Quote:

 

Kangaroos halfback Johnathan Thurston has spoken of his heartache over the World Cup final loss to New Zealand, comparing the pain to a grand final loss.

The mercurial halfback also admitted that he still carries the hurt of the shock 34-20 loss to the Kiwis.

Opening up over the biggest international league upset in over 30 years, Thurston described the loss as the "lowest points in my career".

"When you think about it the back arches over and it all sort of hurts a bit," he said. "I remember sitting in the sheds and thinking 'what just happened?'.

"But we were just beaten by a better side on the night. It still hurts."

Just like the Four Nations, which begins when the Kangaroos meet New Zealand on October 24, Australia entered the World Cup as raging favourites, having defeated the Kiwis in the opening match.

Thurston and captain Darren Lockyer are among eight survivors from the side to tour again and while both were adamant complacency played no part in the loss, they are certain the side must heed the lessons.

Thurston likened the hurt to the emptiness of the North Queensland Cowboys' 2005 grand final loss to Wests Tigers.

"They are two different losses, but I suppose you could say they are sort of the same," he said.

"You know you are playing pretty much with your best mates in both games so if you lose a grand final you're shattered because it's what you train all year for.

"Then the World Cup you get together and form a pretty special bond and then you lose the final it's certainly the same feeling.

"You are gutted, you can't believe it's happened."

Lockyer said the squad was trying not to place too much emphasis on what happened at the World Cup. However, it was in the back of the players' minds.

"It just reminds you for every success we are going to have to work hard and that means taking no shortcuts and doing everything right and performing on the weekend," he said.

"We are not talking about the No.1 (world ranking) thing - we are talking about winning the Four Nations.

"That's the first step. That's what we want to do and the result of that will probably leave us No.1 again."
[rainbow]http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26220931-5018868,00.html[/rainbow]