Bring on Four Nations - Blockbusting Blair

Kiwis vice-captain Adam Blair is as good as anyone to cast a barometer over the Anzac test and he believes New Zealand has the most to gain heading towards the Four Nations.

Blair, the blockbusting lock who plies his trade with the Melbourne Storm, was at the heart of an encouraging effort in his home town as the Kiwis fought back to a narrow 12-8 loss in Melbourne on Friday night.

Blair lined up against four of his Storm team-mates, arguably the best in the business, and saw plenty of encouragement for the young Kiwis team from this mid-season test.

Bitterly disappointed at losing, he feels New Zealand can fire up and have a decent crack at taking Australia's Four Nations crown when the tournament is played on either side of the Tasman in October and November, with England and Papua New Guinea joining the trans-Tasman rivals.

With a core of experienced players set to return for that tournament, Blair is excited at the prospect of exacting revenge on Australia, especially with their tournament clash happening at Eden Park in Auckland.

"We were short on a few leaders but the boys that stepped into the team put up a good fight and I think we have a good future with the Kiwis and the young boys coming through."

It was Blair's 17th test and 12th in a row under the guidance of Steve Kearney.

"The young guys brought a lot of energy and I think it showed on the field. We had them there in the last 10 minutes but we just ran out of time, we left it too late."

However, the result still left Blair hugely disappointed, a reflection of the competitiveness in him that comes with playing for the standard-setting Storm team.

"Yeah, I'm gutted. We put in the effort but it just wasn't good enough at the end.

"We can't afford to give away soft penalties and I think that's what cost us in the end. But it's something we will learn from."

There are few prouder Kiwis than the workaholic Blair who showed his running and offloading skills and put in plenty of defence to be one of the busiest and best forwards on the new AAMI Park.

He has tasted grand-final success – albeit having last year's title stripped from him amidst the Storm's salary cap scandal – but says it's hard to compare that to a test atmosphere which he believes is unique.

"Look, they are very different teams. In the Kiwis you know that your brothers are there for you. It happens in the club too, but with the Kiwis we are a tight family and you are going to go really hard at it for each other. It's just the way we are. It's a brotherhood and I really enjoy that."

Blair's belief in the potential of the Kiwis backed up similar sentiments from Kearney and captain Benji Marshall who were both adamant their team would only get better through this experience and, hopefully, with the core of injured stars back in their midst.

It's a long casualty list that robbed the world champion Kiwis of so much experience and game-breaking talent – Manu Vatuvei, Fuifui Moimoi, Frank Pritchard, Simon Mannering, Jeremy Smith, Roy Asotasi and Dene Halatau.

Ad Feedback The Australians were gracious enough to admit they had squeaked their way out of a tight test in Melbourne.

Coach Tim Sheens also acknowledged the increased danger New Zealand would present in the Four Nations on their home soil and with their playing stocks replenished. But he was also quick to point out the wet conditions had probably suited the young Kiwis' side better.

The rain nullified Australia's dangers out wide although classy centre Greg Inglis was a constant threat and wonder wing Brett Morris showed his finishing skills to nab both of the Kangaroos' tries.

To their credit New Zealand hung tough when Australia scored their second try after halftime to go 12-nil up and looked capable of ripping the test open as they have done in so many of these Anzac tests, producing lopsided results on a lopsided ledger that now stands 10-1 in the Roos' favour.

But it was the Kiwis who finished stronger and, while they finished short again, that has given them no shortage of hope.