With poor coastal conditions moving the swims to a water standing start, Matt took no time to surge to the lead, dominating the ocean swim before sitting amongst a nine-deep bike break that put an incredible 90 seconds on the field.

The speed of Brazil's Miguel Hidalgo through the run transition combined with the intense heat and the hills were too much for Hauser to secure gold, but he found every ounce of energy he had to drive through the finish into the silver spot.

Post race he said it was a race of mental girt as much as a physical challenge.

"It was really tough out there today. We always knew it was going to be challenging conditions with the heat, and the hills on the bike; and on the run everything was really challenging especially after battling a bit of sickness after Yokohama.

"I dropped back to third spot (in the run) and then reeled them back in for silver. For a hot minute there I had to stay in my level of hurt. I saw Leo go and I thought if I can just hang in there and not let him get out too far I might be able to close in the last lap and I was able to do that. He was fading a little towards the end but Miguel was super strong from the very start (of the run) and I couldn't go with him. I was lucky to finish pretty strong and hold on for silver," he said.

"All the Aussie boys, and the girls, showed a lot of grit out there today. Some PB performances and some really strong races, so overall we can be really proud and happy as a group."

In the women's field, Emma Jeffcoat returned from three years away from the World Series due to injuries and setbacks looking like she had never left, sitting in the top six for the entire swim and bike legs before dropping back in the run to finish 24th.

"I'm stoked to have had a great swim, bike. It was pretty awesome to be at that pointy end in the swim. I love an ocean swim and I think we just set ourselves up real well. I think those girls that were at the pointy end with me knew they had to get away on the swim, bike and it was awesome to see it pay off for them.

It was a bit of a tough run today for me in the heat. I'll take the positives from that swim bike breakaway and go back to work and keep chipping away on the run," she said.

In the men's race the Australian men produced a strong display with all four men finishing in the top 20 with Hauser's Gold Coast training mate Luke Willian shaking off prior injury niggles and the heat to wrap up a fourth place finish.

"It was tough day for sure. It's about 29 degrees out on course, tough up and down the coast, headwind, technical course, lots of sprints and baking in the run to finish," Luke said.

"I hung tough the whole way. I'm six weeks off a torn tendon so probably a bit 'unders' on the run but to get that today was pretty special and all the better to see Hauser on the podium. Gotta love those days."

Fellow Aussies Brandon Copeland and Callum McClusky finished the race 15th and 17th respectively.