Australia edged to a 36-22 victory in a pulsating match against Fiji to book their place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.

Having lost their previous five meetings against Australia by an aggregate score of 246-16, a stunned Brisbane crowd watched Fiji enjoy territorial advantage in the first half and take a 16-12 lead after the break.

However, the momentum switched back to Kevin Walters’ side in a crucial 60-second spell.

Solomone Saukuru raced in to seemingly put Fiji 20-12 ahead – but when it was ruled out for obstruction, Australia immediately went up the other end and Tom Trbojevic scored to bring the teams level.

Trbojevic, who looked vulnerable in defence, crossed twice more for Australia and Jacob Preston added a further try after Semi Valemei had completed his hat-trick for Fiji.

“There are definitely some areas to improve on,” Trbojevic told Premier Sports. “We didn’t start as we wanted to and couldn’t get a flow. We just needed to play our style of footy.

“We weren’t at our best but we came away with two points. We need to improve. We’ve got to enjoy a win but we’ve got to be our harshest critics too.”

Brisbane Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs had opened the scoring for Australia on his home ground, while Sam Walker capped his debut with a try and 12 points with the boot.

But the manner in which their pack were outmuscled – and in which they allowed Taane Milne and Valemei to score – will be a concern for Walters, whose team head into the last four despite delivering two unconvincing performances in beating New Zealand and Fiji.

New Zealand will take on Fiji in a make-or-break final pool game on Saturday, 31 October (04:30 GMT), having overcome an early scare themselves in their 82-16 victory over the Cook Islands in Christchurch.

Jamayne Isaako, who is joining Melbourne Storm next term, took the headlines as he scored a record 38 points for the Kiwis.

It was the perfect way for Stacey Jones’ team to bounce back from their 24-22 opening Group A defeat by Australia but it did not go entirely to script, as the Cook Islands recovered from 12-0 down to lead 16-12.

With two-time World Cup winner Valentine Holmes in their ranks, Karmichael Hunt’s team responded superbly as Esom Ioka grabbed a hat-trick of tries in response to early efforts from Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo.

However, from there it was one-way traffic as the Kiwis took control to lead 36-16 by the break.

Isaako crossed three times overall, while Test debutant Tanner Stowers-Smith, Mulitalo and Casey McLean each scored twice.

Scott Sorensen, Kodi Nikorima, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Keano Kini, who replaced injured star full-back Kalyn Ponga in the New Zealand line-up, also claimed tries.

Isaako’s points haul – which included 13 conversions – eclipsed Tasesa Lavea’s previous mark of 32 points in a single game, which was recorded against the same opposition in 2000.

New Zealand’s women had earlier thrashed France 92-0 in the same stadium, with Apii Nicholls scoring four tries.

Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga both claimed a hat-trick of tries in a dominant performance by the co-hosts.

Mackenzie Wiki, Raecene McGregor and Tenika Willison all crossed twice with Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Kaiyah Atai also going over in an 18-try demolition job.

The Kiwi Ferns have now defeated France by a combined score of 236-0 across three World Cup encounters.

New Zealand, who defeated Fiji 18-12 in the their opening match, will round off their Pool B campaign against Papua New Guinea on Saturday, 31 October (06:45 GMT).

Ricky Henry’s side look set to face either Samoa or England in the semi-finals of the competition.

Fiji face France in the other remaining group match on Saturday, 31 October (02:20 GMT).