Sheens concerned after victors show New Zealand their vulnerable side

The Aussies never looked back after establishing a 26-8 half-time lead at AAMI Park, but they were outplayed for long periods of a second half marred by constant rain.

New Zealand, who on Saturday hammered Papua New Guinea 76-12 in Rotorua, have been the more impressive team so far in the tournament and will fancy their chances of gaining a psychological advantage ahead of the November 13 final when they meet the Kangaroos in Auckland in next Saturday's "dead rubber".

"The second half was pretty ordinary but the conditions really restricted what is the strength of our game, that's our edge," said Sheens.

"But I'm concerned about how easy England walked through us in the middle. New Zealand will be licking their lips at some of our defence in the middle.

"Their first try was so easy, it wasn't funny. We are going to have to be a lot better than that.

"England made a couple of fundamental errors," added Sheens. "If they gift us field position, we're generally going to hurt them.

"I thought both sides fell right away, which was pretty disappointing for the crowd," he added.

Both Sheens and captain Darren Lockyer were critical of Australian referee Tony Archer for allowing a slow play-the-ball which reduced the game as a spectacle.

"It was a good two or three seconds longer than we're used to in the NRL," said Lockyer.

"We're in the final, that's a positive, but there's a lot of guys in there not feeling great about things. The conditions played a part but, at the same time, we can do better."

Second row Luke Lewis will miss next Saturday's game against the Kiwis after going off in the second half with a dead leg, but he is expected to recover in time for the Brisbane final.

Sheens, who has used just 17 players in the two games so far, is likely to give run-outs to the other seven players in his squad at Eden Park.

"We'll pick a team to win the game," he said. "There will be some changes. We've a couple of injuries and I don't think some guys played well enough."