGLAND!!!!"

1902: Both teams are going through their final preparations at Elland Road, and Australia have confirmed their line-up. Jarryd Hayne has switched to the right wing, while they have settled on Sam Thaiday, Anthony Watmough, Brett White and Kurt Gidley as replacements.

1855: The teams, as it stands, are as follows: England: S Briscoe (Hull KR); P Fox (Hull KR), C Bridge (Warrington), M Shenton (Castleford), R Hall (Leeds); S Tomkins (Wigan), K Eastmond (St Helens); A Morley (Warrington), K Sinfield (Leeds), J Graham (St Helens), J Peacock (Leeds, capt), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), S Burgess (Bradford).
Replacements: J Roby (St Helens), E Crabtree (Huddersfield), B Westwood (Warrington), J Wilkin (St Helens).

Australia: B Slater (Melbourne); J Hayne (Parramatta), G Inglis (Melbourne), J Hodges (Brisbane), B Morris (St George Illawarra); D Lockyer (Brisbane, capt), J Thurston (North Queensland); P Civoniceva (Penrith), C Smith (Melbourne), B Hannant (Canterbury), L Lewis (Penrith), P Gallen (Cronulla), N Hindmarsh (Parramatta).
Replacements (from): D Shillington (Canberra), S Thaiday (Brisbane), A Watmough (Manly), K Gidley (Newcastle), M Jennings (Penrith), B White (Melbourne).

I say as it stands, because both teams have hinted at last-minute changes. England boss Tony Smith says he may tweak the starting line-up by bringing in some players off the bench. Australia, meanwhile, have suggested Jarryd Hayne - the NRL player of the year - may be switched to play outside Greg Inglis.

1848: I'll tell you why I'm optimistic all over again, despite 2004 and last year's World Cup. It's the attitude of these new young'uns England have finally seen fit to select after years of failure with the same old faces. Kyle Eastmond and Sam Tomkins look like nothing frightens them, and aren't afraid of reputation either. If those two can have good games...

1845: Evening all, and welcome to the final of the Four Nations at Elland Road. It's only England v Australia, innit? I'm here all night, and you can get involved on 606 or even text your thoughts on 81111. For the record, I'm keeping the faith - against my better judgement after being disappointed so many times in the past...