"We have a great group and had 80 minutes to go and it was just a reminder to them of how close we've been for five weeks."
That was the motivational side, but there were also plenty of physical concerns.
The physio team worked overtime to get prop Matt Scott and halfback Johnathan Thurston onto the Elland Road field after neither trained on Friday, while prop Keith Galloway and centre Greg Inglis were also in doubt having been ill during the week.
In a repeat of the 2009 final, the Kangaroos were involved in a tough contest against a spirited England side.
Despite dominating a first half that saw two tries disallowed by the video referee, the Kangaroos led just 8-6 at halftime thanks to Sam Thaiday's early four-pointer.
A controversial penalty try following a high tackle by Thurston, who appeared to prevent Ryan Hall from scoring, had got the hosts back on level terms, before Thurston added a penalty goal on the stroke of halftime.
The tourists then had to withstand a furious spell of pressure from England after the break with a raucous crowd firmly behind them.
But Steve McNamara's side could only muster a Kevin Sinfield penalty, and Australia marched down the field to score a try through Jharal Yow Yeh.
That setback seemed to knock the stuffing out of the hosts and four-pointers from Inglis, the outstanding Thurston and Lockyer, with the final play of the match, ensured Australia's proud record of not having lost a series to England since the 1972 World Cup was maintained.
Lockyer grubbered through and regathered a somewhat fortuitous rebound from the post to touch down for his try.
His attempt to sign off by converting it from almost in front was less memorable as it skewed off his boot.
"They had that momentum on us but we held, forced an error and ended up down the other end and scored," Sheens said.
"Paul Gallen was tremendous tonight, as were all of our forwards.
"He played the whole game, apart from five minutes, and he gave me a spray when I took him off."
McNamara admitted his side were well beaten but praised his players' performances throughout the tournament.
"We weren't quite as in sync with each other as in previous games," McNamara said.
"It is a disappointing way to finish and the players didn't deserve it.
"But the tournament has been a real progression for us. We are desperately disappointed not to win.
"We felt we had a good opportunity and lost it but overall the success of our program for the whole year has been a positive step in the right direction."
- AAP
