Jamie Peacock opened the scoring for Britain

Teenager Richard Horne had been expected to play at scrum-half.

Instead, the 19-year-old from Hull was on the bench, with Kevin Sinfield taking over the number seven spot.

Sinfield's place at hooker was taken by Mike Forshaw with Paul Wellens, another expected starter, named among the substitutes.

Before the Australians had the chance to react to the switch, they were 6-0 down.

Peacock got Britain off to a flyer, scoring the first try of the series with less than two minutes on the clock after Darren Lockyer's kick had been charged down.

Farrell's conversion gave the home crowd something else to cheer about.

The first-half was not without its ugly moments, Jason Stevens somehow escaping punishment after stamping on Terry O'Connor's face.

Australian skipper Brad Fittler was also guilty of a major indiscretion, almost decapitating Gary Connolly with a high forearm smash three minutes before the break.

By then, Britain had extended their lead to 12 points, Sculthorpe leaving the Australian defence trailing in his wake before touching down on 27 minutes.

Tense finish

Farrell duly added the extra point before failing with a long-range penalty just before the half-time hooter.

Sculthorpe added to his tally with a drop goal on 50 minutes to make the score 13-0 in Britain's favour.

But then the world champions began their fightback.

Andrew Johns reduced the deficit with a try under the posts and Adam MacDougall crossed over after cutting in from the right wing.

With Johns kicking both conversions, the gap was down to just one point.

But, after Lote Tuqiri was denied a try for a forward pass, Sculthorpe sent the home crowd into raptures with his second try of the game.

Farrell's left boot made it 19-12 before Sculthorpe capped a fine performance with another drop goal.

Great Britain: Kris Radlinski, Keith Senior, Gary Connolly, Paul Johnson, Leon Pryce, Paul Sculthorpe, Richard Horne, Terry O'Connor, Kevin Sinfield, Barrie McDermott, Chris Joynt, Jamie Peacock, Andrew Farrell (captain).

Australia: Darren Lockyer, Lote Tuqiri, Jamie Lyon, Matthew Gidley, Adam MacDougall, Trent Barrett, Andrew Johns, Jason Stevens, Danny Buderus, Robbie Kearns, Dane Carlaw, Ben Kennedy, Brad Fittler (captain).

Referee: Bob Connolly (Great Britain).