Aussies clinch Pacific Cup women's title in emphatic win over Kiwis

Australia piled on five tries and kept New Zealand scoreless until the second-last minute to run out 24-4 winners in the Pacific Cup women's final in Sydney on Sunday.

The Jillaroos took a 12-0 lead into half-time at CommBank Stadium, before fullback Tamika Upton and halfback Tarryn Aiken put the result beyond doubt with a solo try each in the second half of the 70-minute clash.

Upton extended the Jillaroos' lead to 16-0 in the 43rd minute when she threaded a grubber and regathered off a ricochet, before Aiken widened the gap less than five minutes later when she danced her way through the Kiwi Ferns' defence from close range.

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First-half tries scored by winger Julia Robinson, centre Isabelle Kelly and fellow centre Tiana Penitani had given the Jillaroos a healthy buffer come the break.

A month after steering the Roosters to the NRLW title in a player-of-the-match performance, star No.7 Aiken was again awarded player-of-the-match honours on Sunday, after chalking up a try, a try assist, a linebreak, two linebreak assists and 229 kick metres.

In the final 10 minutes of the match, Kiwi Ferns centre Mele Hufanga took an intercept and sprinted about 50 metres down the field, before being run down by Jillaroos second-rower Kezie Apps.

The New Zealanders then collected a consolation try courtesy of winger Leianne Tufuga in the 69th minute.

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"To my team, what a bloody effort," said Jillaroos co-captain Ali Brigginshaw during the post-game ceremony.

"There's so many debutantes and a couple of milestones there, as well.

"Congrats, Tarryn, you're the player of the match, but we came together as a group.

"I thought we showed what the Jillaroos really can do, and we're building as a squad. So congratulations to the girls."

Aiken said she'd had a "really special year".

"I've loved every moment," Aiken told Nine's Ruan Sims.

"I've loved playing with the girls all year through the Roosters, and this campaign has been really special, as well."

In the three Pacific Cup games the Jillaroos played, they thrashed the PNG Orchids 84-0, beat the Kiwi Ferns 14-0 and again trumped the New Zealanders in the final.