Jake Clifford has proven he's a star in the making after steering the Junior Kangaroos to a 40-24 defeat of a rocks-and-diamonds Junior Kiwis at Mt Smart Stadium.
The North Queensland playmaker had a hand in most of the Australian under-20s best moments to earn man of the match honours in the seven tries to five victory in Auckland on Saturday.
Clifford made six NRL appearances this year and is expected to take over the Cowboys No.7 jumper from Johnathan Thurston next year.
Fullback Corey Allan also showed why he was being touted as a potential NRL debutant for South Sydney next year and St George Illawarra winger Zac Lomax also stood out with the boot by nailing five from six.
The Junior Kiwis produced a series of highlight moments with none better than when Chanel Harris-Tavita threw the ball behind himself, flicked it up with his heel and regathered for Isaiah Papali'i to give the home side a 12-6 lead.
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However, the home side continually turned possession over and the Junior Kangaroos took advantage to win their fourth straight trans-Tasman encounter.
Australia led 24 -16 at halftime after Clifford and Lomax combined for Allan to score.
North Queensland winger Enari Tuala then produced an acrobatic put down in the corner to extend Australia's advantage five minutes after the resumption, the first leg of his double.
Tino Faasuamaleaui also scored twice in the final 20 minutes to inflate the winning margin.
