Kiwis coach David Kidwell is confident that his team has learnt a number of lessons in the loss to the Kangaroos as they prepare for their opening Four Nations match.
The Kiwis' preparation for the Four Nations was rocked after succumbing 26-6 to a very clinical Australian side, but Kidwell believes it was the hit-out the team needed before the tournament started.
"I think the whole team learnt some lessons from the game in Perth," Kidwell said at the tournament opening press conference.
"We had some players that hadn't played for five or six weeks so it was a good hit-out for them. And it's helped us prepare for what's going to be a tough England side on Saturday night."
The team was battered, bruised and outran in their match against the Kangaroos a week ago, and Kiwis Captain Jesse Bromwich said that they've had slightly altered training schemes to cope with the English this weekend.
"It feels really good, we've trained every day so far since we've been here," said Bromwich.
"They've been short sessions but really intense. The boys are feeling great at the moment and we just need to put it out there on the field this weekend and play a good match against England which will be a tough game and hope we come away with the result".
Bromwich also made mention of the smooth transition into the head coaching role by Kidwell, made much easier coming from his previous role as an assistant.
"It's been fairly smooth, we've had a new coach come in but he was out assistant for the last four years so things have been fairly the same.
"All the boys are really buying into what he's been preaching to us and he's been very clear of what he wants and the boys have been doing everything he asks."
The Kiwis are the current holders of the Four Nations and will open their defence against England at Huddersfield on Sunday (NZT).
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