Australia will take on old rival New Zealand in the Four Nations final on Saturday after breezing past Samoa at WIN Stadium on Sunday to book a spot in the tournament decider.

The Kangaroos only needed to ensure they won, or lost by less than nine points, but chose not to take it easy on Samoa as the home team ran in eight tries to three in a dominant performance.

More than 18,000 people - 18,456 to be exact - filed into the Wollongong venue, and it was standing room only on the eastern hill as fans were treated to a fast-paced and at times fiery Test match.

And although Samoa fought to the final siren and looked in danger of piling on some late tries, Australia virtually had the game won at half time.

It took less than two minutes for Kangaroos fullback Greg Inglis to offload to a sprinting Sione Mata'utia, who ran 40 metres before giving an inside ball to put Cooper Cronk over the line.

Inglis got on the board himself just nine minutes later when he finished off a flurry of passes on the Australia line to give the host nation a 10-0 lead early on.

Samoa fullback Tim Simona hit back in the 20th minute when he put a fend on Cameron Smith then darted between two more defenders to find the line.

The Samoans went achingly close to drawing level just minutes later when Pita Godinet was held up over the line, then Antonio Winterstein was taken out by Dylan Walker while contesting a kick to the left wing.

Inglis extended the lead in the 26th minute when he burst through the defence and sprinted 20m to score, before Daly Cherry-Evans got the ball off the left side of a scrum and ran 70m to go over in the corner.

Virtually in the next set Cameron Smith put a beautiful ball onto the chest of David Klemmer who busted over under the posts and Australia went to half time 28-6.

It was Samoa who struck first in the second half when Ben Roberts scored and Tim Lafai converted.

The game became heated in the final 20 minutes of play but the players refrained from throwing any punches.

David Fa'alogo scored in the 68th minute and Lafai converted but last-ditch tries to Josh Papalli and Josh Mansour sealed the 44-18 win.

Inglis was named man of the match for his two-try effort.

There was drama after the siren as a minority of fans attempted to enter the playing surface, but officials managed to quell the disturbance before it escalated.

Australia will now take on New Zealand for the trophy in Wellington on Saturday night.