Memories of Australia’s backs-to-the-wall 2009 Four Nations campaign have steeled captain Cameron Smith after their horror 30-12 loss to New Zealand in Brisbane.

But Smith admits it remains to be seen how his shellshocked young teammates respond to the nightmare start to the 2014 Four Nations tournament.

Even Smith, 31, admitted he was taught a Test football lesson after New Zealand brought a crushing end to Australia’s record-equalling 16-Test winning run at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

The Kiwis also snapped the Kangaroos’ eight-game streak in the trans-Tasman rivalry.

It marked Australia’s biggest loss since a 24-0 defeat to the Kiwis in the 2005 Tri-Nations final.

And it was Smith’s first loss since he took over as Kangaroos captain in 2012.

Smith admitted they were up against it, especially after superstars Daly Cherry-Evans (lower back) and Greg Inglis (virus) were added to their long injury list by halftime.

But Smith said he would draw on Australia’s stirring 2009 Four Nations run where they were also in a must-win situation after they drew 20-all with the Kiwis in their opener but powered on to thrash England 46-16 in the final.

Then again Australia had the likes of Darren Lockyer, Jarryd Hayne, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater at their disposal back then.

Australia’s 2014 Four Nations squad features 11 new faces with serious questions over the availability of Inglis and Cherry-Evans.

Still, Smith tried to put on a brave face before Australia’s must-win match against England in Melbourne next Sunday.

“We had a situation in 2009 when we drew the first one against the Kiwis and needed to win from there (to make the final),” he said.

“We are in a similar situation now.”

However, Smith admitted time would tell how his young team – which featured five rookies on Saturday night – recovered from the shattering five-tries-to-two loss.

“We need to keep the boys up, a lot of the younger guys might take this loss quite heavily,” he said.

“There is a lot of expectation for this team to do well.

“(But) you are always learning. I have played a few Tests and I learned a few things (on Saturday night).

“Hopefully they now understand what Test football is all about.

“You can’t give an inch at this level – we didn’t give an inch, we gave a mile (on Saturday night).”

Smith offered no excuses for their error-riddled display against a Shaun Johnson-inspired New Zealand despite Cherry-Evans and Inglis not emerging from the halftime break when scores were locked 12-all.

“They (Cherry-Evans, Inglis) are big losses but we had 15 Australian players out there – that should be good enough,” he said.