By Philip Gordos BBC Sport at the JJB Stadium, Wigan

MATCH SCOREBOARD Great Britain: (18) 24 Tries: Newton, Reardon, Fielden, Senior Goals: Farrell (4) Australia: (6) 12 Tries: Rooney, O'Meley Goals: Fitzgibbon, Kimmorley Pictures from the JJB Stadium

Great Britain booked their place in the Gillette Tri-Nations finals with a long-awaited victory over Australia.

After going 6-0 down, the Lions hit back with four tries to seal a re-match with the Kangaroos at Elland Road in the final on 27 November.

Luke Rooney and Mark O'Meley crossed over for the Aussies.

But touchdowns from Terry Newton, Stuart Reardon, Stuart Fielden and Keith Senior gave the home side a gutsy and well-deserved win.

The Lions looked lethargic early on, not too surprising given the massive impact a virus has had on the squad in the last fortnight.

In contrast, the Kangaroos, led by jack-in-the-box Brett Kimmorley, looked full of beans, immune to the biting cold inside the packed-out stadium.

It was Kimmorley who set up Australia for the opening try of the match on 14 minutes, his cross-field kick finding the welcoming arms of Rooney on the left.

With five tries already in the tournament, Rooney made it six by scrambling over the line and left British fans anticipating another night of heartache at Australia's expense.

The home side did not help their cause by missing too many tackles and putting too many kicks down the throats of either Rooney, Anthony Minichiello or Craig Wing.

Ironically, it was Sean Long, hugely disappointing until the 20-minute mark, who sparked the Lions into life, his darting run cutting a hole in the visitors' defence and creating panic amongst the Australian players.

Considering the disease in the camp this week it makes it all the more remarkable GB coach Brian Noble More Great Britain reaction

Seconds later and with the Kangaroos still reeling, Newton, whose place in the team had reportedly been under threat, touched down for Britain's first try.

Minichiello, under pressure from Long, failed to pick up Paul Sculthorpe's kick on his own line, allowing Newton bursting through to dive on the loose ball.

Sensing the momentum had swung their way, the home side made inroads into the Kangaroos defence again four minutes later, Reardon touching down in the left corner.

The Bradford player once again showed deft footwork as he stepped inside one tackle before lunging successfully for the line after taking Farrell's long pass.

The Aussies turned the screw in an attempt to get back on level terms before the half-time hooter, but it was Britain who ended up increasing their lead.

After keeping the visitors at bay with some brilliant tackling, the Lions roared upfield, a wonderful passing move finishing with Fielden diving over.

We're not disappointed. They won, but there wasn't a great deal between the two sides Australia coach Wayne Bennett More Australia reaction

Britain led by 12 points at the break but would have needed a 50-point margin to feel safe against the Aussies.

The world champions duly hit back at the start of the second half, debutant Mark O'Meley bursting through and touching down beneath the sticks.

Britain steadied the ship and should have increased their advantage when Danny McGuire, latching onto Sculthorpe's chip, made a beeline for the left corner.

Instead of going for the line himself, he opted to pass inside to Reardon, who was held up by Nathan Hindmarsh.

Both sides made their tackles count as the half wore on, Britain holding firm as Australia pressed.

Then, with the Kangaroos again on the march, the Lions tore loose, Senior snapping up Scott Hill's wayward pass and sprinting half the length of the pitch to dive over underneath the posts.

Farrell's conversion, his fourth of the game, sealed victory and a place in the Tri-Nations final.

There was still time for a last-minute punch-up on the halfway line, which will ensure the 27 November clash at Elland Road is another fiery encounter.

Great Britain: P Wellens (St Helens); B Carney (Wigan), M Gleeson (Warrington), K Senior (Leeds), S Reardon (Bradford); D McGuire (Leeds), S Long (St Helens); S Fielden (Bradford), T Newton (Wigan), A Morley (Sydney Roosters), A Farrell (Wigan, capt), J Peacock (Bradford), P Sculthorpe (St Helens).
Replacements: R Bailey (Leeds), G Ellis (Wakefield), S O'Loughlin (Wigan), P Johnson (Bradford)

Australia: A Minichiello (Sydney Roosters); L Rooney (Penrith), S Berrigan (Brisbane), W Tonga (Canterbury), M Sing (North Queensland); S Hill (Melbourne), B Kimmorley (Cronulla); S Webcke (Brisbane), D Buderus (Newcastle, capt), P Civoniceva (Brisbane), C Fitzgibbon (Sydney Roosters), N Hindmarsh (Parramatta), T Carroll (Brisbane).
Replacements: C Wing (Sydney Roosters), W Mason (Canterbury), A Ryan (Canterbury), M O'Meley (Canterbury).

Referee: G Black (New Zealand).