Darren Lockyer. Photo / Getty Images
The Kangaroos will use their 2008 World Cup final defeat in Brisbane as a timely reminder but won't be motivated by revenge on Saturday night.
Kangaroos captain Darren Lockyer, who is one of five Australians remaining from the 34-20 defeat in 2008, said his side had learned the hard way
what could happen if they weren't on their game in a major final.
"It's not a motivational thing it is just a reminder," Lockyer said.
"We were cruising in that'08 series. Things were looking good and in the end we got beaten on the night. I don't think we'll use it as motivation.
"We'll refer to it as 'boys we need to bring our best game on the night'.
"We were the favourites in'08 and got beaten and we'll be the favourites [on Saturday night] no doubt."
Centre Brent Tate, who was ruled out of the 2008 final with a hip injury suffered in the semifinal against Fiji, said the defeat still burned but he backed Lockyer's stance that it was not about revenge.
"I don't see it as revenge," Tate said.
"I was a part of that campaign and that hurt for a long time. While we don't use it as motivation at all it does remind us that there is a job still to be done. You just have to look back to the World Cup to know that it's a very dangerous game for us."
Tate tormented the Kiwis in Auckland, scoring a try and creating another for wing Brett Morris, but he didn't believe the Kangaroos would have it so easy again Brisbane.
"It was a great performance by our boys and their guys made a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes, but I'm under no illusions," he said.
"This week is going to be far different. They are a quality team and they have quality players, and they will bounce back from this."
Sitting out the match in Auckland had been beneficial, said Lockyer, who will move to within a test of tying Ruben Wiki's all-time test appearance record of 55 on his home ground on Saturday night.
"I'm fresh yeah, ready," Lockyer said.
"And I guess I got a bit of a look at the Kiwis without playing but [the final] is a different story.
"[Last Saturday's] performance was very good but we'll have to work harder again to win the final."
