The Kangaroos recorded a 56-14 win against the Dragons, but were on the back foot for most of the first half, with the competition minnows leading 8-6 until three minutes before half-time.

Sheens made seven changes to the side that started in the win against England at Wembley last week, and although he claimed he would never be completely satisfied with any team performance, he took plenty of positives out of the performance.

The Kangaroos will line up against Steve McNamara’s England side at Elland Road in Leeds next Saturday in a repeat of the 2009 decider, won by Sheens’ side.

“No coach is ever happy, but we scored some good points, and there was plenty to take out of the game,” Sheens said.

“But I’m not going to be too hard on them, we had a few new faces out there.

“England played well last night against the Kiwis and deserved their win, and playing in front of a big crowd at Leeds next week is going to be a difficult game for us.

“But I am happy with where we’re at, and there were plenty of positives out there to take from the game.”

Sheens said earlier in the week that Josh Morris and Jharal Yow Yeh were auditioning for a spot on the wing in the final, with Akuila Uate, rested for this game, guaranteed a start.

Both players went over for tries in the second half and Sheens claimed he’d already decided what player will start against England.

“I have a fair idea what I will do, ” he said.

“I’ll watch a video of the game again this week and look at a few things, but I am not going to announce this early in the week who I am planning to play in the final.”

Sheens said the game was a good workout for next Saturday’s final and was full of praise for the Welsh, in particular retiring five-eighth Lee Briers, whose kicking game posed plenty of questions for his side.

“We identified in the week that their kicking game was the strength in their side and we’d seen that in the earlier games,” Sheens said.

“They were pinpoint with it and completed about 90 per cent and we looked at odds with ourselves at times but we finished the first half strongly and then went on with it.”

Skipper Cameron Smith, standing in for Lockyer, who was rested, was also impressed by the Welsh and said the game was the perfect warm-up for the big clash with England.

“We knew we had to roll up our sleeves and get back into the match,” Smith said,

“I thought we had a really good attitude, especially in defence. We never planned for it to be an easy night.

“Wales are a very proud nation and would want to do well against us, and the game was a great test ahead of the final next week.”