Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga (pictured) has reserved special praise for his sides senior players after Monday mornings dismantling of the Kiwis in the Four Nations tournament final.

Australias spine of skipper Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Johnathon Thurston and fullback Darius Boyd were ruthless in dissecting the New Zealand defence as the Aussies ran away with the match  34 – 8.

Meninga says after a lifetime in the game, he doubts if there has ever been a better international combination.